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

December 23

Grand Admiral von Tirpitz announces that submarines will be used against British merchant ships in a bid to blockade British ports.

The 23rd brigade, RFA leaves its billets at 9.30am, marching to Bethune, where it arrived at 8pm and billeted for the night.

December 22

The Battle of Sarikamish begins. Forces of the Ottoman Empire attack Russian troops in the Caucasus. They aim to retake Kars and Batum, lost in the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-78.

December 20

The Battle of Champagne opens with the French attacking German positions. This is the first major Allied offensive since the onset of trench warfare on the Western Front.

The Soissons Area

December 16 - Remember Scarborough!

The German Navy bombards Hartlepool, Scarborough and Whitby. The attacks results in more than 700 casualties, chiefly civilian. You can read more on the Hartlepool raid on the BBC Website.

The attack resulted in public outrage towards the German Navy (for attacking civilians), and against the Royal Navy (for its failure to prevent the raid).

The attack is used as part of a British propaganda campaign, with the slogan 'Remember Scarborough!', being used in recruitment posters.

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 13

The Battle of Limanowa concludes with Austro-Hungarian forces stalling the Russian offensive.

Lieutenant Norman Holbrook VC

The British submarine B11, in the Dardenelles, torpedoes the Turkish battleship Mesudiye. This ship was anchored near Chanak as a stationary guard ship.

Lieutenant Norman Douglas Holbrook, commander of the B11, is subsequently (22 December) awarded the VC.

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".

December 8 - Battle of the Falkland Islands

The Battle of the Falkland Islands takes place and the Royal Navy avenges the earlier German victory at Coronel. The British naval squadron commanded by Vice-Admiral Sir Frederick Sturdee attacks the German naval squadron commanded by Vice-Admiral Maximilian von Spee. The German ships Scharnhorst, Gneisenau, Leipzig and Nurnberg are all sunk.

December 7

An eye witness account of the King's visit to France is published. Hitherto the visit has been kept secret.

General Christian Beyers, leader of the Boer Rebels against the South African Government, is shot dead while trying to escape from his pursuers crossing the Vaal River. His body is recovered two days later, and with his death the South African rebellion is brought to an end.

December 6

The Battle of Lodz ends with both sides claiming victory. The Russians retain control of Warsaw, and the Germans preventing a Russian offensive into Silesia. However, German forces did not break the Russian lines, whilst the Russians withdraw to form a new and stronger line closer to Warsaw. Casualties on both sides amount to nearly 300,000.

December 5

King George V inspects the Royal Flying Corps and then returns to London.

December 4

King George V confers the Order of the Garter on King Albert.

December 3

King George V, still in France, invests Sir John French with the Order of Merit.

It is announced that Expeditionary Forces from Australia and New Zealand have landed in Egypt to complete their training.

December 2

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

December 1

General Joffre

King George V visits base hospitals in France containing British, Indian and German wounded. He also visits the British Field Headquarters and the fighting line. The King invests General Joffre with the Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath.

On the Eastern Front, the Battle of Limanowa commences in the Carpathian mountains. The Russians begin an offensive and try to advance towards the Hungarian plains.

The death of Rear-Admiral Mahan USN, the writer on the influence of sea power in history, is announced.

The 26th Brigade Royal Field Artillery remains refitting and resting in the billeting are to the west of Strazeele. It remains here until 23 December.

November 29

King George V leaves London for France.

November 27

Field Marshal von Hindenburg

Sir John French's Fourth Despatch is published in the London Gazette. It covers the move of the BEF from the Aisne to Flanders, and the battles between La Bassee and Ypres (otherwise known as "First Ypres").

It is announced that the first British War Loan, launched on November 17, is over subscribed.

The Kaiser promotes General von Hindenburg a field marshal.

November 26

HMS Bulwark blows up in Sheerness Harbour. The explosion is heard over 20 miles away in Whitstable, Southend-on-Sea and Westcliff-on-Sea.

