|
JANUARY 1915
|
POLITICAL
|
WESTERN
EUROPE
|
EASTERN
& SOUTHERN EUROPE
|
ASIA
& AFRICA
|
NAVAL
& MARITIME
|
FRIDAY
1st JANUARY
|
|
WESTERN
FRONT
First
Battle of Champagne continues.
|
EASTERN
FRONT
Second Russian
Siege of Przemysl
continues.
|
CAUCASUS
FRONT
2nd
- Battle of Sarikamish ends (see
December 29th, 1914, and April
4th, 1918).
2nd
- Urmia (North Persia) evacuated
by Russian forces (This city was
occupied before the outbreak of
the War.) (see
April 16th).
|
CONTRABAND
CONTROL
3rd
- French Government issue further
revised list of contraband (see
November 6th, 1914).
U-BOAT
WARFARE
1st
- H.M.S. "Formidable" (below -
Maritime Quest) sunk by
German submarine in English
Channel.
|
MONDAY
4th JANUARY
|
BRITAIN
4th
- London Stock Exchange reopens
(see July 31st, 1914).
|
WESTERN
FRONT
First
Battle of Champagne continues.
8th
- Battle of Soissons begins
(see 14th).
|
EASTERN
FRONT
Second Russian
Siege of Przemysl
continues.
|
CAUCASUS
FRONT
5th
- Tabriz (North Persia) evacuated
by Russian forces (This city was
occupied before the outbreak of
the War.) (see
8th and 30th).
8th
- Tabriz (North Persia) occupied
by Turkish forces (see 5th and
30th).
8th
- Battle of Kara Urgan (Caucasus)
begins (see 13th).
ARABIA
10th
- British defence of Muscat
(Eastern Arabia) (10th/11th).
EAST
AFRICA
5th
- German attack on Edea
(Cameroons) repulsed by French
garrison.
(link to British
despatches)
|
MERCHANT
SHIPPING
6th
- German S.S. "Dacia" (interned in
the United States) sold to Mr.
Breitung, an American citizen (see
February 11th).
|
MONDAY
11th JANUARY
|
DIPLOMACY
11th
- Rumanian Government negotiate
loan of £5,000,000 in Great
Britain.
15th
- Existence of secret agreement
for mutual support between Italy
and Rumania announced by
respective Governments.
AUSTRO-HUNGARY
13th
- Baron Burian succeeds Count
Berehtold (appointed February 9th,
1912) as Austro-Hungarian Minister
for Foreign Affairs (see December
22nd, 1910).
|
WESTERN
FRONT
First
Battle of Champagne continues.
14th
- Battle of Soissons ends (see
8th).
|
EASTERN
FRONT
Second Russian
Siege of Przemysl
continues.
|
CAUCASUS
FRONT
13th
- Battle of Kara Urgan ends (see
8th).
SOUTH
WEST AFRICA
14th
- Swakopmund (German South-West
Africa) occupied by South African
forces.
SOUTH
AFRICA
11th
- Last rebels in the Transvaal
(South Africa) captured (see
December 28th, 1914).
|
DARDANELLES
(plan - below)
13th
- British War Council resolve that
the Admiralty should prepare for a
naval expedition in February
against the Dardanelles (see 28th,
and December 30th, 1914).
(link to British
despatches, RN awards and
casualties)
The
Approaches to the Dardanelles (Corbett,
Vol 2, pp123)
EAST
AFRICA
12th
- Mafia Island (German East
Africa) seized by a British force.
|
MONDAY
18th JANUARY
|
DIPLOMACY
24th
- British Government offer Greek
Government concessions in Asia
Minor in return for help to Serbia
(see 25th and 29th, April 12th,
1915, and December 5th, 1914).
GERMANY
21st
- Lieut.-General
von Falkenhayn (appointed in 1906)
succeeded as German Minister for
War by Lieut.-General Wild von
Hohenborn (see October 30th,
1916). General von Falkenhayn
remains Chief of the General Staff
(see August 29th, 1916).
|
WESTERN
FRONT
First
Battle of Champagne continues.
24th
- Lieut.-General
Sir A. J. Murray resigns as Chief
of the General Staff, British
Expeditionary Force, France (see
25th, and August 4th, 1914). Lieut.-General
Sir W. Robertson resigns as
Quartermaster-General, British
Expeditionary Force, France (see
25th and 27th, and August 4th,
1914).
AVIATION
19th
- First airship raid on England
(see December 21st, 1914, and
August 5th, 1918).
|
EASTERN
FRONT
Second Russian
Siege of Przemysl continues.
AVIATION
24th
- German airship "P.L.-19" brought
down near Libau.
|
SOUTH
AFRICA
23rd
- Defence of Upington (23rd/24th).
EAST
AFRICA
18th
- German attack on Jasin begins
(see 19th).
19th
- Jasin captured by German forces
(see 18th, and December 21st,
1914).
The Battle of the Dogger
Bank, (Corbett, Vol 2, Plan No 3
(5.9Mb))
S.M.S.
"Blücher"
(Maritime Quest)
|
NORTH
SEA
24th
- Battle of the Dogger Bank.
German cruiser "Blücher"
(left) sunk. (link to
British despatch, awards and
casualties)
Strategical
Plan of the Dogger Bank Action (Corbett,
Vol 2, pp102)
|
MONDAY
25th JANUARY
|
DIPLOMACY
25th
- Rumania refuses Entente
suggestion that she should join
Greece in support of Serbia (see
24th and 29th, October 15th, 1915,
and December 6th, 1914).
26th
- Entente Governments agree to
hold " Pact of London " applicable
to war with Turkey (see September
5th, 1914).
29th
- Greek Government decline to
intervene on behalf of Serbia (see
24th and 25th, and February 15th).
PORTUGAL
25th
- General Pimenta da Castro
succeeds Senhor Coutinho as
Portuguese Premier (see December
12th, 1914, and May 14th, 1915).
|
WESTERN
FRONT
First
Battle of Champagne continues.
25th
- Lieut.-General
Sir W. Bobertson appointed Chief
of the General Staff, British
Expeditionary Force, France (see
24th, and December 22nd).
27th
- Lieut.-General
Sir R. C. Maxwell appointed
Quartermaster-General, British
Expeditionary Force, France (see
24th, and December 22nd, 1917).
|
EASTERN
FRONT
Second Russian
Siege of Przemysl
continues.
|
CAUCASIAN
FRONT
30th
- Tabriz (North Persia) reoccupied
by Russian forces (see 8th, and
June 14h, 1918).
PALESTINE
FRONT
26th
- Turkish advance on Suez Canal
and Egypt through Sinai begins
(see February 2nd).
|
CRUISER
WARFARE
28th
- United States S.V. "William P.
Frye" sunk by German armed
merchant cruiser "Prinz Eitel
Friedrich" (see August 6th, 1914,
and April 8th, 1915).
U-BOAT
WARFARE
30th
- British Admiralty warn British
merchant vessels to fly neutral or
no ensigns in vicinity of British
Isles (see February 6th, 7th and
11th).
BRITISH
COASTAL RAID
29th
- Walney Island battery
(Barrow-in-Furness) shelled by
German submarine (first operation
of German submarines in the Irish
Sea).
DARDANELLES
28th
- British Government definitely
decide to make naval attack on the
Dardanelles (see 13th).
(link to British
despatches, RN awards and
casualties)
RED
SEA
31st
- Arab forces (Idrisi) occupy
Farasan Islands in the Red Sea
(see April 28th).
MERCHANT SHIPPING
British, Allied and Neutral
ships lost to enemy submarines,
mines and cruisers etc in the
month - 24 ships of 49,000 tons
gross (Lloyd's War Losses)
|
FEBRUARY 1915
|
POLITICAL
|
WESTERN
EUROPE
|
EASTERN
& SOUTHERN EUROPE
|
ASIA
& AFRICA
|
NAVAL
& MARITIME
|
MONDAY
1ST FEBRUARY
|
DIPLOMACY
2nd
- Entente communication to Greek,
Serbian, and Montenegrin
Governments deprecating their
intervention in Albania (see June
26th).
3rd
- Agreement concluded between
Great Britain and Belgium
concerning delimitation of
Uganda-Congo boundary.
3rd
- Bulgarian Government negotiate
loan of £3,000,000 in Germany (see
August 6th).
5th
- British, French and Russian
Governments agree to pool their
financial resources (see June
3rd).
|
WESTERN
FRONT
First
Battle of Champagne continues.
|
EASTERN
FRONT
Second Russian
Siege of Przemysl
continues.
4th
- The Winter Battle in Masuria
(East Prussia) begins (see
22nd).
|
ARABIA
2nd
- Aden Protectorate invaded by
Turkish forces.
Suez
Canal (Corbett, Vol 2,
pp118)
|
MERCHANT
SHIPPING
1st
- British Admiralty issue orders
forbidding neutral fishing vessels
to use British ports.
6th
- British S.S. "Lusitania" arrives
at Liverpool flying United States
flag (see 7th, January 30th and
May 7th).
7th
- British Foreign Office issue
statement justifying use of
neutral flag at sea (see 6th,
11th, and January 30th).
U-BOAT
WARFARE
4th
- German Government announce that
submarine blockade of Great
Britain will begin on the 18th
February.
PALESTINE
FRONT (plan - left)
2nd
- Turkish
advance-guards
reach the Suez Canal (see 3rd, and
January 20th).
3rd
Actions on the Suez Canal begin
(see 4th).
4th
- Actions on the Suez Canal end
(see 3rd). Turkish forces retreat
into Sinai.
(link to
British despatches, RN awards
and casualties)
|
MONDAY
8th FEBRUARY
|
|
WESTERN
FRONT
First
Battle of Champagne continues.
|
EASTERN
FRONT
Continuing:
Second Russian
Siege of Przemysl.
Winter
Battle in Masuria.
|
|
EMPIRE
TROOP MOVEMENTS
9th
- 1st Canadian Division crosses
from England to France (9th/11th)
(see October 15th, 1914).
MERCHANT
SHIPPING
11th
- United States Government send
Note to British Government
deprecating use of neutral flag
(see 7th).
11th
- S.S. "Dacia" sails from United
States for Bremen (Germany) with
cargo of cotton (see 27th, and
January 6th).
|
MONDAY
15th FEBRUARY
|
DIPLOMACY
15th
- Entente Governments suggest to
Greek Government that Greece
should intervene in support of
Serbia, and promise military
support at Salonika (see January
29th and March 5th).
PERSIA
20th
- Muavin ed Douleh succeeds Ala es
Sultaneh as Persian Foreign
Minister (see August 19th, 1914,
and April 26th, 1915).
|
WESTERN
FRONT
First
Battle of Champagne continues.
AVIATION
17th
- German airship "L.-3" stranded
and destroyed off Fano, and "L.-4"
destroyed near Blaavands Huk
(Denmark).
|
EASTERN
FRONT
Continuing:
Second Russian
Siege of Przemysl.
Winter
Battle in Masuria.
17th
- Czernowitz (Bukovina) retaken by
Austrian forces (see October 28th,
1914, and June 17th, 1916).
