December 31

The end of 1914 shows that the war would not be "over by Christmas". All nations at war have suffered appalling casualties on a scale never seen before. The Allies have suffered over one million casualties on the Western Front, whilst Germany has causalities of around 700,000. For Great Britain, whose Army now numbers over 1,685,000 personnel, BEF casualties total over 95,600 men comprising 18,174 killed, 50,969 wounded, 26,511 missing or captured. Casualties in the Royal Navy total over 6,100 killed, wounded, missing and captured. During the latter part of 1914, over 120,000 rifles have been supplied to the Army along with 274 machine guns and over 526,000 shells.

In France, battery 116 of the 26th Brigade RFA is moved to a new position and is in reserve.

December 30

Battery 117 of the 26th Brigade RFA is in reserve.

December 29

The 26th Brigade RFA headquarters moves to the canal near Givency Station. 118 battery is in reserve, 117 silenced enemy machine guns.

December 28 - The Military Cross

A Royal Warrant is signed which creates a new award for gallantry called the Military Cross. The Cross is to be issued for gallantry in the face of the enemy to junior officers of the Army who are ineligible on account of their rank for the Distinguished Service Order.

The Military Cross is cast in silver and incorporates imperial crowns in each of its four arms. The centre of the cross shows the Royal Cypher. The ribbon is white with a central band of purple.

The first awards are announced on 1 January 1915. By the end of the First World War over 37,000 crosses had been awarded, with 3,000 first Bars, 170 second Bars and 4 third Bars.

In France the 26th Brigade RFA enfilades enemy trenches north of Givenchy. The First Infantry Brigade - less the London Scottish and Black Watch - moves to billets in Bethune, and the 26th Brigade headquarters moves to Second Infantry Brigade batteries in the same zone.

December 27

Battery 117 of the 26th Brigade RFA is placed in reserve. Batteries 116 and 118 support the First Infantry Brigade.

December 25 - The first Christmas of the War

A series of isolated incidents take place on the Western front where unofficial truces are observed by British and German soldiers. In some areas gifts are exchanged, carols are sung, and games of football take place.

 
Following these incidents, Allied Commanders order that future participants will be shot, and these incidents were not repeated in later years.

The British launch an air raid on Cuxhaven using aircraft launched from "seaplane tenders", or early aircraft carriers. Aircraft of the  Royal Naval Air Service were used. They flew over the Cuxhaven area and dropped their bombs, causing damage to shore installations. Flight Magazine reported the raid as, "the first employment of the seaplanes of the Naval Air Service [sic] in an attack on the enemy's harbours from the sea, and, apart altogether from the results achieved, is an occasion of historical moment."

In France, the 26th Brigade RFA fires in support of infantry.

December 24 - First bomb dropped on Britain

The first aerial bomb is dropped on British soil. The device landed in a garden near Taswell Street, Dover, on 24 December 1914, leaving a 10ft-wide crater and blowing a gardener out of a tree.

The 22 lb bomb was dropped by Stephan Prondzynski from his FF29 floatplane.

You can read more about this raid on the BBC Website and on the World War Zoo website.

The 26th Brigade RFA leaves its billets before dawn and is in action supporting the First Infantry Brigade. Each battery has an observing station at Festubert