August 31

The Allies have retired to a line stretching between Amiens and Verdun

British casualties are announced as follows: August 23-26: killed, 163; wounded, 686; missing, 4,278.

The 26th Brigade, RFA marches from Allemant to Vauxbuin.

August 30 - Battle of Tannenburg

German Samoa is occupied by New Zealand forces, representing New Zealand's first military action in the war.

The end of the Battle of Tannenburg Fought between the Russian Second Army against the German Eighth Army between 26 August and 30 August, the battle resulted in the almost complete destruction of the Russian Second Army, and the suicide of its commanding general, Alexander Samsonov

The latter stages of the Battle of Tannenburg

The 26th Brigade RFA marches from St Gobain to Allemant.

29 August - With the RFA

The 26th Brigade earned itself a rest day during the retreat from Mons.

August 28 - Battle of Heligoland Bight

The first naval battle takes place off Heligoland Bight. One German destroyer and three light cruisers are sunk by the Royal Navy, with three more light cruisers damaged. The British suffered one light cruiser and three destroyers damaged.

The German light cruiser, SMS Mainz, sinking

Lord Kitchener calls for another 100,000 volunteers between the ages of 19 and 35. These become collectively known as "K2".

The Defence of the Realm Act is amended, and becomes known as the "Defence of the Realm (No. 2) Act 1914"

In France, the 26th Brigade RFA marches to St Gobain

August 27

During the continuing retreat of the BEF, the 26th Brigade, RFA sees further action at Fesmy. At 7am, "1 Section 118 in action ... N of Fesmy supporting Munster Fusiliers. Remainder of Brigade at Le Pont Cambresis."

You can read more on The Stand of the Munsters at Etreux (fromMrs Rickard's book on The Story of the Munsters (1918); whilst this link includes a useful map of the action.

The RFA in action

The Brigade's War Diary also records that at 1.30am, "Remainder of 1st Brigade and 26th Brigade RFA retired through Etreux", and at 2.30am, "2 Sections 118 supporting Black Watch on high ground N of Etreux, E & W of Fesmy-Etreux Road."

At 4pm, "117 in action W of Etreux-Guise road, covering retirement of Black Watch and 118th. 116 in readiness on Etreux-Guise road. The section 118 with Munsters ... bivouacked at La Tonquaise."

The Japanese Navy begins its blockade of the German port of Tsingtao, on the coast of China, thus beginning the Siege of Tsingtao.

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 25 - Louvain destroyed

Louvain is destroyed by German forces.

Destruction in Louvain

A contemporary caption to this photograph states, "All that remains of the world-famous library at Louvain, the intellectual metropolis of the Low Countries. The wreckage represents the triumph of German "culture" over the scholarly culture [of] Louvain ..."

The bombing of Antwerp

Antwerp is bombed by a Zeppelin. This artist's impression (left) was accompanied by this caption, "The Zeppelin bombardment of Antwerp, in defiance of the Hague Convention. The airship dropped shrapnel bombs ... These raids aroused much indignation both in Europe and America ..."



In Galicia, Austria-Hungarian 1st Army defeats the Russian 4th Army.


The Allies continue to retreat, fighting rearguard actions. The 26th Brigade, RFA, retires from La Longueville to Dompierre.


The Royal Flying Corps claims its first victory, Increasing numbers of reconnaissance flights take place during the "Great Retreat". On this day, three aircraft of No.2 Squadron chase an enemy monoplane and force it to land. It was destroyed by the RFC on the ground. Another German aircraft was also captured later.

August 24 - The Retreat from Mons

Following the action at Mons, the 5th French Army withdraws, and the BEF had little choice but to do the same. The retreat of the BEF begins II Corps at at 4am. The initial objective is the line from La Longueville to La Boiseserrette. This is the first stage in what becomes known as the "Great Retreat", which lasts nearly two weeks, and takes the Allies back to the Marne.

Edward Croft, with the RFA located at Grand-Reng, is in action half a mile south-east of Villers-Sire-Nicole, although the Brigade War Diary adds, "no engagement". At 6.30pm the Brigade marches to La Longueville.

The retreat from Mons

Namur falls to the Germans.

Allied forces abandon the line on the River Sambre.