Out of the ship's complement of 750 men, 14 are recovered alive, but two later died from their injuries. At the subsequent inquest, it was stated there was no evidence to suggest the source of the explosion was external, nor was there any evidence of sabotage.

The pre-dreadnought battleship was part of the 5th Battle Squadron which had transferred to Sheerness on 14 November to guard against a possible German invasion of south-east England.

The German submarine U21 sinks the British collier SS Primo near Le Havre.

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 24

The Portuguese Parliament votes to supply Great Britain during the war and "when it may deem expedient".

November 23

The German submarine U18 penetrates the fleet defences at Scapa Flow by following a steamer through the boom and entering the anchorage. The fleet is not at Scapa Flow, but is dispersed in anchorages on the west coast of Scotland and Ireland. As the submarine attempts to leave, its periscope is spotted. The trawler Dorothy Gray alters course and rams the periscope, rendering it unserviceable. The submarine's diving plane motor fails, and U18 is unable to maintain depth. The submarine is rammed a second time by the Dorothy Gray and is forced to surface. Its captain scuttles U18, and all its crew except one are picked up by British boats.

The British steamer SS Malachite on a voyage from Liverpool to Le Havre is sunk off Le Havre by the German submarine U21.

November 22

The Battle of Ypres ends with the Germans failing to capture the town. Both sides dig trenches protected by barbed wire and machine guns, and the "Western Front" of almost static trench warfare is completed.

The Cloth Hall at Ypres under being shelled by German guns

November 21

The Friedrichshafen Raid

The Battle of Basra ends with British-Indian forces occupying Basra. Its capture is a major step in protecting the Persian oilfields.

British aircraft attack the Zeppelin workshops at Friedrichshafen. The raid is undertaken by members of the Royal Naval Air Service. Commander Briggs, one of the pilots, is captured.

The 26th Brigade, RFA marches to its billeting area west of Strazeele, arriving at 3pm. The Brigade remains here until the end of the month.

November 20

In the latter stages of the Battle of Ypres, there are signs of the Germans withdrawing.

The British casualty list for the defence of Antwerp is published.

The 26th Brigade RFA hands over to the French. During the afternoon, battery 118 is badly shelled. All batteries had evacuated their positions by 6pm.

The Brigade planned to march through to I Corps billets, but found the road blocked. They spend the night on the road just north of Westoutre.

November 19

The funeral of Lord Roberts takes place in St Paul's Cathedral.

Lieutenant Colonel G B Hinton take over the command of the 26th Brigade Royal Field Artillery from Colonel Cunliffe.

During a riot in the Aliens' Detention Camp at Douglas, on the Isle of Man, five prisoners are shot by the guards. An inquest is held on the 20th and 27th November by the High-Bailiff of Douglas (the coroner for inquests) and a jury. The verdict arrived at is, "that the five deaths were caused by justifiable measures forced upon the military authorities by the riotous behaviour of a large section of the prisoners interned."

Knockaloe Internment Camp on the Isle of Man

November 18

With the German advance on Paris effectively halted, the French Government begins to move back to the capital.

British Naval losses to date are declared as 3,884 killed, wounded or missing. The figures exclude the loss of HMS Good Hope.

The Russian Black Sea Fleet engages the Trukish battleships the Yavuz Sultan Selim (formerly the SMS Goeben) and the Midilli (formerly the SMS Breslau).

The 26th Brigade RFA enjoys a quiet day near the Ypres-Menin road.

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.

November 16

The Allies take formal possession of Tsingtao after a siege which had begun at the end of October. It is the first Anglo-Japanese operation of the war.

The Siege of Tsingtao (from a Japanese lithograph)

A vote of credit for £225.000,000 for war purposes is passed in the House of Commons. British war expenditure is stated to be almost £1,000,000 per day.

14,500 "alien enemies" are stated to be interned in Great Britain.

