November 1 - Battle of Coronel

The Battle of Coronel takes place off the coast of Chile. German naval forces led by Vice-Admiral Graf Maximilian von Spee defeat a Royal Navy squadron commanded by Rear-Admiral Sir Christopher Cradock. Neither admiral expects to meet the other in full force. Once the two meet, Cradock understood his orders were to fight to the end.

Spee has an easy victory, destroying two British cruisers (HMS Good Hope and HMS Monmouth) for just three men injured. The total loss of British lives is 1,570, including Rear-Admiral Cradock.

Coronel is the first British naval defeat for more than a century. But the action also cost von Spee half his supply of ammunition, which was impossible to replace.

Rear-Admiral Sir Christopher Cradock

The First Lord of the Admiralty, Winston Churchill, subsequently wrote of Cradock, "Admiral Cradock was an experienced and fearless officer, and we are of opinion that feeling he could not bring the enemy immediately to action as long as he kept with the Canopus, he decided to attack them with his fast ships alone, in the belief that even if he himself were destroyed in the action, he would inflict damage upon them which in the circumstances would be irreparable, and lead to their certain subsequent destruction. This was not an unreasonable hope; and though the Admiralty have no responsibility for Admiral Cradock's decision they consider that it was inspired by the highest devotion, and in harmony with the spirit and traditions of the British Navy."

Shock at the British losses results in more ships being sent to the South Atlantic which in due course avenged Coronel on 8 December. You can read more about the Battle of Coronel on the BBC Website.

Austria-Hungary invades Serbia intending to conquer the nation responsible for the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. This attempt ends in failure.

The 26th Brigade, RFA remains in action near Zillebeke.

October 29

Prince Louis of Battenberg

Turkey enters hostilities against Russia by bombarding the ports of Odessa, Sevastopol and Theodosia.


Prince Louis of Battenberg resigns as First Sea Lord. His letter to the First Lord of the Admiralty (Winston Churchill) is dated 28 October, to which Churchill replies (on 29th) accepting his resignation. In this letter Churchill stated, "I cannot further oppose the wish, you have during the last few weeks expressed to me, to be released from the burden of responsibility which you have borne thus far with so much honour and success."

The 26th Brigade, RFA was again in action all day. The Germans attacked the British trenches at 5.30am, with the batteries firing against the German batteries.The Germans were eventually driven back near Poezehoer.

August 4: The lamps are going out all over Europe...

King George V

Germany declares war on Belgium and German troops being their attack on the Liege forts.

Admiral Sir John Jellicoe is appointed in command of the Home Fleets.

Britain's ultimatum to Germany expires resulting in Britain's declaration of war.

In his memoirs, Sir Edward Grey recalls, "That evening some of us sat with the Prime Minister in the Cabinet Room in 10 Downing Street. I was there in touch with the Foreign Office to certify that no satisfactory reply had come from Berlin, though this was, after all that had happened, a forgeone conclusion and matter of form. Churchill also was among those present, ready at the appointed hour to send out the war order, that the fleet were expecting. Midnight came. We were at war."

At the Admiralty, Winston Churchill waited as the minutes passed slowly. He later wrote, "It was 11 o'clock at night - 12 by German time - when the ultimatum expired. The windows of the Admiralty were thrown wide open in the warm night air. Under the roof from which Nelson had received his orders were gathered a small group of Admirals and Captains and a cluster of clerks, pencil in hand, waiting. Along the Mall from the direction of the Palace the sound of an immense concourse singing 'God save the King' floated in. On this deep wave there broke the chimes of Big Ben; and, as the first stroke of the hour boomed out, a rustle of movement swept across the room. The war telegram, which meant 'Commence hostilities against Germany', was flashed to the ships and establishments under the White Ensign all over the world."

Mobilisation of the army begins. Reserves and Territorials are called up.

The Government takes control of the railways. Henceforth the railways are operated by the Railway Executive Committee - a committee of railway managers - with the Government guaranteeing the railway companies' 1913 dividends. During the war, the Government paid £95 million to the railways, although this traffic would have cost £100 million at pre-war rates.

Sir Edward Grey

Regarding Sir Edward Grey's famous comment about the lamps going out, he recalled, "A friend came to see me on one of the evenings of the last week - he thinks it was on Monday, August 3. We were standing at a window of my room in the Foreign Office. It was getting dusk, and the lamps were being lit in the space below on which we were looking. My friend recalls that I remarked on this with the words: "The lamps are going out all over Europe; we shall not see them lit again in our life-time."