August 23 - Mons

Mons was the first major action of the BEF in the First World War. It was a subsidiary action of the Battle of the Frontiers, in which the Allies clashed with Germany on the French borders. At Mons, the British Army attempted to hold the line of the Mons–Condé Canal against the advancing German 1st Army. Although the British fought well and inflicted disproportionate casualties on the numerically superior Germans, they were eventually forced to retreat due both to the greater strength of the Germans and the sudden retreat of the French Fifth Army, which exposed the British right flank.

The Battle of Mons

During the battle, the first Victoria Crosses are awarded to Lieutenant Maurice Dease (the first psthumous award) and Private Sidney Godley.

Edward Croft,with the RFA, moves from Cartignies (in France) to Grand-Reng (in Belgium).

British artillery on the march

 
The Belgian town of Namur is evacuated by the Allies. French forces withdraw from Lorraine.

Japan declares war on Germany.

On the Eastern Front, the Battle of Tannenberg begins between Russia and Germany.

August 22 - The BEF's First Shots of the War

The "First Shot" Memorial near Mons

The first British shots of the First World War were fired today. These were the first by a British soldier on the continent of Europe in action against an enemy since Waterloo.

Ahead of the main body of the BEF, cavalry troops were ordered to seek and locate the German Army. On 22 August, the 2nd Cavalry Brigade were patrolling north and east of Mons. In "C" Squadron of the 4th (Royal Irish) Dragoon Guards, the leading patrols set an ambush beside the Maisieres to Casteau road.

At about 7am one of the scouts reported the enemy coming down the road, and No. 1 Troop was ordered to charge. No 4 Troop, following, was ordered to dismount and fire. As Corporal Edward  Thomas later recalled, "I could see a German cavalry officer some 400 yards away ... Immediately I saw him I took aim, pulled the trigger and automatically, almost as it seemed instantaneously, he fell to the ground."


The German Cuirassiers were outnumbered and they fell back, pursued along the Brussels road. Captain Charles Beck Hornby, commanding No 1 Troop, was awarded the Distinguished Service Order, probably the first gallantry award given to a member of the Army in the First World War. (Captain Hornby also had the distinction of probably killing the first German in the war, albeit by sabre rather than by shot.)

Edward Croft, with the 26th Brigade RFA, marched from Boue to Cartignies and again billeted in the 1st Brigade (Guards) area.

In the Battle of the Frontiers, France suffers its greatest loss of life to date, with 27,000 of her soldiers killed.

Austria-Hungary declares war on Belgium.

August 21 - Battle of Charleroi

The German 2nd and 3rd armies are victorious at the Battle of Charleroi, otherwise known as the Battle of the Sambre.

The Battle of Charleroi

The first British soldier is killed in action, Private John Parr. Parr was attached to the 4th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment, which had disembarked at Boulogne on August 14. The battalion then moved east towards the front in Belgium.

The precise circumstances of Private Parr's death are still unclear. One explanation is that as a "reconnaissance cyclist" (and accompanied by another soldier), he was instructed to locate the enemy. They eventually came across German troops near Obourg. Whilst Parr stayed to monitor their movements, his comrade cycled back to the battalion to report the news. Parr was never seen alive again.

John Parr is buried in the cemetery at St Symphorium. Although his headstone records he was aged 20, he was in fact born in 1898, making him only 16 years old.

The Germans levy £8,000,000 on Brussels (£11 per head of the population) ad £2,400,000 on the province of Liege.

The BEF's concentration in France is practically completed.

Army Order 324 is issued, specifying that six new divisions would be created from units formed from the 100,000 volunteers who had come forward since 6 August. These new divisions are collectively  called "Kitchener's Army" or K1

August 20 - Brussels Falls

Brussels, abandoned by the Belgians for strategical reasons, is occupied by the Germans.

The Germans parade in occupied Brussels

The Battle of Gumbinnen takes place on the Eastern Front. The Germans launch an offensive against the advancing Russians, but the Russians emerge victorious.

In Picardy, the 26th Brigade RFA, detrains at Le Nouvion at 1.30am. At 5am the brigade marches to Boue where they are billeted in the 1st Brigade (Guards) area.

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 18

This cartoon is another classic. It appeared in the Westminster Gazette in August 1914, although I have been unable to identify the exact date of publication. Drawn by Francis Carruthers Gould it shows the Kaiser caught in the act by PC John Bull. The Kaiser was officially referred to as the "All Highest", but here he is depicted as nothing better than a common thief. Furthermore the Kaiser is caught stealing the family (ie European) silver. The Germans are depicted as crooks, whilst Great Britain acts as Europe's friendly reliable policeman.