In the 26th Brigade RFA, Colonel Hinton takes over from Colonel Coghill

November 15

The 26th Brigade, RFA remains in position. 118 fired on German trenches, with 116 and 117 fire on woods in their zone.

November 14

Lord Roberts

Lord Roberts dies of pneumonia in France.

Newspapers report that, "Lord Roberts proceeded to France to see the Indian troops at present fighting at the front, of which he was Colonel-in-Chief. He contracted a chill and succumbed, after a short illness, to an attack of pneumonia."

As Field marshal, Lord Roberts is one of the highest ranking and oldest (at 82) of the First World War dead commemorated by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

The 26th Brigade RFA fires in support of Lord Cavan's section all day.

November 13

The Prime Minister states British casualties to October 31 are 57,000 (all ranks).

The 26th Brigade RFA leaves Vlamertinghe and takes over position from the 22nd Brigade.

November 12

The House of Commons, debating the King's Speech, discusses "the treatment of alien enemies".

The 26th Brigade, RFA leaves Hazebrouck and marches towards Hooge, but turn back to Vlamertinghe as an attack is expected.

November 11 - 100th day of the war

The war enters its 100th day with no sign of an early victory or of hostilities ceasing before Christmas.

In the ongoing Battle of Ypres, a further German attack is repulsed at the Battle of Nonneboschen.

HMS Niger is torpedoed by the German submarine U12 off Deal.

On the Eastern Front, the Battle of Lodz begins in Poland between the German Ninth Army and the Russian First, Second, and Fifth Armies, in appalling winter conditions.

King George V opens Parliament. His speech included the direction that, "You will be asked to make due financial provision for the effective conduct of the War."

Punch's first cartoon regarding Turkey's role in the war is published today.

"HIS MASTER'S VOICE"

THE KAISER: "Leave everything to me. All you've got to do is to explode."

TURKEY: "Yes, I quite see that. But where shall I be when it's all over?"

November 10

Dixmude falls to the Germans in the final stages of the Battle of the Yser.

The SMS Konigsberg

The collier, Newbridge, converted into a blockship, is sunk in the main channel of the delta of the Rufiji River to prevent the escape of the SMS Konigsberg.

The Germans retaliate by moving the Konigsberg further up river, to make it more difficult for the British to destroy her.

November 9

The German raider, the SMS Emden, is sunk by HMAS Sydney in the Battle of Cocos. The battle continues for over an hour, resulting in the Emden becoming little more than a floating wreck. The warship ran aground on North Keeling Island.

HMAS Sydney

November 8

Allied forces attack and capture the fortress of Fao, as part of its advance towards Basra.

The Allied advance to Basra

November 7

The Siege of Tsingtao ends with the surrender of the German garrison.

German troops during the Siege of Tsingtao

November 6

The 6th Indian (Poona) Division and other troops land in Persia at the beginning of an Allied offensive to protect the Persian oil pipeline.

The German agent Carl Hans Lody, arrested on 2 October in Dublin, is executed at the Tower of London. Lody is the first person to be executed at the Tower for 167 years. His execution took place in the miniature rifle range which is shown to the right of this photograph.

The 26th Brigade RFA marches to Hazebrouck to refit with the 36th Brigade and the 57th Battery. Refitting continues until 12 November.

November 5

German forces in German East Africa succeed in repelling the Allied attack in the Battle of Tanga.

The Battle of Tanga by Martin Frost

Britain and France declare war on Turkey, "owing to hostile acts committed by Turkish forces under German officers."

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."

November 3 - Raid on Great Yarmouth

The German Navy raids Great Yarmouth. Little damage is inflicted on the town  as the shelling started after German minelayers offshore were interrupted by British destroyers. One British submarine - HMS D5 - is sunk by a mine as it left harbour to attack the Germans, while one German armoured cruiser is sunk after striking two German mines outside its own home port.

The North Sea is declared a British military area, allowing the Royal Navy to patrol and stop any merchant vessel suspected of carrying cargoes for Germany.

