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 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.

August 5

The forts around Liege

There was fierce fighting in Liege.

Lord Kitchener

Lord Kitchener was appointed War Minister.


















Punch publishes the cartoon "Mutual Service" by Bernard Partridge. This reminded readers of recent unease in Ireland (such as the Curragh Incident in March 1914, where officers stationed at the Curragh, opted for dismissal rather than "coerce" the Ulster Volunteers to accept Irish Home Rule as proposed by the Government of Ireland Act (1914). The ongoing crisis was only averted by the outbreak of war). Here, Britannia asks Peace to do her best in Ireland.

The Konigen Luise, a German mine-layer, is sunk off Harwich by HMS Lance. She was responsible for firing the first British shot of the war. The 4 inch gun that fired these shots now takes pride of place at the entrance of a new exhibition area at the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. This is due to open in Spring 2014 as part of the national centenary celebrations of the First World War.

HMS Lance, which fired the first British shots in World War 1

In Surrey, the outbreak of war is reported on the front page of the Surrey Advertiser:

The ‘4 inch’ gun from the destroyer HMS Lance takes pride of place at the soon to be completed entrance to the new exhibition which is due to open in spring 2014 as part of the national centenary commemorations for WW1. - See more at: http://www.historicdockyard.co.uk/news/news500.php#sthash.q1OEYSWo.dpuf

The ‘4 inch’ gun from the destroyer HMS Lance takes pride of place at the soon to be completed entrance to the new exhibition which is due to open in spring 2014 as part of the national centenary commemorations for WW1. - See more at: http://www.historicdockyard.co.uk/news/news500.php#sthash.q1OEYSWo.dpuf