December 15

The Battle of Kolubara concludes with a Serbian victory as Austro-Hungarian forces withdraw.

A German Zeppelin flies over the east coast of England. This is the first sighting of a hostile aircraft over the British Isles.

December 2

Austro-Hungarian troops occupy Belgrade, in the Battle of Kolubara.

November 1 - Battle of Coronel

The Battle of Coronel takes place off the coast of Chile. German naval forces led by Vice-Admiral Graf Maximilian von Spee defeat a Royal Navy squadron commanded by Rear-Admiral Sir Christopher Cradock. Neither admiral expects to meet the other in full force. Once the two meet, Cradock understood his orders were to fight to the end.

Spee has an easy victory, destroying two British cruisers (HMS Good Hope and HMS Monmouth) for just three men injured. The total loss of British lives is 1,570, including Rear-Admiral Cradock.

Coronel is the first British naval defeat for more than a century. But the action also cost von Spee half his supply of ammunition, which was impossible to replace.

Rear-Admiral Sir Christopher Cradock

The First Lord of the Admiralty, Winston Churchill, subsequently wrote of Cradock, "Admiral Cradock was an experienced and fearless officer, and we are of opinion that feeling he could not bring the enemy immediately to action as long as he kept with the Canopus, he decided to attack them with his fast ships alone, in the belief that even if he himself were destroyed in the action, he would inflict damage upon them which in the circumstances would be irreparable, and lead to their certain subsequent destruction. This was not an unreasonable hope; and though the Admiralty have no responsibility for Admiral Cradock's decision they consider that it was inspired by the highest devotion, and in harmony with the spirit and traditions of the British Navy."

Shock at the British losses results in more ships being sent to the South Atlantic which in due course avenged Coronel on 8 December. You can read more about the Battle of Coronel on the BBC Website.

Austria-Hungary invades Serbia intending to conquer the nation responsible for the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. This attempt ends in failure.

The 26th Brigade, RFA remains in action near Zillebeke.

September 7

Austria-Hungary's second invasion of Serbia begins with the Battle of Drina.

Austria-Hungary's second invasion of Serbia begins today (and see 12 August)

The British Pacific Ocean communication cable is severed by a German Naval squadron under the command of Vice Admiral von Spee.

From 6am the 26th Brigade RFA is in action north of Puiseau. At 10.15am it marches with the 1st Brigade to Le Frenois, near Choisy.

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!

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).

July 25 - Serbia's response

The State Flag of Serbia

At three o'clock on the afternoon of 25 July, Serbia mobilised.

Three hours later she replied to Austria's ultimatum. Wishing to avoid conflict, Serbia agreed to almost all of the demands.

"(Preamble) ...[Serbia] cannot be held responsible for manifestations of a private character, such as articles in the press and the peaceable work of societies ... [The Serbian government] have been pained and surprised at the statements, according to which members of the Kingdom of Serbia are supposed to have participated in the preparations of the crime...
[However, Serbia is] prepared to hand over for trial any Serbian subject . .of whose complicity in the crime of Sarajevo proofs are forthcoming [as well as officially condemn all propaganda against A-H].

1. [Serbia will] introduce ... a provision into the press law providing for the most severe punishment of incitement to hatred and contempt of the [A-H] Monarchy...
    
2. The Serbian govt.] possesses no proof ... that the Narodna Odbrana and other similar societies have committed up to the present any criminal act of this nature ... Nevertheless, [Serbia] will ... dissolve the Narodna Obrana and every other society which...
    
3. [Serbia will] eliminate without delay from public instruction ... everything that serves or might serve to foment the propaganda against [A-H], whenever [Austria] furnish them with facts and proofs...
    
4. [Serbia] also agree to remove from the military service all such persons as the judicial inquiry may have proved to be guilty of acts directed against the integrity of the territory of [A-H], and they expect [Austria] to communicate ... the names and acts of these officers for the purpose of the proceedings which are to be taken against them.
    
5. [The Serbian govt. does] not clearly grasp the meaning or the scope of the demand ... that Serbia shall undertake to accept the collaboration of the representatives of [A-H], but they declare that they will admit such collaboration as agrees with the principle of international law, with criminal procedure, and with good neighbourly relations.
    
