You stated, "Aside from the fact your data as posted isn't a Word table"
I used a Word 2010 page to build a table.
If that is not a Word Table could you please tell me what a word table is?

You stated that the following "is disparate data as '16.10.1974', '23.061976' and '1976' in date order. Neither '23.061976' nor '1976' is a date - they're just numbers."
They are dates in the format that is used in England so could you please tell how I could set them out so that dates or not they will be capable of sorting?

You state that, "Similarly, a number sort will sort your dates as if they too are just numbers - in day, then month, then year, order."
I'm not clear as to what is a number sort. Could you please elaborate?

I think that it is clear what I want to do from my first message could you please tell me how to do it?

Many thanks.