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.

September 18

Parliament is prorogued and the National Anthem is sung in the House of Commons.

The Prime Minister makes a speech in Edinburgh in which he describes the causes of the war, the magnitude of the nation's task ahead, and the need for volunteers. You can read his speech in full here.

The 26th Brigade RFA remains in position. There are artillery engagements throughout the day.

September 4

H H Asquith

The Prime Minister, Mr Asquith, in a speech at the Guildhall states that since the outbreak of war, "Up till to-day gives us between 250,000 and 300,000 [volunteers], and I am glad to say London has done its share. The total number of Londoners accepted is not less than 42,000."

You can read Asquith's speech in full by following this link.

In France, the 26th Brigade, RFA, marches to Coulommiers and bivouacks one mile south of the town.

August 6

Austria-Hungary declares war on Russia, and Serbia declares war against Germany.

HMS Amphion sunk in the North Sea by a floating mine. 150 British sailors were lost, and 18 crew rescued from the Konigen Luise, sunk the previous day.

Many of the survivors were taken to a military hospital in Harwich. A journalist recorded (on August 14), "The Amphion's men were dreadfully burned and scalded. They have marks on their faces and bodies which resemble the splashes of an acid. Of the British seamen in hospital, 13 are suffering from severe burns, five from less serious burns, two from the effects of lyddite fumes, and one each from concussion, severe injury, slight wounds, shock and slight burns."

HMS Amphion - the first British ship sunk in the First World War

The SS City of Winchester becomes the first British merchant ship to be lost during the First World War when a German boarding party from the German light cruiser, Konigsberg, seized control of the vessel off the coast of Oman. The City of Winchester is ordered to head for a group of island nearby. The merchant ship was later sunk (see August 12).

The SMS Konigsberg, which seized the SS City of Winchester

Lord Kitchener asks for 500,000 recruits for the Army, 100,000 to be raised forthwith. This immediate target was achieved within two weeks

A vote of credit for £100,000,000 is agreed by the House of Commons without a division. This was, in effect, Parliamentary sanction of the declaration of war on 4 August. Grey's ultimatum was sent only with the sanction of the Prime Minister, Asquith, and the Cabinet was only informed afterwards.