6. ...As regards the participation in this inquiry [which Serbia intends to hold] of Austro-Hungarian agents... [Serbia] cannot accept such an arrangement, as it would be a violation of the Constitution...
    
7. [States it has not yet been possible to arrest one of the persons named; request proofs of guilt from Austria]
    
8. [agrees to reinforce measures against illegal trafficking of arms and explosives across the frontier with Bosnia-Herzegovina]
    
9. [offers explanations of anti-Austrian comments by Serb officials if Austria sends examples of their actually having been made]
    
10. [Serbia will duly notify the measures taken, but if Austria is not satisfied with the reply] the Serbian government . . are ready . . to accept a pacific understanding, either by referring this question to the decision of the International Tribunal of the Hague [i.e., the World Court], or to the Great Powers..."

July 23 - The Austro-Hungarian Ultimatum

Austro-Hungarian Flag

Following the assurances given by Germany, the Austro-Hungarians presented their ultimatum to Serbia on 23 July. They demanded a reply within 48 hours.

The ultimatum comprised a list of demands upon the Serbian government.  It assumed that the Serbian government was implicated in the events at Sarajevo. The ultimatum was presented by the Austrian government to Belgrade on Thursday 23 July 1914 at 6pm.  A response was demanded within two days, ie by 6pm on Saturday 25 July.

The principal demands were:

(1) To suppress any publication which incites to hatred and contempt of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy and the general tendency of which is directed against its territorial integrity
(2) To dissolve immediately the society styled "Narodna Odbrana," to confiscate all its means of propaganda, and to proceed in the same manner against other societies and their branches in Serbia which engage in propaganda against the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy.  The Royal Government shall take the necessary measures to prevent the societies dissolved from continuing their activity under another name and form
(3) To eliminate without delay from public instruction in Serbia, both as regards the teaching body and also as regards the methods of instruction, everything that serves, or might serve, to foment the propaganda against Austria-Hungary
(4) To remove from the military service, and from the administration in general, all officers and functionaries guilty of propaganda against the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy whose names and deeds the Austro-Hungarian Government reserve to themselves the right of communicating to the Royal Government
(5) To accept the collaboration in Serbia of representatives of the Austro-Hungarian Government for the suppression of the subversive movement directed against the territorial integrity of the Monarchy;
(6) To take judicial proceedings against accessories to the plot of the 28th of June who are on Serbian territory; delegates of the Austro-Hungarian Government will take part in the investigation relating thereto
(7) To proceed without delay to the arrest of Major Voija Tankositch and of the individual named Milan Ciganovitch, a Serbian State employee, who have been compromised by the results of the magisterial inquiry at Serajevo
(8) To prevent by effective measures the cooperation of the Serbian authorities in the illicit traffic in arms and explosives across the frontier, to dismiss and punish severely the officials of the frontier service at Shabatz Loznica guilty of having assisted the perpetrators of the Serajevo crime by facilitating their passage across the frontier;
(9) To furnish the Imperial and Royal Government with explanations regarding the unjustifiable utterances of high Serbian officials, both in Serbia and abroad, who, notwithstanding their official position, have not hesitated since the crime of the 28th of June to express themselves in interviews in terms of hostility to the Austro-Hungarian Government; and, finally,
(10) To notify the Imperial and Royal Government without delay of the execution of the measures comprised under the preceding heads.

Sir Edward Grey, Britain's Foreign Secretary

In his memoirs (Twenty-Five Years 1892-1916, London: 1925) Sir Edward Grey, Britain's Foreign Secretary, commented:

"At length, but suddenly at the last, came the Austrian ultimatum to Serbia: unexpectedly severe; harsher in tone and more humiliating in its terms than any communication of which we had recollection addressed by one independent Government to another.

"The Austrian ultimatum was not supported by any evidence of complicity of the Serbian authorities in the murder, and it appeared that both the assassins arrested were Austrian subjects. One of them had already been regarded as an undesirable by Serbia; ... All this gave rise to a strong feeling that Serbia was being dealt with more harshly than was just."