December 9

The Battle of Qurna ends in an Allied victory. The success reinforces the Allied front line in Mesopotamia.

The Mesopotamian front

Punch publishes a cartoon commemorating "The King at the Front".

November 25

Punch publishes its tribute to the late Lord Roberts.

The American "Santa Claus" ship, the Jason, arrives at Plymouth. It contains 5,000,000 gifts from American children for children of the European nations made orphans through the war.

Postcard celebrating the arrival of the Jason to Plymouth

November 4

The Russian advance into Turkish territory in the Caucasus reaches Anzap, allowing the Russians to advance into Armenia within days.

The Russian invasion of the Ottoman Empire

The SMS Yorck, returning to port following the bombardment of Great Yarmouth (see 3 November),  accidentally steams into a German defensive minefield in heavy fog. The ship sinks quickly with heavy loss of life.

Punch publishes "The Excursionist", depicting Kaiser Wilhelm as a "tripper", desperate to go somewhere and anywhere. Note how his suitcase has labels identifying his conquests so far, and the exact location of the ticket office has been censored. Although Punch suggests all the Kaiser's preferred destinations would not fall ("Line blocked"), Warsaw was occupied by the Germans in due course.

THE EXCURSIONIST

TRIPPER WILHELM "First Class to Paris"

CLERK "Line blocked"

WILHELM "Then make it Warsaw"

CLERK "Line blocked"

WILHELM "Well, what about Calais?"

CLERK "Line blocked"

WILHELM "Hang it! I must go somewhere! I promised my people I would"

In Belgium, the 26th Brigade RFA, is ordered to economise on ammunition, and its war diary records "very little fired all day."

October 28

Lord Kitchener announces that a further 100,000 men are urgently needed for the Army.

Punch publishes another political cartoon, "The Limit"

THE LIMIT

The Kaiser: "What are the wild waves saying?"

Wild Waves: "We were just saying, thus far and no farther!"

The 26th Brigade, RFA remains in action all day in the general area of the Ypres-Menin Road.

October 21 - Unconquerable Belgium

Punch publishes another fine cartoon by Bernard Partridge expressing perfectly Belgium's indomitable spirit.

UNCONQUERABLE

The Kaiser: "So you see - you've lost everything"

The King of the Belgians: "Not my soul"

It is announced that expenditure on the war, which in the first ten weeks averaged about five and a half million pounds a week, has risen to about eight and a quarter million pounds a week.

October 14

The Germans occupy Bruges, and British red Cross nurses are expelled from Antwerp.

Punch publishes the cartoon "A North Sea Chantey" reminding readers of the power of the Royal Navy.

September 30

The Antwerp waterworks are destroyed by the Germans.

The 26th Brigade RFA remains in position, with no firing taking place.

Punch publishes a cartoon of the Kaiser entitled "The Great Goth". It shows a suggested "design for a strained-glass window in a neo-gothic cathedral at Potsdam". The Kaiser is shown as a grotesque angel holding the smoking ruins of Rheims Cathedral (see 20 September) on the left, whilst further battle "honours" are listed at his feet: Malines, Louvain (see 25 August) and Termonde.

September 16

In the Cameroons, HMS Dwarf is rammed by the German merchant ship Nachtigal, which is wrecked. The Captain of HMS Dwarf claims the wreck as his prize bounty. You can read a newspaper account of this incident here. (Note the newspaper give the wrong date for the action as 16 December 1914). You can also read the original entry in the ship's log here.

HMS Dwarf

At 4.30am, 118 battery of the 26th Brigade RFA remains in the same position but entrenched. 117 also entrenched near Les Creutes. The war diary records, "Engaged with enemy's artillery all day".

Punch publishes another Bernard Partridge cartoon as a tribute to the Russian victory in Galicia (see 11 September). Here Russia is depicted as trampling over a defeated Austria-Hungary. 

September 9 - "India for the King!"

Offers of service from the Indian Princes to the Viceroy of India is read by the Under Secretary of State for India in the House of Commons. You can read this statement in full.

An announcement is made that 70,000 Indian troops will be sent to Europe.

In the light of this day's announcements on India, Punch publishes a timely cartoon entitled "India for the King!"

The King's message to the Dominions is issued. You can see more here.