August 17 - Russia Invades Prussia

The Russians invade East Prussia, thereby creating an "Eastern Front" in Europe. The Russian offensive begins with the Battle of Stalluponen.

The Russian invasion of Prussia

Russian cavalrymen form the spearhead of the Russian advance into Prussia

The Belgian Government moves to Antwerp from Brussels.

In the English Channel, Edward Croft and the 26th Brigade RFA on board the SS Cardiganshire remain offshore outside Boulogne from 5am to 5pm. They do not disembark until 6pm.

August 16 - Gunner Croft Goes to War

For the first time in this digest, one of my relatives appears, as he is called up and goes to war. 19721 Gunner Edward Croft was attached to the 26th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery.

According to the Brigade's War Diary, preserved in the National Archives [WO 95/1250/1], the Brigade mobilised at Aldershot between 5-11 August. I do not know when Edward was actually called up, presumably from the Reserves, but at the latest he would have been in barracks by the 11th.

Cavalry joining a boat train for the Continent. A scene possibly taken at Aldershot

On August 16 the Brigade proceeded to Southampton. The 26th Brigade probably travelled to Aldershot Station (on the London & South Western Railway's system) and thence to the docks. At 5.30pm they embarked on the SS Cardiganshire for France. The Brigade formed part of the British Expeditionary Force.

The troopship SS Cardiganshire, which transported Edward Croft and the 26th Brigade, RFA from Southampton to Boulogne

In the widening war, Serbian forces face Austro-Hungarian forces at the Battle of Cer, which ends in victory for the Serbs.

In Turkey, the Goeben and the Breslau (see August 12) having now reached Constantinople, both vessels were transferred to the Turkish Navy, becoming respectively the Yavuz Sultan Selim and the Midilli, though they retained their German crews.

In Africa, On August 16, 1914, Lake Nyasa was the scene of a brief naval battle when the British gunboat SS Gwendolen, commanded by Captain Rhoades, received orders to, "sink, burn, or destroy" the German Empire's only gunboat on the lake, the Hermann von Wissmann, commanded by Captain Berndt. Rhoades's crew found the Hermann von Wissmann in a bay near Sphinxhaven, in German East African territorial waters. Gwendolen disabled the German boat with a single cannon shot from about 2,000 yards. This brief conflict was hailed by The Times as Britain's first naval victory of the war.

August 15 - British East Africa invaded

British East Africa

German forces from German East Africa occupy Taveta in British East Africa.

The Prince of Wales's National Relief Fund reaches the astonishing figure of £1,000,000 within a week.  

It was on 7 August that the Prince of Wales made an urgent appeal in The Times:

"All must realise that the present time of deep anxiety will be followed by one of considerable distress among the people of this country least able to bear it. We must earnestly pray that their suffering may be neither long nor bitter, but we cannot wait until the need presses heavily upon us. The means of relief must be ready in our hands. To ally anxiety will go some way to stay distress. A National Fund has been founded, and I am proud to act as its Treasurer. My first duty is to ask for generous and ready support, and I know that I shall not ask in vain. At such a moment we all stand by one another, and it is to the heart of the British people that I confidently make this earnest appeal. Edward." 

The British Medical Journal apologises for its reduction in size. "The main reason for this curtailment is the shortage of paper, which has become a very serious difficulty for the periodical press. The consumption is greater owing to the enormous demand for the many editions of the newspapers, and the supply has greatly diminished owing to the stoppage of exports of paper and material from the Continent and the other side of the Atlantic. The supplies from the latter source will, it is hoped, shortly increase ..."

August 14 - Battle of Lorraine

The Battle of Lorraine

The French launch the "Battle of Lorraine" during the "Battle of the Frontiers".

The 1st Army attacks Sarrebourg, and the 2nd Army attacks Morhange.

Both armies plan to advance into Germany, but the attacks result in a German counter-offensive which effectively ends in a German victory by 25 August.











War credit amounting to £40,000,000 is authorised by the French Government.

The Bank of England issues 10 shilling notes to complement its recently issued £1 notes (see August 7)

10 shilling note issued by the Bank of England

August 13 - The RFC in France

The first aircraft from the Royal Flying Corps land in France. Three squadrons cross the Channel, flying from Dover to Amiens. The first aircraft of 2 Squadron took off at 6.25am with the first aircraft landing at 8.20am. This aeroplane was flown by Lieutenant Hubert Dunsterville Harvey-Kelly, who was subsequently killed in action in 1917. Aircraft from 3 Squadron and 4 Squadron followed, with those from 5 Squadron arriving on 15 August. These squadrons represented the first organised national air force to fly to war overseas.

