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 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.

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.`

October 20

The German submarine U17 sinks the SS Glitra off the coast of Norway. It is the first British merchant ship to be sunk by a German submarine in the First World War.

The SS Glitra

The Admiralty announces the provision of "swimming collars" for the men of the Fleet.

October 17 - Battle off Texel

A naval battle off Texel, in the North Sea, sees five British naval vessels destroy a flotilla of four German ships. The British ships involved are HMS Undaunted, HMS Lance, HMS Legion, HMS Lennox and HMS Loyal.

The Battle off Texel

October 14

The Germans occupy Bruges, and British red Cross nurses are expelled from Antwerp.

Punch publishes the cartoon "A North Sea Chantey" reminding readers of the power of the Royal Navy.

October 3

The Royal Navy starts to lay mines between the Goodwin Sands and Ostend.

Troops from the Royal Naval Division arrive in Antwerp to assist the Belgians.

October 2

The Germans capture the Belgian city of Dendermonde. Over half its houses are damaged or destroyed.

Destruction in Dendermonde

The Admiralty announces it will be taking measures to counter the German policy of mine-laying in the North Sea.

September 22 - Disaster for the Royal Navy

A naval engagement takes place in which three obsolete Royal Navy cruisers, manned mainly by reservists and sometimes referred to as the "live bait squadron", are sunk by the German submarine U9. Approximately 1,450 sailors are killed, and there is a public outcry at the losses. The incident erodes confidence in the British government and damages the reputation of the Royal Navy. The British ships lost are HMS Cressy, HMS Aboukir, and HMS Hogue. The Captain of the U9, Otto Weddigen, returns to a hero's welcome.

German propaganda postcard commemorating U9's sinking of three British cruisers

In France the 26th Brigade RFA remains in positions. 118 is "shelled by heavy howitzers all day, 1 gun disabled." Both batteries are engaged with enemy guns about Cerny and Labouelle.

Britain launches its first air raid against Germany. Flying from Antwerp, two aircraft from No. 1 Squadron, RNAS, flown by Major Eugene Gerrard and Flight Lieutenant Collet fly two hundred miles to Düsseldorf to bomb the Zeppelin shed there; whilst two aircraft from No. 2 Squadron are detailed to attack Cologne. Due to poor weather, the attack on Cologne is aborted, and Major Gerrard also turns back. Collett presses home his attack by descending to only 400 feet and drops three bombs. Despite failing to damage any airship, news of the raid provides a useful boost to Allied morale.

During the evening, SMS Emden approaches the city of Madras on the southeastern coast of the Indian peninsula. Entering Madras harbour, the Emden opens fire at 9.30pm on several large oil tanks belonging to the Burmah Oil Company.

The bombardment of Madras

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 2

Corporal Jules-Andre Peugeot

German military patrols cross the French frontier for the first time since 1871. At Joncherey, Corporal Jules-Andre Peugeot becomes the first French victim of the war, a war which was to claim more than a million more French lives.

In Britain, full naval mobilisation was put into effect. Assurances were given to France that if German warships attacked French shipping in the North Sea or the English Channel, the Royal Navy would assist.

At 7pm, Germany delivered a 12 hour ultimatum to Belgium insisting that German troops must be given free passage through Belgium. This was contrary to the Treaty of London (1839) where the Great Powers (Austria, Britain, France, Prussia and Russia) agreed that Belgium should be an independent and perpetually neutral country.