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.