17th
- Memel reoccupied by German
forces (see November 11th, 1914,
and March 18th, 1915).
19th
- Stanislau (Galicia) captured by
Austrian forces (see October 30th,
1914, and March 4th, 1915).
|
DARDANELLES/GALLIPOLI
16th
- British Government decide to
send a division (the 29th) to the
Dardanelles (see 20th, and April
25th).
20th
- Orders issued for employment at
the Dardanelles of the Australian
and New Zealand troops in Egypt
(see 16th, and December 1st,
1914).
WEST
AFRICA
16th
- Oyem (Cameroons) occupied by
French forces.
MALAY
STATES
15th
- Mutiny of the 5th Light Infantry
(Indian Army) at Singapore.
The
Dardanelles, Bombardment of
February 19th, 1915 (Corbett,
Vol 2, pp143)
|
CONTRABAND
CONTROL
16th
- British Government extend
prohibition of "trading with the
enemy" to territories in British,
enemy, or friendly occupation.
NAVAL
PRIZES
15th
- Agreement concluded between
Great Britain and France
supplementing "prize" convention
of November 9th, 1914
U-BOAT
WARFARE
18th
- German submarine blockade of
Great Britain begins (see
4th).
19th
- Norwegian S.S. "Belridge"
torpedoed, but reaches port. First
ship torpedoed by German submarine
without warning (German Government
subsequently asserted that this
ship was attacked in error.) (see October
20th, 1914, and March 13th, 1915).
DARDANELLES
(plan - left)
19th
- Allied naval attack on the
Dardanelles forts commences (see
March 18th). (link to British
despatches, RN awards and
casualties)
|
MONDAY
22nd FEBRUARY
|
|
WESTERN
FRONT
First
Battle of Champagne continues.
26th
- Liquid fire first used by the
Germans on the Western front.
|
EASTERN
FRONT
Second Russian
Siege of Przemysl
continues.
22nd
- The Winter Battle in Masuria
ends (see 4th).
22nd
- First Battle of Przasnysz begins
(see 27th).
27th
- First Battle of Przasnysz ends
(see 22nd).
Dardanelles,
Bombardment of February 25th (Corbett,
Vol 2, pp157)
|
SOUTH
WEST AFRICA
22nd
- South African Northern Force
begins advance from Swakopmund on
Windhuk, German South-West
Africa(see January 14th).
Operations in the
Aegean (Corbett,
Vol 3, Map Case No.5)
|
EMPIRE
TROOP MOVEMENTS
24th
- The first British Territorial
division, the North Midland,
leaves England for France. Not to
be confused with first division of
the New Armies, for which see May
9th.
MERCHANT
SHIPPING
27th
- S.S. "Dacia" intercepted and
seized by French naval forces (see
11th, and March 22nd).
U-BOAT
WARFARE
22nd
- Net barrage across North
Channel, between Ireland and
Scotland, established.
AEGEAN
(plan - left)
23rd
- Lemnos occupied by British
marines (see March 7th).
DARDANELLES
(plan - far left)
25th -
Allied naval attack on the
Dardanelles forts continues (see
February 19th). (link to British
despatches, RN awards and
casualties)
MERCHANT SHIPPING
(cont)
British, Allied and Neutral
ships lost to enemy submarines,
mines and cruisers etc in the
month - 25 ships of 60,000 tons
gross (Lloyd's War Losses)
|
MARCH 1915
|
POLITICAL
|
WESTERN
EUROPE
|
EASTERN
& SOUTHERN EUROPE
|
ASIA
& AFRICA
|
NAVAL
& MARITIME
|
MONDAY
1st MARCH
|
DIPLOMACY
4th
- Russian Government send circular
telegram to Entente Governments
laying claim to Constantinople
(see 12th).
7th
- Greek Government request
explanation of British occupation
of Lemnos (see 9th, and February
23rd).
FRANCE
4th
- French Government decide to send
Expeditionary Force to the
Dardanelles (see February 16th and
20th, and April 25th).
GREECE
5th
- Greek Premier (M. Venizelos)
proffers Greek fleet and troops to
Entente for operations at the
Dardanelles (see 6th, and February
15th and September 21st).
6th
- King of Greece refuses assent to
policy of M. Venizelos (see 5th).
M. Venizelos resigns office as
Premier (see 9th, and August 22nd)
(date of appointment October 19th,
1910).
|
WESTERN
FRONT
First
Battle of Champagne continues.
.
|
EASTERN
FRONT
Second Russian
Siege of Przemysl
continues.
4th
- Stanislau (Galicia) recaptured
by Russian forces (see February
19th and June 8th).
|
Smyrna
(Corbett, Vol 2, pp210)
|
CONTRABAND
CONTROL
1st
- Joint declaration signed by
Great Britain and France to
prevent trade by or with Germany
(see April 17th, 1916).
U-BOAT
WARFARE
4th
- First case of "indicator" nets
aiding in the destruction of a
German submarine, "U.-8," in
Straits of Dover. (First
experimented with in January 1915)
ADRIATIC
1st
- Antivari (Montenegro) bombarded
by Austrian squadron (see January
22nd, 1916).
AEGEAN
5th - Bombardment of Smyrna
by British squadron under Admiral
Peirse begins (see 9th).
(plan - left)
EAST
AFRICA
1st
- British blockade of German East
Africa commences.
|
MONDAY
8th MARCH
|
DIPLOMACY
9th
- British Government reply to
Greek Government as to
occupation of Lemnos, pleading
military necessity (see 7th and
20th).
12th
- British Government notify
Russian Government of their
acceptance of Russian claims to
Constantinople (see 4th, April
12th, 1915, and December 2nd,
1916).
13th
- Agreement signed by French and
Belgian Governments suspending
Franco-Belgian Convention of July
30th, 1891, regarding military
service laws.
GREECE
9th
- M. Gounaris appointed Premier of
Greece (see 6th, and August 22nd).
PERSIA
14th
- Mushir ed Dowleh succeeds
Mustaufi ul Mainalek as Persian
Prime Minister (see August 19th,
1914, and April 26th, 1915).
|
WESTERN
FRONT
First
Battle of Champagne continues.
10th
- Battle of Neuve Chapelle begins.
13th
- Battle of Neuve Chapelle ends.
|
EASTERN
FRONT
Second Russian
Siege of Przemysl
continues.
Eastern
Mediterranean (Corbett, Vol 2,
pp382)
|
DARDANELLES/GALLIPOLI
12th
- General Sir Ian Hamilton
appointed Commander-in-Chief,
Mediterranean (Dardanelles)
Expeditionary Force (see 17th).
(see plan - left)
S.M.S.
"Dresden"
(Maritime Quest)
The Search for, and
Destruction of S.M.S. Dresden
(Corbett, Vol 2,
Plan No 5
(8.9Mb))
|
CONTRABAND
CONTROL
11th
- British " Retaliatory Order in
Council" relating to detention of
enemy goods and Proclamation
extending list of "absolute"
contraband issued (see 12th, and
December 23rd, 1914).
12th
- French Government issue decrees
similar to British Order in
Council and Proclamation of the
11th March.
MERCHANT SHIPPING
12th
- Dutch Government issue warning
that foreign merchant ships using
Dutch flag will be detained (see
January 30th and February 11th).
CRUISER
WARFARE
14th
- Light cruiser "Dresden" (left,
also plan) the last German
cruiser left at sea, sunk by
British warships in Chilean waters
off Juan Fernandez (see December
8th, 1914, and April 26th, 1915).
U-BOAT
WARFARE
13th
- Swedish S.S. "Hanna" torpedoed
without warning. First neutral
ship actually sunk by German
submarine (see 25th and 28th, and
February 19th).
AEGEAN
9th
- British bombardment of Smyrna
ends (see 5th and 15th).
|
MONDAY
15th MARCH
|
DIPLOMACY
17th
- French Government lodge claim
with British Government to Syria
and Cilicia (Turkey) (see
April 26th, 1916).
20th
- British Government guarantee
Greece eventual cession of Lemnos
by Turkey (see 9th and July 25th).
|
WESTERN
FRONT
17th
- First Battle of Champagne
ends (see December 20th,
1914).
AVIATION
21st
- First German airship raid on
Paris takes place (see August
30th, 1914, and January 29th,
1916).
|
EASTERN
FRONT
Second Russian
Siege of Przemysl
continues.
18th
- Memel (East Prussia) again
captured by Russian forces (see
21st, and February 17th).
21st
- Memel (East Prussia) reoccupied
by German forces (see 18th).
The
Dardanelles, the Attack on the
Narrows (Corbett, Vol 2,
pp230)
|
DARDANELLES/GALLIPOLI
17th
- General Sir Ian Hamilton takes
over command of Dardanelles
Expeditionary Force (see 12th, and
October 15th).
MESOPOTAMIAN
FRONT
18th
- General Sir John Nixon appointed
Commander-in-Chief British Forces
in Mesopotamia (see April 9th).
SOUTH
WEST AFRICA
20th
- Action of Jakalswater (German
South-West Africa).
Gallipoli
1915
|
CONTRABAND
CONTROL
18th
- British Government conclude
agreement with American cotton
interests that cotton should be
contraband.
19th
- Dutch Government lodge protest
against blockade policy of the
Entente (see 11th and 12th).
DARDANELLES
(Plans - left)
18th
- Allied Naval attack on the
Dardanelles forts repulsed (see
February 19th). French battleship
"Bouvet" (below - Photo ships)
and British battleships
"Irresistible" and "Ocean" sunk.
(link to British
despatches, RN awards and
casualties)
AEGEAN
15th
- British Squadron blockading
Smyrna withdrawn (see 5th and
9th).
AVIATION
15th
- First merchant ship (S.S.
"Blonde") attacked by aircraft.
|
MONDAY
22nd MARCH
|
DIPLOMACY
23rd
- Chinese and Japanese Governments
conclude secret agreement as to
future policy in Manchuria.
|
WESTERN
FRONT
|
EASTERN
FRONT
22nd
- Przemysl capitulates to
Russian forces (see
November 10th, 1914, and June 3rd,
1915).
|
DARDANELLES/GALLIPOLI
25th
- General Liman von Sanders
appointed to command Turco-German
Forces, Dardanelles. (link to British
despatches, RN awards and
casualties)
PALESTINE
FRONT
25th
- Indian Expeditionary Force "F "
(in Egypt) absorbed into Indian
Expeditionary Force "E" (see
October 2nd, 1914, and November
2nd and 16th, 1914).
|
MERCHANT
SHIPPING
22nd
- French Prize Court declare
seizure of S.S. "Dacia" valid (see
February 27th).
U-BOAT
WARFARE
25th
- Dutch S.S. "Medea" captured by
German submarine and sunk. First
neutral ship sunk after visit and
search (see
13th).
28th
- The first passenger ship,
British S.S. "Falaba", sunk by a
German submarine (see 13th, and
October 20th, 1914).
NAVAL
AVIATION
23rd
- First kite-balloon ship, H.M.S.
