Diary WWI

Diary for Tuesday, December 21, 1915: Western Front Sir W Robertson succeeds Sir A Murray as CIGS (Chief of British Imperial Generals Staff); like Haig, Robertson believes in attrition tactics […]

Diary for Monday, December 20, 1915: Middle East Gallipoli: ANZAC AND SUVLA BRIDGEHEADS EVACUATED by 0510 hours (20,652 men and 38 guns since December 19). Monro urges Helles evacuation on

Diary for Sunday, December 19, 1915: Air War Western Front: 48 Anglo-German air encounters. Western Front Flanders: Germans introduce phosgene gas (10 times toxicity of chlorine) against British at Pilkem-Wieltje

Diary for Saturday, December 18, 1915: Western Front Flanders: Sir J French’s farewell to BEF, leaves France on December 21. Joffre laments his departure. HAIG ASSUMES COMMAND OF BEF at

Diary for Friday, December 17, 1915: Western Front Artillery activity all along the front. Artois: German grenade attack about the quarries north of Loos. Middle East Britain: Mark Sykes argues

Diary for Thursday, December 16, 1915: Western Front French War Minister Gallieni brings Verdun defences’ defects to Joffre‘s attention. Flanders: British trench raid near Armentieres. Sea War U-boat U24 (Schneider)

Diary for Wednesday, December 15, 1915: Eastern Front German War Minister at Hindenburg Headquarter. Western Russia: ­Russian penetration north of lake Drisviati (south of Dvinsk) repulsed. Russians also repelled near

Diary for Tuesday, December 14, 1915: African Fronts East Africa: Strong memo of Kitchener against offensive overruled. British troops reformed in 2 divisions on December 16. Western Front Paris and

Diary for Monday, December 13, 1915: Sea War Adriatic: Fourth and last Austrian Tegetthott-class dreadnought Szent Istvan completed at Pola. Western Front Meuse: French destroy last German pontoon bridge at

Diary for Sunday, December 12, 1915: Southern Fronts Albania: Serb Army evacuation begins. 1st Drina Division loses 981 men until December 14. Salonika: Allied troops begin arriving back in Salonika

Diary for Saturday, December 11, 1915: Home Fronts Britain: Recruiting rush last 2 days under age-group system. Western Front Artillery duels at different points. Belgian national ammunition factory in France

Diary for Friday, December 10, 1915: Southern Fronts Italian Front: Italians capture positions above Bezzecca basin (Carnic Alps). At Pless Conrad first proposes to Falkenhayn joint Trentino offensive to knock

Diary for Thursday, December 9, 1915: Sea War Dardanelles: Royal Navy E2 last Allied submarine to enter. Western Front ALLIED WAR COUNCIL IN PARIS. General Castelnau appointed French Chief off

Diary for Wednesday, December 8, 1915: Middle East Gallipoli – EVACUATION BEGINS: 83,048 troops; 186 guns; 1,718 vehicles; 4,695 horses and mules (until December 20). Half of them removed on

Diary for Tuesday, December 7, 1915: Southern Fronts Serbia: Austrian Third Army captures Pec and then links with Bulgar 3rd Division, as fighting peters out. Albania: Putnik in sick litter

Diary for Monday, December 6, 1915: African Fronts East Africa: 250 German troops retake Kasigao Hill. By December 31, 650 Germans pin down 5000 British south of Uganda Railway. Cameroons:

Diary for Sunday, December 5, 1915: Middle East Mesopotamia – Siege of Kut begins. 7th Indian Division arrives at Basra. Western Front Flanders: French guns shell communication trenches near Het

Diary for Saturday, December 4, 1915: Sea War Adriatic: Italian destroyer Intrepido sunk off Valona by mines from German U-boat UC14 North Sea: Harwich Force trial sortie with carrier Vindex,

Diary for Friday, December 3, 1915: Sea War Sea of Marmora: British submarine E11 (Nasmith) sinks Turk destroyer Yarhisar (42 survivors) during record 48-day patrol sinking 46 vessels. Also takes

Diary for Tuesday, December 2, 1915: Eastern Front Galicia: Austrians driven back to west bank of river Styr, repulsed again on December 17, attacks at several points beaten on December