The first aeroplane of the Royal Flying Corps to land in France - a Royal Aircraft Factory BE2c

On the previous day the RFC suffered its first casualties even before reaching France, when an aircraft flown by Flight Lieutenant Robert Reginald Skene and his engineer Sergeant Raymond Barlow, crashed shortly after taking off en route to Dover. Both airmen were killed.

Skene's family lived at Broadmead House, Send, near Woking. Flight Lieutenant Skene was subsequently buried in Send, in his mother's grave, who had passed away in December 1913. On 12 August 2014 a special service to honour Flight Lieutenant Robert Reginald Skene was held at Send Parish Church to mark the centenary of his passing. You can read more here.



The Austrian-Lloyd steamer, the SS Baron Gautsch, is sunk by a mine in the Adriatic. 150 lives are lost.

The SS Baron Gautsch

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 11

German forces concentrate on the Metz-Liege line. The Germans occupy Liege.

One of the forts at Liege, destroyed by German bombardment

2,000 German spies are reported to have been arrested in Belgium.

The photograph shows Belgian artillerymen sweeping German troops off open ground between the forts of Liege.

August 10

Canada offers 20,000 men and 98,000,000 lbs of flour. The photograph above shows Sir Henry Pellatt, Commanding Officer of the Queen's Own Rifles, Toronto, at the head of his regiment.

France and Britain declare war on Austria-Hungary.

The French fall back from Mulhouse, but occupy passes in the Vosges.

In London 30,000 special constables are enrolled, and the Official Press Bureau opens.

Men of the Ontario Royal Grenadiers, leaving their camp at Valcartier

August 9

Flag of German Togoland

British and French troops invade German Togoland in West Africa. The German Governor surrenders less than three weeks later.

For further details of this campaign click here.




German troops enter Liege.

The Liege forts

The King's Message is approved for wider circulation. A copy of this message was issued to each member of the BEF before they left British shores. It read:

"You are leaving home to fight for the safety and honour of my Empire. Belgium, which country we are pledged to defend, had been attacked, and France is about to be invaded by the same powerful foe. I have implicit confidence in you, my soldiers. Duty is your watchword, and I know your duty will be nobly done. I shall follow your every movement with the deepest interest, and mark with eager satisfaction your daily progress. Indeed your welfare will never be absent from my thoughts. I pray God to bless you and guard you, and bring you back victorious.
George RI
9th August, 1914"

The King's Message

The soldiers also received the following instructions from Lord Kitchener:

Lord Kitchener

"You are ordered abroad as a soldier of the King to help our French comrades against the invasion of a common enemy. You have to perform a task which will need your courage, your energy, your patience. Remember that the honour of the British Empire depends on your individual conduct.

"It will be your duty not only to set an example of discipline and perfect steadiness under fire, but also to maintain the most friendly relations with those whom you are helping in this struggle. The operations in which you are engaged will, for the most part, take place in a friendly country, and you can do your country no better service than by showing yourselves in France and Belgium in the true character of a British soldier.

"Be invariably courteous, considerate, and kind. Never do anything likely to injure or destroy property, and always look upon looting as a disgraceful act. You are sure to meet with a welcome, and to be trusted. Your conduct must justify that welcome and that trust.

"Your duty cannot be done unless your health is sound, so be constantly on your guard against any excesses. In this new experience you may find temptations, both in wine and women. You must entirely resist both temptations, and, while treating all women with perfect courtesy, you should avoid any intimacy. Do your duty bravely. Fear God. Honour the King."


The German submarine U15 is sunk by the British light cruiser HMS Birmingham.

U15 - the first German submarine lost in the war

HMS Birmingham

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 7

The British Expeditionary Force, comprising 120,000 men, lands in France under the command of Sir John French.

As German troops advance, the "Battle of the Frontiers" begins in southern Belgium and eastern France.

The BEF arriving in Boulogne

£1 banknotes are issued and postal-orders made legal tender, as it was feared that people might hoard gold sovereigns (then the general currency). Paper notes could still be changed into gold. One consequence of the war was that the circulation of banknotes increased from £34 million (pre-war) to £299 million (by 1918).

£1 banknote, issued from 7 August 1914