"Manica," commissioned.
BLACK
SEA
27th
- Bosporus forts bombarded by
Russian Black Sea Fleet (see April
25th).
|
MONDAY
29th MARCH
|
|
WESTERN
FRONT
|
EASTERN
FRONT
|
SOUTH
WEST AFRICA
30th
- Aus (German South-West Africa)
occupied by South African forces.
|
CONTRABAND
CONTROL
29th
- British Government conclude
agreement with American rubber
interests that rubber should not
be exported except to Great
Britain.
MERCHANT SHIPPING
British, Allied and Neutral
ships lost to enemy submarines,
mines and cruisers etc in the
month - 34 ships of 87,000 tons
gross (Lloyd's War Losses)
|
APRIL 1915
|
POLITICAL
|
WESTERN
EUROPE
|
EASTERN
& SOUTHERN EUROPE
|
ASIA
& AFRICA
|
NAVAL
& MARITIME
|
THURSDAY
1st APRIL
|
DIPLOMACY
3rd
- Russian Imperial ukase issued
granting municipal self-government
to Russian Poland (see August
14th, 1914, and November 5th,
1916).
|
WESTERN
FRONT
|
EASTERN
FRONT
|
Turkish
"Medjidieh"
(Photo Ships)
|
U-BOAT
WARFARE
3rd
-
Dover Straits
barrage completed.
BLACK
SEA
3rd
- Indecisive action in Black Sea
between the "Goeben" and part of
the Russian Fleet. Turkish cruiser
"Medjidieh" (left) sunk
by mine off Odessa.
|
MONDAY
5th APRIL
|
|
WESTERN
FRONT
|
EASTERN
FRONT
|
CAUCASUS
FRONT
8th
- Deportations and massacres of
Armenians by order of the Turkish
Government commence (Approximate
date.) (see
May 24th).
MESOPOTAMIAN
FRONT
9th
- General Sir John Nixon relieves
General Sir Arthur Barrett as
Commander-in-Chief Indian
Expeditionary Force "D",
Mesopotamia (see November 13th,
1914, March 18th, 1910, and
January 19th, 1916).
|
EMPIRE
TROOP MOVEMENTS
7th
- First Indian units of Indian
Expeditionary Force "G" (formed
from Force "E") sail from Egypt
for the Dardanelles (see December
31st).
CRUISER
WARFARE
8th
- German armed merchant cruiser
"Prinz Eitel Friedrich" interned
at Newport News, Va. (see January
28th).
|
MONDAY
12th APRIL
|
DIPLOMACY
12th
- Entente Governments make offer
to Greece of Smyrna and hinterland
in return for immediate action
against Turkey (see 14th, and
January 24th).
12th
- French Government notify Russian
Government of their acceptance of
Russian claims to Constantinople
(see March 12th).
14th
- British Secretary for the
Colonies (Mr. Harcourt) states
that Dominions will be consulted
as to peace terms (see July 14th).
14th
- Greek Government reject Entente
offer of Smyrna (see 12th).
14th
- Japanese Government inform
British Government of German
overtures for separate peace.
|
WESTERN
FRONT
14th
- Germans accuse French of using
poison gas near Verdun (see 22nd).
17th
- Capture of Hill 60 (Ypres)
(17th/22nd).
|
EASTERN
FRONT
|
CAUCASUS
FRONT
16th
- Urmia (North Persia) occupied by
Turkish regular forces (see
January 2nd and May 24th).
MESOPOTAMIAN
FRONT
12th
- Battle of Shaiba begins.
14th
- Battle of Shaiba ends.
(link to
British despatches, RN awards
and casualties)
WEST
AFRICA
12th
- First Allied advance on Yaunde
(Cameroons) begins (see June 7th
and 28th).
18th
- Operations of Allied Force for
capture of Garua (Cameroons) begin
(see May 31st). (link to British
despatches)
EAST
AFRICA
16th
- General Tighe succeeds General
Wapshare in command of British
Forces in East Africa (see
December 4th, 1914, and February
19th, 1916).
INDIA
18th
- First Affair of Hafiz Kor
(North-West Frontier of India).
|
|
MONDAY
19th APRIL
|
|
WESTERN
FRONT
22nd
- Battles of Ypres, 1915,
begin (see November 22nd,
1914, and May 25th, 1915). First
German gas attack (see 14th).
23rd
- Battle of Gravenstafel Ridge
(Ypres) (22nd/23rd).
24th
- Battle of St. Julien (Ypres)
begins (see May 4th).
|
EASTERN
FRONT
|
CAUCASUS
FRONT
20th
- Armenian revolt at Van: Armenian
defence of Van begins (see May
19th).
SOUTH
WEST AFRICA
25th
- Action of Gibeon (25th/26th)
(German South-West Africa).
Gallipoli,
the Southern Beaches (Corbett,
Vol 2, pp328)
|
GALLIPOLI
(plan - left and below)
25th
- Allied Forces effect landing
at the Dardanelles (25th/26th). (link to British
despatches, RN awards and
casualties)
Gallipoli
1915
BLACK
SEA
25th
- Bosporus forts shelled by
Russian Black Sea Fleet (see March
27th).
WEST
AFRICA
23rd
- British blockade of the
Cameroons commences (see February
29th, 1916).
(link to British
despatches)
|
MONDAY
26th APRIL
|
DIPLOMACY
26th
- Secret agreement signed in
London between Italian Government
and the Entente for Italian
co-operation in the war and
declarations by which Italy
adheres to the Pact of London (see
September 5th, 1914, and May 4th,
November 30th, and December 1st,
1915).
28th
- British Government conclude a
treaty with the Idrisi for
co-operation against the Turks
(see January 31st).
PERSIA
26th
- Mushir ed Douleh, Persian Prime
Minister, resigns (see March 14th
and April 27th). Muavin ed Douleh,
Persian Foreign Minister, resigns
(see February 20th and April
27th).
27th
- Ain ed Douleh appointed Persian
Prime Minister (see 26th, and
August 17th). Mohtashem ed Douleh
appointed Persian Foreign Minister
(see 26th, and March 5th, 1916).
|
WESTERN
FRONT
Battles
of Ypres, 1915, incl Battle of St.
Julien continue.
|
EASTERN
FRONT
30th
- Shavli (Baltic Provinces)
occupied by German forces (see May
11th).
|
GALLIPOLI
28th
- First Battle of Krithia
(Dardanelles) (see May 6th). (link to British
despatches, RN awards and
casualties)
|
CRUISER
WARFARE
26th
- The last German raider overseas,
armed merchant cruiser "Kronprinz
Wilhelm", interned at Newport News
(United States of America) (see
March 14th).
U-BOAT
WAR
26th
- French cruiser "Leon Gambetta" (below
- Photo Ships) sunk by
Austrian submarine in Straits of
Otranto.
MERCHANT SHIPPING
British, Allied and Neutral
ships lost to enemy submarines,
mines and cruisers etc in the
month - 44 ships of 58,000 tons
gross (Lloyd's War Losses)
|
MAY 1915
|
POLITICAL
|
WESTERN
EUROPE
|
EASTERN
& SOUTHERN EUROPE
|
ASIA
& AFRICA
|
NAVAL
& MARITIME
|
SATURDAY
1st MAY
|
|
WESTERN
FRONT
Battles
of Ypres, 1915, incl Battle of St.
Julien continue.
|
EASTERN
FRONT
1st
- Austro-German Spring
Offensive in Galicia: Battle of
Gorlice-Tarnow begins (see
5th).
|
CAUCASUS
FRONT
1st
- Battle of Dilman (North Persia).
S.S.
"Gulflight"
(Photo Ships)
|
U-BOAT
WARFARE
1st
- S.S. "Gulflight"
(left) torpedoed without
warning: damaged, but reaches
port. First United States ship
attacked by German submarine (see
February 19th and March 13th).
|
MONDAY
3rd MAY
|
DIPLOMACY
4th
- Italy denounces the Triple
Alliance (see April 26th).
7th
- British Foreign Minister (Sir E.
Grey) gives conditional guarantee
to Serbian Minister of eventual
cession of Bosnia and Herzegovina
with " wide access to the Adriatic
" (see August 15th and 30th).
7th
- Japan presents ultimatum to
China demanding territorial
concessions (see 9th).
9th
- Chinese Government yield to
Japanese demands (see 7th and
25th).
|
WESTERN
FRONT
Battles
of Ypres, 1915 continue:
4th
- Battle of St. Julien (Ypres)
ends (see Apri1 24th).
8th
- Battle of Frezenberg Ridge
(Ypres) begins (see 13th).
9th
- Allied Spring Offensive
begins: Battle of Aubers
Ridge; Second Battle of Artois
begins (see June 18th).
|
EASTERN
FRONT
5th
- Battle of Gorlice-Tarnow
ends (see 1st).
7th
- Libau (Baltic Provinces) taken
by German forces (see April 30th).
|
GALLIPOLI
6th
- Second Battle of Krithia begins
(see 8th, and April 28th).
8th
- Second Battle of Krithia ends
(see 6th, and June 4th). (link to British
despatches, RN awards and
casualties)
S.S.
"Lusitania" (Photo Ships)
|
EMPIRE
TROOP MOVEMENTS
9th
- The leading division of the
British New Armies leaves England
for France (see August 21st, 1914,
and February 24th, 1915).
U-BOAT
WARFARE
7th
- S.S. "Lusitania"
(left) sunk by
German submarine "U.-20" off
Queenstown (see February 6th).
9th
- President Wilson, in a speech,
defines United States policy in
regard to the "Lusitania" outrage
(see 7th).
|
MONDAY
10th MAY
|
BRITAIN
14th
- Last meeting of British War
Council (see August 5th, 1914, and
June 7th, 1915).
PORTUGAL
14th
- General da Castro, Portuguese
Premier, resigns (see 15th, and
January 25th).
15th
- Senhor J. Pinheiro Chagas
appointed Portuguese Premier (see
14th, and June 19th).
ITALY
13th
- Signor Salandra, Italian
Premier, tenders his resignation
(see 16th, and October 30th,
1914). Baron Sonnino, Italian
Foreign Minister, tenders his
resignation (see 16th, and
November 3rd, 1914).
16th
- Signor Salandra reappointed
Italian Premier on reconstruction
of Cabinet, with Baron Sonnino as
Foreign Minister (see 13th, and
June 11th, 1916).
|
WESTERN
FRONT
Continuing:
Battles
of Ypres, 1915.
Allied
Spring Offensive, incl Second
Battle of Artois.
13th
- Battle of Frezenberg Ridge
(Ypres) ends (see 8th).
15th
- Battle of Festubert begins (see
25th).
|
EASTERN
FRONT
11th
- Shavli (Baltic Provinces)
evacuated by German forces (see
April 30th).
14th
- Jaroslaw taken by Austro-German
forces (see September 21st, 1914).
16th
- Battle of the San (Galicia)
begins (see 23rd).
|
SOUTH
WEST AFRICA
13th
- Windhuk (German South-West
Africa) occupied by South African
Northern Force.