The published version issued in Australia is shown on the left. Use the link above to see a larger version of this document.

The 26th Brigade RFA marches to La Nouette Fme, about 4 miles north of Baulchery.




The Battle of the Marne continues. This map shows the positions on this day:

The Battle of the Marne: positions on 9 September 1914

 

 

 

Punch publishes another Bernard Partridge cartoon reminding readers of German atrocities and abuse of the Geneva Convention. It has the title "God (and the women) our shield!" - see below.

September 2

Due to the continuing advance of the Germans, the French Government relocates to Bordeaux.

The Russian Government renames St Petersburg "Petrograd", meaning "Peter's City", to remove the German words Sankt and Burg.

The 26th Brigade RFA marches to Chambry.

The Prince of Wales' National Relief Fund reaches £2,000,000 (see August 15).

Punch publishes another fine cartoon by Bernard Partridge, depicting the classical figures of Liberty and Belgium.

LIBERTY (To Belgium) "TAKE COMFORT. YOUR COURAGE IS VINDICATED; YOUR WRONGS SHALL BE AVENGED"

August 26 - Le Cateau

British dead at Le Cateau

The Allied retreat continues. At the Battle of Cateau - a successful rearguard action - the engagement allows the BEF to continue their withdrawal.

Edward Croft, with the RFA, marches from Dompierre to Fesmy.

German Togoland surrenders to the British.

Austria-Hungary declares war on Japan.

SMS Magdeburg

The German cruiser SMS Magdeburg runs aground off the Estonian coast and is captured by the Russians.

They recover three intact German code books, one of which is passed to the British.

This code book is used by the Admiralty's Room 40 to identify movements of German warships.



The German transatlantic liner, Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse, now acting as an auxiliary cruiser, is sunk by HMS Highflyer.


Punch publishes another Bernard Partridge cartoon. Clearly influenced by recent events in Louvain and Antwerp (depicted in the background), the theme is now much more sinister. Here the Kaiser is depicted as being wholly evil. Punch is using these cartoons for propaganda purposes, to maintain civilian morale.

THE TRIUMPH OF "CULTURE"

August 19 - Louvain Falls

The Germans occupy Louvain in their ongoing advance through Belgium.

Belgian troops on the outskirts of Louvain awaiting the advance guard of the German Army

Russian forces defeat the 1st German Army Corps near Eydtkuhnen.

In Boulogne, the 26th Brigade RFA entrains at 9am. The Brigade travels via Abbeville, Amiens and Busigny towards its final destination (where they arrive on 20th).

Punch publishes another Bernard Partridge cartoon where the Kaiser is depicted as the World's Enemy rather than a common thief. 

THE WORLD'S ENEMY

THE KAISER - "WHO GOES THERE?"

SPIRIT OF CARNAGE - "A FRIEND - YOUR ONLY ONE"

August 12 - Bravo, Belgium!

Britain and France declare war on Austria-Hungary.

Serbia is invaded by Austria-Hungary.

The First Austria-Hungarian invasion of Serbia begins today

The Battle of Haelen, between Liege and Brussels, ends as a tactical victory for the Belgians.

German troops marching through Liege

Following the transfer of her coal supplies to the SMS Konigsberg, the SS City of Winchester is sunk (see also August 6). 

The German cruisers, Goeben and Breslau, which formed the German Mediterranean Division, enter the Dardanelles having evaded ships of the French and British navies since the outbreak of war. You can read more on the pursuit of the Goeben.

SMS Goeben

Punch publishes one of the most famous cartoons of the First World War, and an all-time classic. Drawn by F. H. Townsend, it illustrates brilliantly Belgium's plucky defence of her country. Germany is depicted as a villainous old bully, armed with his big stick and string of sausages; whilst Belgium is the defiant youngster (a version of David, to Germany's Goliath), guarding his territory, and bringing out all our sympathy for our valiant ally. The ideas drawn in this cartoon have been used and borrowed endlessly. In July 1933, Punch copied this cartoon with little Austria before the same farm gate, and a bullying Hitler waving the same old stick. But they forgot the sausages.

BRAVO, BELGIUM!

August 8

Flag of the Imperial Territory of Alsace-Lorraine

French troops occupy Altkirch and Mulhouse, both in Lorraine and annexed by Germany following the Franco-Prussian War.