The Battle of Tanga continues. All British forces are ashore and in readiness to attack Tanga.

The 26th Brigade, RFA, remains in action near Veldhoek, Groenenburg and Gheluvelt.`

November 2

The Battle of Messines comes to an end with neither British or German forces able to force a victory. The Battle of Armentieres also ends.

Russia declares war on Turkey.

Members of the Indian Expeditionary Force B, led by Major General Aitken, begin landing at Tanga, German East Africa.

The 26th Brigade RFA remains in action, entrenched near the Ypres-Menin road.

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.

October 31

The seaplane carrier, HMS Hermes, is sunk by the German submarine U27 in the Dover Straits.

HMS Hermes

In the Battle of the Yser, with the German offensive having stalled, the Allies claim victory by preventing Germany gaining total control of Belgium.

The Battle of the Vistula River, which began on 29 September, ends in a Russian victory.

The Siege of Tsingtao begins with Japanese forces shelling the port and digging trenches.

The 26th Brigade RFA remains in action all day.

October 30

The hospital ship SS Rohilla is sunk after hitting the Whitby Rock just east of Whitby harbour. 144 lives are saved by the sterling efforts of RNLI lifeboat crews and the community of Whitby. You can read more about this on the BBC Website.

The 26th Brigade RFA is again in action. Firing continues in the area surrounding Poezehoek.

October 29

Prince Louis of Battenberg

Turkey enters hostilities against Russia by bombarding the ports of Odessa, Sevastopol and Theodosia.


Prince Louis of Battenberg resigns as First Sea Lord. His letter to the First Lord of the Admiralty (Winston Churchill) is dated 28 October, to which Churchill replies (on 29th) accepting his resignation. In this letter Churchill stated, "I cannot further oppose the wish, you have during the last few weeks expressed to me, to be released from the burden of responsibility which you have borne thus far with so much honour and success."

The 26th Brigade, RFA was again in action all day. The Germans attacked the British trenches at 5.30am, with the batteries firing against the German batteries.The Germans were eventually driven back near Poezehoer.

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 27 - The battleship that didn't sink

HMS Audacious

HMS Audacious sinks after hitting a mine during gunnery exercises off Tory Island. The mine had been laid by the German auxiliary minelayer, Berlin. The Audacious struck the mine at 8.45am, but did not sink until 8.45pm. Assistance was given by the White Star liner the Olympic, whose passengers witnessed the disaster. Admiral Jellicoe urged the Admiralty not to announce the news publicly. The Cabinet agreed and the incident was not officially reported until 14 November 1918 by an announcement in The Times.

Prince Maurice

Prince Maurice of Battenberg is killed in action at Zonnebeke, aged 23 years. He is buried in Ypres Town Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cemetery

Prince Maurice is the youngest son of Prince Henry of Battenberg (1858-1896) and Princess Beatrice (1857-1944), the youngest child of Queen Victoria.

Batteries of the 26th Brigade RFA are in action during the day near the Menin-Ypres road, near Becelaere, Terhand and Westhoer.

October 26

Battle of the Yser

In the continuing Battle of the Yser, the Belgians begin to open the sluices on the canal and sea defences at Nieuport to stop the German advance.

The 26th Brigade RFA is now based at Zillebeke. During the day, the 57th howitzer battery is in action at Veldoek firing against Poezehoer; 117 is in action east of Gheluvelt firing against trenches north of Reidelbeek; 116 is in action  at Veldhuer firing against trenches south of Zuidhuer. 

October 25

Sir Charles Douglas (1850-1914)

In the continuing Battle of the Yser, due to unrelenting pressure from the German forces, the Belgians decide to open the canal and sea defences at Nieuport in a desperate bid to stop the German advance.

The 26th Brigade RFA marches to Zillebeke.

The death is announced of Sir Charles Douglas, Chief of the Imperial General Staff.