Gallipoli
1915
|
ALLIED
NAVAL POLICY
10th
- Naval Convention signed between
Great Britain, France, and Italy
ROYAL
NAVY
15th
- Lord Fisher, First Sea Lord,
Great Britain tenders his
resignation (see 28th, and October
30th, 1914).
GALLIPOLI
(Locations - left)
13th
- H.M.S. "Goliath" (below -
Maritime Quest) sunk by
Turkish destroyer in the
Dardanelles. (link
to British despatches, RN
awards and casualties)
|
MONDAY
17th MAY
|
DIPLOMACY
23rd
- Italian Government order
Mobilisation and declare war
against Austria. General Cadorna
appointed Commander-in-Chief
(Officially designated " Chief of
Staff," the King being the nominal
Commander-in-Chief) of Italian
Armies in the Field (see November
7th, 1917).
|
WESTERN
FRONT
Continuing:
Battles
of Ypres, 1915.
Allied
Spring Offensive, incl Second
Battle of Artois.
Battle
of Festubert.
|
EASTERN
FRONT
23rd
- Battle of the San (Galicia)
ends (see 16th).
|
CAUCASUS
FRONT
19th
- Van (Armenia) taken by Russian
forces. Armenian garrison relieved
(see April 20th and August 3rd,
1915, and April 5th, 1918).
|
CASPIAN SEA
21st
- Russian Expeditionary Force to
West Persia lands at Enzeli (see
February 17th, 1918).
|
MONDAY
24th MAY
|
DIPLOMACY
24th
- Germany severs diplomatic
relations with Italy (see August
28th, 1916). (For the purposes of
the Treaty of Versailles it was
subsequently assumed that this
rupture took place on the 27th,
which date was accepted as that of
the commencement of Italy's
belligerence against Germany.)
24th
- Entente Governments declare that
they will hold Turkish Ministers
personally responsible for the
Armenian massacres (see April
8th).
25th
- Treaty signed between China and
Japan concerning Shantung Province
(see 7th and 9th)
25th
- Treaty signed between China and
Japan concerning South Manchuria
and Inner Mongolia (see 7th and
9th).
BRITAIN
25th
- Coalition Ministry formed in
Great Britain by Mr. Asquith (see
December 11th, 1916).
PORTUGAL
28th
- Dr. Joaquim T. Braga elected
President of Portugal (see 29th,
and October 5th).
29th
- Dr. Manoel Arriuga, Portuguese
President, resigns (appointed
August 24th, 1911) (see 28th).
|
WESTERN
FRONT
Allied
Spring Offensive, incl Second
Battle of Artois continues.
24th
- Battle of Bellewaerde Ridge
(Ypres) (24th/25th).
25th
- Battles of Ypres, 1915, end
(see April 22nd, 1915, and July
31st, 1917).
25th
- Battle of Festubert ends (see
15th).
|
EASTERN
FRONT
24th
- Battle of Przemysl begins (see
June 3rd and 11th).
24th
- Battle of the Stryj
(Galicia) begins (see June
11th).
BALKANS
29th
– Valona (Albania) formally
occupied by Italian forces (see
December 26th, 1914).
ITALIAN
FRONT
24th
- Italian forces cross Austrian
frontier (midnight 24th, 25th).
|
CAUCASUS
FRONT
24th
- Urmia (North Persia) retaken by
Russian forces (see April 16th).
S.S.
"Princess Irene" (Photo Ships)
Gallipoli
1915
The Torpedoing of
H.M.S. "Triumph"(Corbett, Vol 3, Map
Case No.4)
|
ROYAL
NAVY
27th
- British minelayer "Princess
Irene" (left, in civilian
service) destroyed by
internal explosion in Sheerness
harbour.
27th
- Mr. Winston Churchill, First
Lord of the Admiralty, Great
Britain, resigns (appointed
October 24th, 1911) (see 28th).
28th
- Mr. Arthur Balfour appointed
First Lord of the Admiralty, Great
Britain (see 27th, and December
11th, 1910). Sir Henry Jackson
appointed First Sea Lord, Great
Britain (see 15th, and December
3rd, 1916).
ADRIATIC
25th
- Italian fleet commences
operations in the Adriatic (see
26th).
26th
- British battle squadron
concentrates at Malta prior to
joining Italian fleet in Adriatic
(see 27th).
26th
- Italian Government announce
blockade of Austro-Hungarian
coast.
27th
- British squadron joins Italian
fleet in the Adriatic (see 26th).
GALLIPOLI
(Locations - left)
25th
- H.M.S. "Triumph" sunk by
submarine off the Dardanelles.
(plan - left)
27th
- H.M.S. "Majestic" sunk by
submarine at the Dardanelles.
(link to British
despatches, RN awards and
casualties)
EAST
AFRICA
30th
- Affair of Sphinxhaven, Lake
Nyassa. British command of the
lake secured.
|
MONDAY
31st MAY
|
|
WESTERN
FRONT
Allied
Spring Offensive, incl Second
Battle of Artois continues.
AVIATION
31st
- First German airship raid on
London area (see January 19th
1915, October 19th, 1917, and
August 5th, 1918).
|
EASTERN
FRONT
Continuing:
Battle
of Przemysl
Battle
of the Stryj (Galicia)
Operations Against
Kurnah (Corbett, Vol 3, Map
Case No.2)
|
MESOPOTAMIAN
FRONT
(Plans - left, below
& right)
31st
- Second action of Qurna.(link to
British despatches, RN awards
and casualties)
Operations near Kurnah (Corbett, Vol
1, pp392)
WEST
AFRICA
31st
- Siege of Garua (Cameroons)
begins (see April 18th and June
10th).
(link to British
despatches)
|
Sketch Map of the
Tigris, North of Kurnah (or Qurna)
MERCHANT SHIPPING
British, Allied and Neutral
ships lost to enemy submarines,
mines and cruisers etc in the
month - 71 ships of 121,000 tons
gross (Lloyd's War Losses)
|
JUNE 1915
|
POLITICAL
|
WESTERN
EUROPE
|
EASTERN
& SOUTHERN EUROPE
|
ASIA
& AFRICA
|
NAVAL
& MARITIME
|
TUESDAY
1st JUNE
|
DIPLOMACY
3rd
- San Marino declares war on
Austria-Hungary.
3rd
- First meeting in Paris of Allied
Conference on Economic War (see
February 5th, 1915, and June 14th,
1916).
5th
- First Conference of British and
French Ministers to co-ordinate
war policy and strategy held at
Calais.
|
WESTERN
FRONT
Allied
Spring Offensive, incl Second
Battle of Artois continues.
|
EASTERN
FRONT
Continuing:
Battle
of Przemysl
Battle
of the Stryj (Galicia)
3rd
- Przemysl retaken by
Austro-German forces (see March
22nd and May 24th).
|
GALLIPOLI
4th
- Third Battle of Krithia. (link to British
despatches, RN awards and
casualties)
MESOPOTAMIAN
FRONT
3rd
- Amara captured by British
forces.
(link to
British despatches, RN awards
and casualties)
|
CONTRABAND
CONTROL
3rd
- Act passed in British Parliament
empowering Customs to compel all
exports to Holland to be consigned
to the Netherlands Oversea Trust
(see November 23rd, 1914, and
December 7th, 1915).
ASIA
MINOR
2nd
- Blockade of coast of Asia Minor
announced by British Government.
|
MONDAY
7th JUNE
|
DIPLOMACY
7th
- Russian and Chinese Governments
conclude agreement respecting
Mongolia (see May 25).
|
WESTERN
FRONT
Allied
Spring Offensive, incl Second
Battle of Artois continues.
AVIATION
7th
- German airship "L.Z.-37"
destroyed in mid-air by Lieut.
Warneford, R.N.A.S., near Ghent
(first occasion of airship success
fully attacked by aeroplane).
|
EASTERN
FRONT
8th
- Stanislau recaptured by Austrian
forces (see March 4th, 1915, and
August 10th, 1916).
11th
- Battle of Przemysl ends (see
3rd, and May 24th).
11th
- Battle of the Stryj
(Galicia) ends (see May
24th).
ITALIAN
FRONT
9th
- Monfalcone (Isonzo) taken by
Italian forces.
|
WEST
AFRICA
7th
- Allied Commander-in-Chief in the
Cameroons decides to abandon the
advance on Yaunde (see 28th, and
April 12th).
10th
- Garua (Cameroons) capitulates to
the Anglo-French force under
General Cunliffe (see May 31st).
(link to British
despatches)
|
DARDANELLES
7th
- First meeting of Dardanelles
Committee (Under this title the
War Council (see August 5th, 1914,
and May 14th, 1915) exercised its
functions during the critical
period of the Dardanelles
campaign) of the British Cabinet
(see May 14th and October 30th). (link to British
despatches, RN awards and
casualties)
|
MONDAY
14th JUNE
|
PORTUGAL
19th
- Dr. Jose de Castro succeeds
Senhor J. P. Chagas as Portuguese
Premier (see May 15th and November
29th).
|
WESTERN
FRONT
18th
- Second Battle of Artois ends
(see May 9th and September 25th).
|
EASTERN
FRONT
17th
- Third Battle of Lemberg
begins (see 22nd).
|
SOUTH
WEST AFRICA
19th
- South African forces begin
advance on Otavifontein (German
South-West Africa) (see July 1st).
|
RED
SEA
14th
- Turkish Attack on Perim Island
(14th/15th).
|
MONDAY
21st JUNE
|
RUSSIA
26th
- General Sukhomlinov, Russian
Minister for War, removed from
office (appointed in 1909);
succeeded by General Polivanov
(see March 29th, 1916).
UNITED
STATES
24th
- Mr. Lansing succeeds Mr. Bryan
as United States Secretary of
State.
|
WESTERN
FRONT
|
EASTERN
FRONT
22nd
- Third Battle of Lemberg ends:
city retaken by the Austrian
forces (see 17th, and September
3rd, 1914, and November 23rd,
1918).
BALKANS
26th
- San Giovanni de Medua (Albania)
occupied by Montenegrin forces
(see July 29th).
|
MESOPOTAMIAN
FRONT
27th
- British advance up the Euphrates
begins (see July 25th).(link to
British despatches, RN awards
and casualties)
|
|
MONDAY
28TH JUNE
|
|
WESTERN
FRONT
|
EASTERN
FRONT
ITALIAN
FRONT
29th
- First Battle of the Isonzo
begins (see July 7th).
|
GALLIPOLI
28th
- Action of Gully Ravine begins
(see July 2nd). (link to British
despatches, RN awards and
casualties)
WEST
AFRICA
28th
- Operations of the first advance
on Yaunde (Cameroons) end (see
7th).
28th
- Ngaundere (Cameroons) captured
by the Allied Northern Force.
|
MERCHANT SHIPPING
British, Allied and Neutral
ships lost to enemy submarines,
mines and cruisers etc in the
month - 128 ships of 131,000
tons gross (Lloyd's War Losses)
|
JULY 1915
|
POLITICAL
|
WESTERN
EUROPE
|
EASTERN
& SOUTHERN EUROPE
|
ASIA
& AFRICA
|
NAVAL
& MARITIME
|
THURSDAY
1st JULY
|
BRITAIN
2nd
- Munitions of War Act, 1915,
becomes law in Great Britain.