The Government passes the first Defence of the Realm Act, granting wide-ranging powers during the war period, such as the power to requisition buildings or land needed for the war effort, or to make regulations creating criminal offences. The Act, widely referred to as "DORA" and the symbol of restriction. 
"DORA" was caricatured as an elderly lady.

"DORA" depicted in a 1919 issue of Punch

The original Act was short and precise:

"(1) His Majesty in Council has power during the continuance of the present war to issue regulations as to the powers and duties of the Admiralty and Army Council, and of the members of His Majesty's forces, and other persons acting in His behalf, for securing the public safety and the defence of the realm; and may, by such regulations, authorise the trial by courts martial and punishment of persons contravening any of the provisions of such regulations designed—

(a) To prevent persons communicating with the enemy or obtaining information for that purpose or any purpose calculated to jeopardise the success of the operations of any of His Majesty's forces or to assist the enemy; or

(b) To secure the safety of any means of communication, or of railways, docks or harbours; in like manner as if such persons were subject to military law and had on active service committed an offence under section 5 of the Army Act.

(2) This Act may be cited as the Defence of the Realm Act, 1914."

The Act was repeatedly strengthened, the first such amendment being passed on 28 August. You can refer to the 1918 Defence of the Realm Manual.

The British bank rate was now at 5%.


The first funeral service for those who died following the sinking of the Konigin Luise (see August 5) and HMS Amphion (see August 6) is held today in the churchyard of St Mary's, Shotley, Suffolk. These included four Germans and four British sailors. All were buried "with the full honours of war."

Military graves in St Mary's churchyard, Shotley

Further details of the military burials at St Mary's can be found on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Website.

August 5

The forts around Liege

There was fierce fighting in Liege.

Lord Kitchener

Lord Kitchener was appointed War Minister.


















Punch publishes the cartoon "Mutual Service" by Bernard Partridge. This reminded readers of recent unease in Ireland (such as the Curragh Incident in March 1914, where officers stationed at the Curragh, opted for dismissal rather than "coerce" the Ulster Volunteers to accept Irish Home Rule as proposed by the Government of Ireland Act (1914). The ongoing crisis was only averted by the outbreak of war). Here, Britannia asks Peace to do her best in Ireland.

The Konigen Luise, a German mine-layer, is sunk off Harwich by HMS Lance. She was responsible for firing the first British shot of the war. The 4 inch gun that fired these shots now takes pride of place at the entrance of a new exhibition area at the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. This is due to open in Spring 2014 as part of the national centenary celebrations of the First World War.

HMS Lance, which fired the first British shots in World War 1

In Surrey, the outbreak of war is reported on the front page of the Surrey Advertiser:

The ‘4 inch’ gun from the destroyer HMS Lance takes pride of place at the soon to be completed entrance to the new exhibition which is due to open in spring 2014 as part of the national centenary commemorations for WW1. - See more at: http://www.historicdockyard.co.uk/news/news500.php#sthash.q1OEYSWo.dpuf

The ‘4 inch’ gun from the destroyer HMS Lance takes pride of place at the soon to be completed entrance to the new exhibition which is due to open in spring 2014 as part of the national centenary commemorations for WW1. - See more at: http://www.historicdockyard.co.uk/news/news500.php#sthash.q1OEYSWo.dpuf

Further steps: 29 July

Czar Nicholas II

On this day the Russians began a partial mobilisation of their army; nevertheless even at this stage the Czar appealed to the Kaiser to, "try and avoid such a calamity as a European war". The Kaiser also contacted the Czar stating, "I am exerting my utmost influence to induce the Austrians ... to arrive at a satisfactory understanding with you."

Encouraged by this, the Czar attempted to cancel the partial mobilisation, but his Foreign Minister, Sergius Sazonoff, and the Chief of the Russian General Staff, persuaded him that this was not possible.

The Austrians bombarded Belgrade by monitors

Punch publishes an interesting cartoon on the increasing tension in Europe. Drawn by Leonard Raven-Hill, it shows Austria-Hungary (note the eagle is two-headed) bemused by plucky Serbia's attitude and suspects it is due to Russian support (represented by the bear hiding behind the rock).