November 17 - First War Budget

The first War Budget is introduced into the House of Commons by the Chancellor, Mr Lloyd George. During his speech, the Chancellor declares, "The general public had no idea as to the costliness of the undertaking. ... We have at least 2,000,000 men serving the country under arms at the present moment, and, if the next million is enlisted ... there will be 3,000,000 men under arms. It is forgotten too often that, in addition to a very considerable Army, we are maintaining a huge Navy as well."

Lloyd George estimates the cost to the Treasury of the first full year of the war will be £450,000,000. Since this sum could not be raised entirely by taxation, he proposes a general War Loan of £350,000,000 at a rate of 3.5%. The War Loan is approved and becomes oversubscribed by 27 November. You can read more about the success of the War Loan here.

In France, the 26th Brigade, RFA is heavily attacked by enemy infantry and all batteries are in action all day. In the evening, 116 and 117 are moved.

September 19

Lloyd George

Mr Lloyd George makes a speech to the London Welsh at the Queen's Hall, "to talk to my fellow countrymen about this great war and the part we ought to take in it." You can read his speech by following this link.


The 26th Brigade RFA remains in the same positions. 

September 8 - Loss of the "Oceanic"

RMS Oceanic runs aground off the island of Foula and is wrecked. No lives are lost. She is the first Allied passenger ship to be lost in the war, albeit due to a navigational error.

RMS Oceanic

Sir John French's first official dispatch on the progress of the war is published in the London Gazette. You can read his dispatch in full here.

Loyd George

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, David Lloyd George, refers to "silver bullets". In his speech he said, "I think cash is going to count much more than we possibly imagine at the present moment. ... That is where our resources will come in, not merely of men but but of cash. We have won with the silver bullets before. We financed Europe in the greatest war we ever fought, and that is what won."

You can read this speech in full by following this link.

The 26th Brigade RFA forms an advanced guard with the 1st Brigade. They move to Le Frenois, near Choisy. At 11am, 116 and 118 are in action south of Bellot. Their march continued to bivouack north of Hondevilliers. At 5pm, 116 Battery moved out of bivouack and shells a German column moving through Nogent.