2nd
- Ministry of Munitions formed in
Great Britain.
|
WESTERN
FRONT
|
EASTERN
FRONT
1st
- Second Battle of Krasnik
begins (see 19th).
ITALIAN
FRONT
First
Battle of the Isonzo continues.
|
GALLIPOLI
2nd
- Action of Gully Ravine ends (see
June 28th).
ARABIA
4th
- Lahej (South Arabia) taken by
Turkish forces (4th/5th).
SOUTH
WEST AFRICA
1st
- Otavifontein (German South-West
Africa) captured by South African
forces (see June 19th).
|
BALTIC
2nd
- Naval action in the Baltic
between Russian and German
squadrons off Gottland. German
minelayer "Albatross" driven
ashore.
|
MONDAY
5th JULY
|
|
WESTERN
FRONT
|
EASTERN
FRONT
Second
Battle of Krasnik continues.
BALKANS
5th
– Durazzo (Albania) occupied by
Serbian forces (see 17th, and
October 4th, 1914),
ITALIAN
FRONT
7th
- First Battle of the Isonzo ends
(see June 29th).
|
SOUTH
WEST AFRICA
9th
- German South-West Africa
capitulates to General Botha (see
September 19th, 1914).
S.M.S.
"Konigsberg" in the Rufiji
Delta (Corbett, Vol 3,
pp63)
|
CRUISER
WARFARE
11th
- German light cruiser "Königsberg"
(below) destroyed in
Rufiji River, by British monitors
(plan - left, see September
20th and October 31st, 1914).
(link
to British despatch, awards
and casualties)
S.M.S.
"Königsberg"
(Photo Ships)
ADRIATIC
7th
- Italian cruiser "Amalfi" sunk by
Austrian submarine in the
Adriatic.
|
MONDAY
12th JULY
|
DIPLOMACY
14th
- Sherif of Mecca opens direct
negotiations with British
Government for co-operation
against the Turks (see October
31st, 1914, and October 24th,
1915).
17th
- Treaty of alliance signed at
Sofia between Austria-Hungary,
Bulgaria, Germany, and Turkey.
Albania to be ceded to Bulgaria in
return for Bulgarian participation
in war.
BRITAIN
15th
- National Registration Act
becomes law in Great Britain (see
August 15th).
CANADA
14th
- A Dominion Premier (Sir R.
Borden, Canada) for the first time
attends meeting of the British
Cabinet (see April 14th).
|
WESTERN
FRONT
|
EASTERN
FRONT
Second
Battle of Krasnik continues
13th
- Great Austro-German
Offensive on Eastern front
begins.
ITALIAN
FRONT
18th
- Second Battle of the Isonzo
begins (see August 10th).
|
PERSIA
12th
- British residency at Bushire
(South Persia) attacked by
Tangistani tribesmen (see August
8th)
(link to British
despatch)
|
ADRIATIC
18th
- Italian cruiser "Giuseppe
Garibaldi" (below - Photo
Ships) sunk by Austrian
submarine in the Adriatic.
17th
- Durazzo evacuated by the Serbian
forces at request of Italian
Government (see 4th, and August
31st).
|
MONDAY
19th JULY
|
DIPLOMACY
25th
- British Government guarantee to
Greece eventual cession of
Mitylene by Turkey (see March
20th).
|
WESTERN
FRONT
|
EASTERN
FRONT
Great
Austro-German Offensive continues.
19th
- Second Battle of Krasnik
ends (see 1st).
21st
- Ivangorod (Poland) invested by
Austro-German forces (see August
5th).
24th
- Rozan and Pultusk (North Poland)
stormed by German forces.
ITALIAN
FRONT
Second
Battle of the Isonzo continues.
|
MESOPOTAMIAN
FRONT
(plan - right)
25th
- Nasiriya taken by British forces
(see June 27th).
(link to
British despatches, RN awards
and casualties)
EAST
AFRICA
22nd
- Bukoba, on Victoria Nyanza
(German East Africa), captured by
British forces (22nd/23rd).
|
Sketch Map of the
Euphrates, Nasiriyah to Chabaish
|
MONDAY
26th JULY
|
DIPLOMACY
29th
- Entente Governments warn
Montenegro that they will not
recognise her occupation of
Albanian territory (see June
26th).
30th
- The Pope sends appeal for peace
to belligerent Governments (see
November 5th, 1914, and August
1st, 1917).
|
WESTERN
FRONT
|
EASTERN
FRONT
Great
Austro-German Offensive continues.
ITALIAN
FRONT
Second
Battle of the Isonzo continues.
|
PERSIA
29th
- Establishment of the East Persia
Cordon (Anglo-Russian) begins (see
October 7th).
|
ADRIATIC
26th
- Pelagosa Island, in Adriatic,
occupied by Italian forces.
MERCHANT SHIPPING
British, Allied and Neutral
ships lost to enemy submarines,
mines and cruisers etc in the
month - 101 ships of 112,000
tons gross (Lloyd's War Losses)
|
AUGUST 1915
|
POLITICAL
|
WESTERN
EUROPE
|
EASTERN
& SOUTHERN EUROPE
|
ASIA
& AFRICA
|
NAVAL
& MARITIME
|
SUNDAY
1st AUGUST
|
|
WESTERN
FRONT
|
EASTERN
FRONT
Great
Austro-German Offensive continues.
ITALIAN
FRONT
Second
Battle of the Isonzo continues.
|
Sea of Marmara (Corbett,
Vol 3, Map Case No.3)
|
GALLIPOLI
1st
- Constantinople harbour raided by
British submarine (in Sea of
Marmara, plan - left)
|
MONDAY
2nd AUGUST
|
DIPLOMACY
6th
- Bulgarian Government negotiate
fresh loan for 400,000,000 francs
with Austro-German banks (see
February 3rd).
6th
- Agreement concluded between
Japan and China substituting
Japanese authority for German in
Tsingtau customs (see November
7th, 1914).
PORTUGAL
6th
- Dr. Machado Guimaraes elected
Portuguese President (see October
5th, 1915, and December 11th,
1917).
|
WESTERN
FRONT
|
EASTERN
FRONT
Great
Austro-German Offensive continues.
5th
- Warsaw occupied by German forces
(see July 13th).
5th
- Ivangorod taken by Austro-German
forces (see July 21st).
ITALIAN
FRONT
Second
Battle of the Isonzo continues.
|
CAUCASUS
FRONT
3rd
- Van (Armenia) evacuated by the
Russian forces (see 5th, and May
19th).
5th
- Van occupied by Turkish forces
(see 3rd).
GALLIPOLI
6th
- Battle of Sari Bair begins (see
9th and 10th).
Operations against
Suvla: The Landings of the XIth
Division (Corbett, Vol 3, pp93)
|
BALTIC
8th
- German naval attack on Riga
begins (see 21st).
GALLIPOLI
6th
- Operations of the landing at
Suvla (Gallipoli) begin (see
15th)
(link
to British despatches, RN
awards and casualties)
(plan - left)
8th
- Turkish battleship
"Barbarousse-Hairedine" sunk by
British submarine "E.-11" in
the Dardanelles.
PERSIAN
GULF (plan -below)
8th
- Bushire (South Persia) occupied
by British forces (see July 12th
and September 9th) (link to British
despatch).
Sketch Map of
Bushire Island
|
MONDAY
9th AUGUST
|
DIPLOMACY
15th
- Entente Governments make
conditional offer of territorial
acquisitions to Serbia (see 30th,
and May 7th).
BRITAIN
15th
- National Register taken in Great
Britain (see July 15th).
JAPAN
10th
- Viscount Kato, Japanese Minister
for Foreign Affairs, resigns
(previously appointed April 16th,
1911) (see 10th).
10th
- Marquis Okuma appointed Japanese
Minister for Foreign Affairs (ad
interim) (see 9th, and September
21st).
|
WESTERN
FRONT
AVIATION
10th
- German airship " L.-12 "
extensively damaged by British
aircraft off Ostend.
|
EASTERN
FRONT
Great
Austro-German Offensive continues.
ITALIAN
FRONT
10th
- Second Battle of the Isonzo ends
(see July 18th).
|
GALLIPOLI
9th
- Decisive day of Battle of Sari
Bair (see 6th and 10th).
10th
- Battle of Sari Bair ends (see
6th and 9th). (link to British
despatches, RN awards and
casualties)
H.M.T.
"Royal Edward"
(Photo Ships)
|
U-BOAT
WARFARE
13th
- H.M.T. "Royal Edward" (left)
sunk by German submarine.
(First transport so lost.)
NAVAL
AVIATION
12th
- First ship sunk by torpedo from
British seaplane (Dardanelles).
GALLIPOLI
(Locations - below)
15th
- Operations of the landing at
Suvla end (see 6th and 21st). (link to British
despatches, RN awards and
casualties)
Gallipoli
1915
|
MONDAY
16th AUGUST
|
DIPLOMACY
21st
- Italy declares war on Turkey.
GREECE
22nd
- M. Venizelos again appointed
Premier of Greece in succession to
M. Gounaris (see March 6th and 9th
and October 5th).
PERSIA
17th
- Ain ed Douleh, Persian Prime
Minister, resigns (see 18th, and
April 27th).
18th
- Mustaufi ul Mamalek again
appointed Persian Prime Minister
(see 17th. and December 24th).
|
WESTERN
FRONT
Entrance to the
Baltic showing the track of E.8,
August 1915
(Corbett, Vol 4, pp92)
|
EASTERN
FRONT
Great
Austro-German Offensive continues.
17th
- Kowno stormed by German forces
(17th/18th).
20th
- Novo-Georgievsk (Poland) stormed
by German forces.
22nd
- Osovets (North Poland) stormed
by German forces.
The Central Baltic
(Corbett, Vol 4, pp94)
|
GALLIPOLI
21st
- Battle of Scimitar Hill (Suvla)
(see 15th). (link to British
despatches, RN awards and
casualties)
Gulf of Riga
S.M.S.
"Moltke"
(Maritime Quest)
|
U-BOAT
WARFARE
19th
- H.M.S. "Baralong" (special
service ship or Q-ship) destroys
German submarine "U.-27" in
the Atlantic.
19th
- British S.S. "Arabic" sunk by
German submarine.
21st
- First authenticated case of
German submarine firing on a
ship's crew in open boats (British
S.S. "Ruel").
BRITISH
COASTAL RAID
16th
- Lowca and Harrington, near
Whitehaven (Cumberland), shelled
by German submarine.
BALTIC
(Plans - left and far left)
19th
- German battle cruiser "Moltke" (left)
torpedoed by British submarine
"E.-l"
in Gulf of Riga.
19th
- British submarine "E.-13"
attacked by German warships while
aground in Danish waters.
21st
- German naval attack on Riga
discontinued (see 8th).
|
MONDAY
23rd AUGUST
|
|
WESTERN
FRONT
|
EASTERN
FRONT
Great
Austro-German Offensive continues.
25th
- Brest-Litovsk (Poland) taken by
German forces (25th/26th).
26th
- Byelostok (Poland) taken by
German forces.
|
|
|
MONDAY
30th AUGUST
|
DIPLOMACY
30th
- British Foreign Minister (Sir E.
Grey) informs M. Supilo that,
provided Serbia agreed, the Allies
could guarantee the eventual
freedom and self-determination of
Bosnia, Herzegovina, South
Dalmatia, Slavonia, and Croatia
(see 15th, and May 7th).
|
WESTERN
FRONT
|
EASTERN
FRONT
Great
Austro-German Offensive continues.
BALKANS
31st
- Durazzo (Albania) reoccupied by
Serbian forces (see July 17th and
December 6th).
|
|
MERCHANT SHIPPING
British, Allied and Neutral
ships lost to enemy submarines,
mines and cruisers etc in the
month - 122 ships of 196,000
tons gross (Lloyd's War Losses)
|
SEPTEMBER 1915
|
POLITICAL
|
WESTERN
EUROPE
|
EASTERN
& SOUTHERN EUROPE
|
ASIA
& AFRICA
|
NAVAL
& MARITIME
|
WEDNESDAY
1st SEPTEMBER
|
RUSSIA
5th
- The Tsar supersedes the Grand
Duke Nicholas in supreme command
of the Russian Armies with General
Alexeiev as Chief of Staff (see
8th, August 3rd, 1914, and March
15th and June 4th, 1917). (Though
nominally Chief of Staff, General
Alexeiev was virtually
Commander-in-Chief and performed
the duties of that office till the
Tsar's abdication on March 15th,
1917, and continued as
Commander-in-Chief thereafter
without further appointment.)
|
WESTERN
FRONT
|
EASTERN
FRONT
Great
Austro-German Offensive continues.
3rd
- Grodno captured by German forces
(2nd/3rd).
|
INDIA
5th
- Action of Hafiz Kor (North-West
Frontier).
|
U-BOAT
WARFARE
1st
- German Government inform
United States Government that
United States demands for
limitation of submarine activity
are accepted.
MEDITERRANEAN
1st
- Ruad Island, off Syrian coast,
occupied by French forces.
|
MONDAY
6th SEPTEMBER
|
DIPLOMACY
9th
- United States Government request
recall of Austro-Hungarian
Ambassador, Dr. Dumba (appointed
to United States, March 1913) (see
28th).
9th
- Turco-Bulgarian Frontier
Convention signed at Dimotika.
|
WESTERN
FRONT
|
EASTERN
FRONT
Great
Austro-German Offensive continues.
7th
- Russian counter-offensive in
Galicia. Battle of Tarnopol
begins (see 16th).
9th
- Battle of Dvinsk begins (see
November 1st).
9th
- Battle of Vilna begins
(see October 2nd).
|
CAUCASUS
FRONT
8th
- The Grand Duke Nicholas
appointed Viceroy of the Caucasus
(see 5th).
PERSIA
9th
- Bushire (South Persia) again
attacked by tribesmen (see August
8th).
(link to British
despatch)
WEST
AFRICA
8th
- Second Allied Attack on Mora
(Cameroons) (8th/9th).
(link to British
despatche)
|
|
MONDAY
13th SEPTEMBER
|
|
WESTERN
FRONT
|
EASTERN
FRONT
Great
Austro-German Offensive continues.
16th
- Pinsk taken by German forces.
16th
- Battle of Tarnopol ends
(see 7th).
18th
- Vilna taken by German forces
(see 9th).
|
|
|
MONDAY
20th SEPTEMBER
|
DIPLOMACY
21st
- Bulgarian Government order
partial mobilisation (see 22nd).
21st
- Greek Premier (M. Venizelos)
asks for guarantee of 150,000
British and French troops as
condition for Greek intervention
(see 24th, and March 5th).
22nd
- "Dede Agatch Agreement"
concluded between Turkey and
Bulgaria rectifying Turkish
frontier in favour of Bulgaria.
22nd
- Bulgarian Government order
general mobilisation for 25th.
23rd
- Greek Government order
precautionary mobilisation.
24th
- French and British Governments
inform Greek Government that they
are prepared to send troops
requested (see 21st, 27th, and
28th).
25th
- Bulgarian mobilisation begins
(see 22nd).
25th
- Serbian Government give
undertaking to Greek Government to
cede Doiran and Gevgeli eventually
to Greece, and not to claim
Strumitsa.
BRITAIN
25th
- General Sir J. Wolfe Murray,
Chief of the Imperial General
Staff, Great Britain, resigns (see
26th, and October 26th, 1914).
26th
- Lieut.-General
Sir A. J. Murray appointed Chief
of the Imperial General Staff,
Great Britain (see 25th, and
January 24th and December 22nd).
JAPAN
21st
- Viscount Ishii succeeds Marquis
Okuma as Japanese Minister for
Foreign Affairs (see August 10th,
1915, and October 9th, 1916).
|
WESTERN
FRONT
25th
- Allied Autumn Offensive
begins:
Battle
of Loos begins (see October
8th).
Third
Battle of Artois begins (see
June 18th and October 15th).
Second
Battle of Champagne begins
(see March 17th and November 6th).
|
EASTERN
FRONT
Great
Austro-German Offensive continues.
|
WEST
AFRICA
22nd
- Second Advance on Yaunde
(Cameroons) begins (see January
1st, 1916).
|
|
MONDAY
27th SEPTEMBER
|
DIPLOMACY
27th
- Greek Premier (M. Venizelos)
obtains secret consent of King
Constantine to proposed Entente
expedition to Salonika (see 24th
and 28th).
28th
- Dr. Dumba, Austro-Hungarian
Ambassador, recalled from United
States of America (see 9th).
28th
- Greek Government formally refuse
French and British " offer " of
the 24th (see 27th, and October
2nd).
28th
- British and Russian Governments
agree to request of Persian
Government for a monthly
subvention.
BRITAIN
30th
- Lord Derby assumes control of
recruiting in Great Britain (see
December 11th, 1916).
|
WESTERN
FRONT
Allied
Autumn Offensive incl Battle of
Loos, Third Battle of Artois,
Second Battle of Champagne
continues.
|
EASTERN
FRONT
Great
Austro-German Offensive continues.
|
MESOPOTAMIAN
FRONT (Plans - below)
28th
- Battle of Kut, 1915 (link to
British despatches, RN awards
and casualties)
Lower Mesopotamia
(Corbett, Vol 3, Map Case No.1)
Sketch Map of the
Tigris, Kut-al-Amarah to Sheikh Saad
|
ADRIATIC
27th
- Italian battleship "Benedetto
Brin" (below - Photo Ships) destroyed
by internal explosion in harbour
at Brindisi.
MERCHANT SHIPPING
British, Allied and Neutral
ships lost to enemy submarines,
mines and cruisers etc in the
month - 72 ships of 151,000 tons
gross (Lloyd's War Losses)
|
OCTOBER 1915
|
POLITICAL
|
WESTERN
EUROPE
|
EASTERN
& SOUTHERN EUROPE
|
ASIA
& AFRICA
|
NAVAL
& MARITIME
|
FRIDAY
1st OCTOBER
|
DIPLOMACY
2nd
- Greek Premier (M. Venizelos)
asks British and French
Governments to land troops at
Salonika as soon as possible (see
3rd and 5th, and September 28th).
|
WESTERN
FRONT
Allied
Autumn Offensive incl Battle of
Loos, Third Battle of Artois,
Second Battle of Champagne
continues.
AVIATION
1st
- Beginning of period in which the
Germans obtained mastery in the
air on the Western front (due to
the Fokker machine) (Approximate
date.) (see
April 1st, 1916).
|
EASTERN
FRONT
2nd
- Battle of Vilna ends (see
September 9th).
|
|
BALTIC
3rd
- First German merchant vessel
(S.S. "Livonia") sunk by British
submarine in the Baltic.
GREECE
3rd
- Allied troops arrive at
Salonika: Greek Government protest
against a landing (see 2nd, 5th
and 6th).
(link
to British despatch)
|
MONDAY
4th OCTOBER
|
DIPLOMACY
4th
- Entente Powers send ultimatum to
Bulgaria (see 5th and 13th).
5th
- Russia severs diplomatic
relations with Bulgaria (see 4th
and 19th).
(GREECE)
5th
- King of Greece refuses to
support policy of Premier (M.
Venizelos) (see 2nd, and September
27th). M. Venizelos again resigns
(see 6th, and August 22nd, 1915,
and June 26th, 1917).
6th
- M. Zaimis appointed Greek
Premier (see 5th, and November
5th). King of Greece gives
assurance to British Minister that
Greece will maintain neutrality,
but Greek mobilisation (see
September 23rd) and Allied
disembarkation at Salonika will
proceed (see 3rd, 5th and 8th).
8th
- New Greek Government (see 6th)
announce policy of armed
neutrality.
10th
- Greek Government reject Serbian
claim for help under Serbo-Greek
Treaty of 1912.
PORTUGAL
5th
- Dr. Machado Guimaraes succeeds
Dr. J. Braga as Portuguese
President (see May 28th, and
August 6th, 1915, and December
11th, 1917).
|
WESTERN
FRONT
Allied
Autumn Offensive incl Third
Battle of Artois, Second Battle
of Champagne continues.
8th
- Battle of Loos ends (see
September 25th).
|
EASTERN
FRONT
BALKAN
FRONT (now combining Serbian
and Salonika Fronts)
6th
- Final Austro-German invasion
of Serbia begins (see
December 15th, 1914).
7th
- Austro-German forces effect
passage of the Save and Danube
(see 6th).
9th
- Belgrade taken by Austrian
forces (see December 15th, 1914,
and November 1st, 1918).
11th
- Hostilities commence between
Bulgarian and Serbian forces (see
14th).
11th
- Semendria (Serbia) taken by
Austrian forces (see 6th).
|
PERSIA
7th
- Birjand occupied by British
forces (see July 29th).
INDIA
9th
- Second Affair of Hafiz Kor
(North-West Frontier of India).
|
GREECE
5th
- French and British forces land
at Salonika (see 3rd).
(link
to British despatch)
The Balkans (Corbett,
Vol 4, pp100)
|
MONDAY
11th OCTOBER
|
DIPLOMACY
13th
- Great Britain severs diplomatic
relations with Bulgaria (see 4th
and 15th).
14th
- Bulgaria and Serbia declare war
on one another (see 4th and 11th).
15th
- Great Britain declares "state of
war" with Bulgaria (see 13th).
15th
- Montenegro declares "state of
war" with Bulgaria.
15th
- Rumanian Government refuse to
aid Serbia (see January 25th).
16th
- France declares "state of war"
with Bulgaria (see 4th and 15th).
16th
- British Government offer Cyprus
to Greece if she will support
Serbia (see 20th, and January
24th).
BELGIUM
12th
- Miss Edith Cavell shot in
Brussels by order of a German
court-martial.
FRANCE
13th
- M. Delcasse French Foreign
Minister, resigns; M. Viviani
succeeds temporarily (see 29th and
30th).
|
WESTERN
FRONT
Allied
Autumn Offensive incl Second
Battle of Champagne continues.
15th
- Third Battle of Artois ends
(see September 25th).
AVIATION
13th
- Most severe airship raid on East
Coast of England and London;
casualties 200 (see January 19th
and May 31st, 1915, October 19th,
1917, and August 5th, 1918).
|
EASTERN
FRONT
BALKAN
FRONT
Final
Austro-German invasion of Serbia
continues.
13th
- Hostilities commence between
French and Bulgarian forces in
Macedonia.
15th
- Vranje (Serbia) taken by
Bulgarian forces (see October 5th,
1918).
|
MEDITERRANEAN
15th
- General Sir Charles Monro
appointed to succeed Sir Ian
Hamilton as Commander-in-Chief,
Mediterranean Expeditionary Force
(see 17th and 28th, and March
17th).
17th
- General Sir William Birdwood
takes over temporary command of
Mediterranean Expeditionary Force
from Sir Ian Hamilton (see 15th
and 28th).
|
AEGEAN
(plan - below)
16th
- Entente Governments proclaim
blockade of Aegean coast of
Bulgaria.
Operations in the
Aegean (Corbett,
Vol 3, Map Case No.5)
|
MONDAY
18th OCTOBER
|
DIPLOMACY
19th
- Russia and Italy declare war on
Bulgaria (see 4th and 5th).
19th
- Japan declares adherence to the
Pact of London (see September 5th,
1914, and November 30th, 1915).
20th
- Greek Government reject British
offer of Cyprus (see 16th).
24th
- British Government in letter to
Sherif of Mecca define territorial
limits of proposed Arab State (see
July 14th, 1915, and June 5th,
1916).
|
WESTERN
FRONT
Allied
Autumn Offensive incl Second
Battle of Champagne continues.
|
EASTERN
FRONT
BALKAN
FRONT
Final
Austro-German invasion of Serbia
continues.
19th
- Ishtip (Serbia) taken by
Bulgarian forces (see September
25th, 1918).
21st
- Veles taken by Bulgarian forces
(see September 25th, 1918).
22nd
- Kumanovo and Uskub (Skoplje)
taken by Bulgarian forces.
22nd
- Shabatz taken by Austrian
forces.
24th
- First Action of Krivolak
(Macedonia).
24th
- Negotin, on River Vardar, taken
by Bulgarian forces.
ITALIAN
FRONT
18th
- Third Battle of the Isonzo
begins (see November 3rd).
|
|
BALTIC
23rd
- German cruiser "Prinz Adalbert"
(below - Photo Ships) sunk
by British submarine "E.-8" in the
Baltic.
AEGEAN
21st.
- Dede Agatch (Bulgaria) bombarded
by Allied squadron.
|
MONDAY
25th OCTOBER
|
BRITAIN
30th
- Last meeting of Dardanelles
Committee of the British Cabinet
(see June 7th and November 3rd).
FRANCE
29th
- M. Viviani, French Premier and
Foreign Minister, resigns (date of
appointment as Premier June 14th,
1914) (see 13th and 30th).
29th
- M. Millerand, French Minister
for War, resigns (see 30th, and
August 27th, 1914).
30th
- M. Briand succeeds M. Viviani as
French Premier and Foreign
Minister (see 29th, and March
17th, 1917).
30th
- General Gallieni appointed
French Minister for War (see 29th,
and March 16th, 1916).
|
WESTERN
FRONT
Allied
Autumn Offensive incl Second
Battle of Champagne continues.
|
EASTERN
FRONT
BALKAN
FRONT
Final
Austro-German invasion of Serbia
continues.
28th
- Lieut.-General
Sir Bryan Mahon appointed General
Officer Commanding British Forces,
Balkans (see May 9th, 1916).
30th
- Second Action of Krivolak
(Macedonia).
ITALIAN
FRONT
Third
Battle of the Isonzo continues.
|
MEDITERRANEAN
28th
- General Sir Charles Monro
assumes command of Mediterranean
Expeditionary Force (see 15th,
17th, and November 4th).
WEST
AFRICA
30th
- Third Allied attack on Mora
(Cameroons) begins (see November
4th).
|
ROYAL
NAVY
28th
- H.M.S. "Argyll"
(below - Photo Ships) wrecked
on east coast of Scotland.
MERCHANT SHIPPING
British, Allied and Neutral
ships lost to enemy submarines,
mines and cruisers etc in the
month - 41 ships of 84,000 tons
gross (Lloyd's War Losses)
|
NOVEMBER 1915
|
POLITICAL
|
WESTERN
EUROPE
|
EASTERN
& SOUTHERN EUROPE
|
ASIA
& AFRICA
|
NAVAL
& MARITIME
|
MONDAY
1st NOVEMBER
|
DIPLOMACY
2nd
- British Premier (Mr. Asquith)
declares Serbian independence to
be an essential object of the war.
BRITAIN
3rd
- First meeting of
newly-constituted
War Committee of British Cabinet
to replace the Dardanelles
Committee (see October 30th, 1915,
and December 1st, 1916).
SERBIA
3rd
- Serbian Government leave Nish
(see 23rd, and July 25th, 1914).
GREECE
5th
- M. Zaimis, Greek Prime Minister,
resigns (see 6th. and October
6th).
6th
- M. Skouloudhis appointed Greek
Premier (see 5th, and June 21st,
1916).
|
WESTERN
FRONT
6th
- Second Battle of Champagne
ends (see September 25th).
|
EASTERN
FRONT
1st
- Battle of Dvinsk ends (see
September 9th).
BALKAN
FRONT
Final
Austro-German invasion of Serbia
continues.
1st
- Kragujevatz (North Serbia) taken
by Austro-German forces
(30th/1st).
4th
- General Sir Charles Monro
appointed to command Salonika
Force.
5th
- Nish taken by Bulgarian forces
(see 3rd, and October 11th, 1918).
5th
- Battle of Kachanik (Serbia)
begins (see 8th).
ITALIAN
FRONT
3rd
- Third Battle of the Isonzo ends
(see October 18th).
AVIATION
5th
- German airship "L.Z.-39"
destroyed near Grodno.
|
MEDITERRANEAN
4th
- Sir William Birdwood to command
Mediterranean Expeditionary Force
(see 25th, and October 15th, 17th,
and 28th).
GALLIPOLI
4th
- Lord Kitchener leaves England
for the Dardanelles (see 10th). (link to British
despatches, RN awards and
casualties)
PERSIA
2nd
- Kasvin (West Persia) occupied by
a Russian force.
WEST
AFRICA
4th
- Third Allied attack on Mora
(Cameroons) abandoned (see October
30th).
4th
- Banyo (Cameroons) attacked by
General Cunliffe's Allied force
(see 6th).
6th
- Banyo captured by Allied force
(see 4th).
S.M.S.
"Undine" (Photo Ships)
|
MERCHANT SHIPPING
3rd
- Port and Transit Executive
Committee formed in Great Britain
(see 10th).
U-BOAT
WARFARE
6th
- Sollum (Western Egypt) attacked
by German submarine (see 14th).
(Egyptian coastguard cruiser
"Abbas" sunk and "Nur el Bahr"
disabled.)
(link
to part of British despatch)
7th
- Italian S.S. "Ancona" (below
- Photo Ships) sunk by
Austrian submarine.
BALTIC
7th
- German cruiser "Undine" (left)
sunk by British submarine "E.-19."
|
MONDAY
8th NOVEMBER
|
GREECE
8th
- Entente loan (£1,600,000) to
Greece concluded (see July 20th,
1916).
|
WESTERN
FRONT
|
EASTERN
FRONT
BALKAN
FRONT
Final
Austro-German invasion of Serbia
continues.
8th
- Battle of Kachanik ends (see
5th).
ITALIAN
FRONT
10th
- Fourth Battle of the Isonzo
begins (see December 10th).
|
GALLIPOLI
10th
- Lord Kitchener arrives at the
Dardanelles (see 4th).
EGYPT/WESTERN
DESERT
14th
- Senussi commence hostilities
against British by attacking
Egyptian post at Sollum (see 6th
and 23rd).
MESOPOTAMIAN
FRONT
10th
- Indian Corps begins to leave
France for Mesopotamia (see
October 19th, 1914).
11th
- First British advance on Baghdad
begins (see 22nd).
(link to
British despatches, RN awards
and casualties)
|
MERCHANT
SHIPPING
10th
- Ship Licensing Committee formed
in Great Britain: Order in Council
prohibits voyages between foreign
ports except under licence (see
February 15th, 1916).
10th
- Requisitioning (Carriage of
Foodstuffs) Committee formed in
Great Britain: Order in Council
authorises requisition of ships
for carriage of foodstuffs (see
November 3rd, 1917).
|
MONDAY
15th NOVEMBER
|
DIPLOMACY
17th
- Anglo-French Conference held in
Paris to discuss aid to Serbia and
Dardanelles expeditions. Project
approved in principle to appoint
Council of War to co-ordinate
Allied action (see December 29th).
|
WESTERN
FRONT
|
EASTERN
FRONT
BALKAN
FRONT
Final
Austro-German invasion of Serbia
continues.
16th
- Babuna Pass and Prilep (South
Serbia) taken by Bulgarian forces
(see September 23rd, 1918).
20th
- Novi Bazar taken by Austrian
forces (see October 14th, 1918).
ITALIAN
FRONT
Fourth
Battle
of the Isonzo continues.
|
PERSIA
15th
- Representatives of Central
Powers leave Teheran (Persia) on
approach of Russian forces.
|
MINE
WARFARE
17th
- British hospital ship "Anglia"
sunk by mine off Dover.
|
MONDAY
22nd NOVEMBER
|
DIPLOMACY
23rd
- Entente Powers send Note to
Greek Government demanding
non-interference with Allied
troops, and guaranteeing eventual
restoration of occupied Greek
territory (see 24th, and October
3rd).
24th
- Greek Government accept Entente
demands of the 23rd.
25th
- M. Albert Thomas announces
arrangements completed for
inter-Allied organisation of
munitions.
SERBIA
23rd
- Serbian Government leave Prizren
for Scutari (Shkodra) (see 3rd,
and December 3rd).
|
WESTERN
FRONT
|
EASTERN
FRONT
BALKAN
FRONT
Final
Austro-German invasion of Serbia
continues.
23rd
- Mitrovitza and Pristina (Serbia)
taken by Austro-German forces (see
October 10th, 1918).
ITALIAN
FRONT
Fourth
Battle
of the Isonzo continues.
23rd
- Rovereto (Trentino) taken by
Italian forces.
|
MEDITERRANEAN
25th
- General Sir Charles Monro
appointed Commander-in-Chief
reconstituted Mediterranean
Expeditionary Force with Sir
William Birdwood General Officer
Commanding Dardanelles Army (see
4th, and January 9th, 1916).
EGYPT/WESTERN
DESERT
23rd
- British military operations
against the Senussi commence (see
December 13th, 1915, and February
8th, 1917); Sollum post evacuated
(see 14th).
MESOPOTAMIAN
FRONT
22nd
- Battle of Ctesiphon begins (see
25th).
24th
- Field-Marshal von der Goltz (see
December 10th, 1914, and April
19th, 1916) takes command of
Turkish forces in Mesopotamia.
25th
- British retreat from Ctesiphon
to Kut al Amara begins (see 22nd,
and December 3rd).
(link to
British despatches, RN awards
and casualties)
EAST
AFRICA
22nd
- General Sir H. Smith-Dorrien
appointed Commander-in-Chief of
British forces in East Africa (see
January 31st, 1916). (Did not take
over command owing to illness.)
|
CONTRABAND
CONTROL
23rd
- British Government conclude
preliminary agreement with the
Netherlands Overseas Trust for
rationing of Holland (see June
3rd, 1915, and June 30th, 1916).
24th
- Danish merchants and
manufacturers conclude agreement
with the British Government to
restrict supplies to Germany.
|
MONDAY
29th NOVEMBER
|
DIPLOMACY
30th
- Formal signature of the Pact of
London by Great Britain, France,
Russia, Japan, and Italy (see
September 5th, 1914; April 26th,
1915; and October 19th, 1915).
PORTUGAL
29th
- Dr. A. Augusto da Costa succeeds
Dr. J. de Castro as Portuguese
Premier (see June 19th, 1915, and
March 15th, 1916).
|
WESTERN
FRONT
|
EASTERN
FRONT
BALKAN
FRONT
30th
- Serbian retreat through
Albania begins (see January
15th, 1916).
ITALIAN
FRONT
Fourth
Battle
of the Isonzo continues.
|
|
MERCHANT SHIPPING
British, Allied and Neutral
ships lost to enemy submarines,
mines and cruisers etc in the
month - 63 ships of 152,000 tons
gross (Lloyd's War Losses)
|
DECEMBER 1915
|
POLITICAL
|
WESTERN
EUROPE
|
EASTERN
& SOUTHERN EUROPE
|
ASIA
& AFRICA
|
NAVAL
& MARITIME
|
WEDNESDAY
1st DECEMBER
|
DIPLOMACY
1st
- Italy announces her adherence to
the Pact of London (see November
30th).
4th
- United States Government request
recall of German attaches Captains
Boy-Ed and Von Papen (see 10th).
FRANCE
3rd
- General Joffre, Chief of French
General Staff from July 28th,
1911, appointed Commander-in-Chief
French Armies. Appointment of
Chief of General Staff lapses (see
April 29th, 1917).
|
WESTERN
FRONT
|
EASTERN
FRONT
BALKAN
FRONT
1st
- Prizren (Serbia) taken by
Bulgarian forces (see October
11th, 1918)
2nd
- Monastir (Serbia) taken by
Bulgarian forces (see November
19th, 1916).
2nd
- French retreat from Serbia to
Salonika begins: Krivolak
evacuated.
3rd
- Serbian Government and military
headquarters set up at Scutari
(Shkodra) (see November 23rd,
1915, and January 15th, 1916).
5th
- Action of Demir Kapu (5th/6th)
in French retreat from Serbia.
ITALIAN
FRONT
Fourth
Battle
of the Isonzo continues.
|
MESOPOTAMIAN
FRONT
3rd
- British forces, retreating from
Ctesiphon, reach Kut (see 7th, and
November 25th).
5th
- Kut placed in state of defence
(see 3rd and 7th)
(link to
British despatches, RN awards
and casualties)
|
|
MONDAY
6th DECEMBER
|
DIPLOMACY
10th
- German Government recall from
United States attaches Von Papen
and Boy-Ed (see 4th, and January
15th, 1916).
11th
- Greek Government refuse Entente
demand for withdrawal of Greek
troops from Salonika (see 9th).
FRANCE
9th
- General Castelnau appointed
Chief of Staff to General Joffre
(see 3rd).
CHINA
11th
- Yuan-Shih-Kai accepts throne of
China (see March 22nd, 1916, and
June 6th, 1916).
|
WESTERN
FRONT
|
EASTERN
FRONT
BALKAN
FRONT
6th
- Ipek (Montenegro) taken by
Austro-German forces (see October
14th, 1918).
7th
- Actions of Kosturino (7th/8th).
British retreat from Macedonia
begins.
8th
- Debra and Okhrida (Serbia) taken
by Bulgarian forces.
9th
- General Sarrail demands
withdrawal of Greek troops from
Salonika (see 11th).
11th
- Doiran and Gevgeli (South
Serbia) taken by Bulgarian forces
(see September 22nd, 1918).
ITALIAN
FRONT
10th
- Fourth Battle of the Isonzo ends
(see November 10th).
|
MESOPOTAMIAN
FRONT
7th
- Siege of Kut begins (see 3rd,
and January 4th and April 29th,
1916).
(link to
British despatches, RN awards
and casualties)
|
CONTRABAND
CONTROL
6th
- British Government put economic
pressure on Greece by making the
"export restrictions" apply to
that country (see 13th).
7th
- Agreement concluded between
French Government and Netherlands
Oversea Trust (see November 23rd,
1914, and November 23rd, 1915).
ADRIATIC
6th
- Durazzo bombarded by Austrian
squadron (see 20th, and August
31st).
GALLIPOLI
8th
- Evacuation of Suvla and Anzac
ordered (see 19th and 20th). (link to British
despatches, RN awards and
casualties)
|
MONDAY
13th DECEMBER
|
|
WESTERN
FRONT
15th
- Field-Marshal Sir John French
resigns as Commander-in-Chief of
British armies in France (see
19th, and August 4th, 1914, and
May 5th, 1918).
19th
- General Sir Douglas Haig
succeeds Sir John French as
Commander-in-Chief of the British
Armies in France (see 15th, and
January 1st, 1917).
|
EASTERN
FRONT
BALKAN
FRONT
14th
- Bulgarian and Greek General
Staffs conclude agreement
establishing temporary neutral
zone along Greek frontier.
15th
- The last Allied forces in
Macedonia withdrawn into Greek
territory (see 7th, and September
19th, 1916).
19th
- Bulgarian and Greek General
Staffs conclude agreement
establishing temporary neutral
zone along Greek frontier.
|
EGYPT/WESTERN
DESERT
13th
- Affair of the Wadi Senab
(11th/13th) (see November 23rd,
1915, and February 26th, 1916).
PERSIA
14th
- Hamadan (Western Persia)
occupied by Russian forces (see
August 10th, 1916).
15th
- Qasr-i-Shirin (Western Persia)
occupied by Turkish forces (see
May 7th, 1916).
|
CONTRABAND
CONTROL
12th
- British Government order partial
relaxation of economic pressure on
Greece (see 6th).
BALTIC
17th
- German light cruiser "Bremen"
sunk by British submarine in the
Baltic. (Confirmed as mined)
GALLIPOLI
19th
- Evacuation of Suvla (plan
- below) and Anzac begun
(see 8th and 20th). (link
to British despatches, RN
awards and casualties)
Suvla Beach, at the
date of evacuation (Corbett, Vol 3,
pp237)
|
MONDAY
20th DECEMBER
|
DIPLOMACY
26th
- Treaty concluded between British
Government and Ibn Sa'ud, Emir of
Nejd (see July 18th, 1916).
BRITAIN
22nd
- Lieut.-General
Sir A. J. Murray, Chief of the
Imperial General Staff, resigns
(see 23rd, and September 26th,
1915, and March 19th, 1916)
23rd
- General Sir W. Robertson
appointed Chief of the Imperial
General Staff (see 22nd, and
February 18th, 1918).
PERSIA
24th
- Mustaufi ul Mamalek (Persian
Prime Minister) resigns (see 25th,
and August 18th).
25th
- Prince Firman Firma appointed
Prime Minister of Persia (see
24th, and March 5th, 1916).
|
WESTERN
FRONT
22nd
- Lieut.-General
Sir W. Robertson resigns as Chief
of the General Staff, British
Expeditionary Force, France (see
23rd, and January 25th), and is
succeeded by Lieut.-General L. E.
Kiggell (see January 27th, 1918).
|
EASTERN
FRONT
BALKAN
FRONT
20th
– Durazzo (Albania) occupied by
Italian forces (see 6th, and
February 27th, 1916).
Lake Tanganyika
Operations
(Corbett, Vol 4, pp82)
|
EGYPT/WESTERN
DESERT
25th
- Affair of the Wadi Majid
(Western Egypt).
MESOPOTAMIAN
FRONT
25th
- Turkish Christmas Eve Attack on
Kut (24th/25th).(link to
British despatches, RN awards
and casualties)
PERSIA
25th
- Kangavar (Western Persia)
occupied by a Russian force.
|
CONTRABAND
CONTROL
23rd
- "Trading with the Enemy
(Extension of Powers) Act, 1915"
(beginning of " Black List "
policy), comes into force in Great
Britain (see January 26th and July
28th, 1916).
CRUISER
WARFARE
26th
- German raider "Möwe"
sails from Bremen on first cruise
(see February 1st, 1916).
GALLIPOLI
20th
- Evacuation of Suvla and
Anzac completed (see 8th,
19th and 28th).
(link to British
despatches, RN awards and
casualties)
EAST
AFRICA
23rd
- British naval operations on Lake
Tanganyika begin (see 26th).
(plan - far left)
26th
- Naval action on Lake Tanganyika:
German gunboat "Kingani" captured
by H.M.S. "Mimi" and "Toutou" (see
23rd, and February 9th, 1916).
(link to
British despatch)
|
MONDAY
27th DECEMBER
|
DIPLOMACY
29th
- Draft rules approved for
Inter-Allied Council of War (see
November 17th).
|
WESTERN
FRONT
|
EASTERN
FRONT
BALKAN
FRONT
30th
- Consuls of Central Powers at
Salonika arrested and deported by
order of General Sarrail,
Commanding French troops.
|
H.M.S.
"Natal" (Photo Ships)
|
EMPIRE
TROOP MOVEMENTS
31st
- Last units of Indian
Expeditionary Force "G" leave the
Dardanelles to amalgamate with
Indian Expeditionary Force "E" in
Egypt (see April 7th).
ROYAL
NAVY
30th
- H.M.S. "Natal" (left)
destroyed by internal explosion in
Cromarty harbour.
ADRIATIC
29th
- Durazzo raided by Austrian naval
light forces: latter brought to
action in Southern Adriatic.
GALLIPOLI
28th
- Evacuation of remainder of
Gallipoli Peninsula ordered (see
20th, and January 8th, 1916). (link to British
despatches, RN awards and
casualties)
MERCHANT SHIPPING
British, Allied and Neutral
ships lost to enemy submarines,
mines and cruisers etc in the
month - 47 ships of 123,000 tons
gross. Total for 1915 - 772
ships of 1,323,000 tons gross
(Lloyd's War Losses)
|