Year 1915

Diary for Sunday, August 1, 1915: Air War Western Front – ‘FOKKER SCOURGE’ BEGINS: Im­melmann scores first Fokker EI victory, over Douai, with his first MG burst in anger, wounds […]

Diary for Saturday, July 31, 1915: Middle East Gallipoli: 200 Australians storm Turk trenches opposite Tasmania Post (until August 1). So far 600 soldiers of 1st Australian Division evacuated with

Diary for Friday, July 30, 1915: Western Front Flanders: 6 German trench flamethrowers used against BEF; 1/2-mile of British 41st Brigade (New Army 14th Division, arrived France on June 18)

Diary for Thursday, July 29, 1915: Eastern Front Poland – Battle of Biskupice: Mackensen cuts Lublin-Kholm railway, Russians evacuate both (July 30 and 31) after II Siberian Corps broken and

Diary for Wednesday, July 28, 1915: Western Front French adopt first gas mask and gas shell production begun on July 1. Southern Fronts Italians attack in Cordevole valley (Venetian Alps)

Diary for Tuesday, July 27, 1915: Sea War Dardan­elles: French submarine Mariotte lost in Turk net defenses. North Sea: U-boat torpedoes 3 Danish schooners. Western Front German artillery shells Reims

Diary for Monday, July 26, 1915: Southern Fronts Isonzo: Italians capture most of Mt Sei Busi (Carso) but impetus faltering. Western Front Argonne: German setback. Alsace – ‘Second Battle of

Diary for Sunday, July 25, 1915: Air War Western Front: Captain Hawker of No 6 Squadron RFC in Bristol Scout armed with Lewis gun on own 45° mounting defeats 3

Diary for Saturday, July 24, 1915: Sea War Atlantic: Q-ship Prince Charles sinks U36. Western Front Vosges: La Fontenelle­-Laanois position stormed by French troops. Eastern Front Baltic Provinces: Charge by

Diary for Friday, July 23, 1915: Air War Austria: Italian Caproni bombers bomb Innsbruck. Eastern Front Poland: Gallwitz storms Rozan and Pultusk fortress bridgeheads and crosses Narew (until July 25),

Diary for Thursday, July 22, 1915: Western Front Argonne: French advance near Bagatelle, Joffre sacks Sarrail from Third Army; Humbert replaces him for duration. Alsace: German counterattack near Metzeral. Neutrals

Diary for Wednesday, July 21, 1915: Eastern Front Conrad urges Burian to keep separate peace with Russia in view (and on August 6) but no Russian interest. Poland: Woyrsch besieges

Diary for Tuesday, July 20, 1915: Sea War North Sea: British submarine C27 towed by Q-ship Princess Louise torpedoes and sinks U23 (Schulthess). Western Front Alsace: French advance toward Munster

Diary for Monday, July 19, 1915: Air War Western Front: Guynemer’s first victory (of 54) with gunner Guerder (wounded), an Aviatik near Soissons. Promoted to sergeant and awarded Medaille Militaire.

Diary for Sunday, July 18, 1915: Southern Fronts Second Battle of the Isonzo (­until August 3): Italian Second and Third Armies (260 battalions against 129 Austrian battalions with 462 guns)

Diary for Saturday, July 17, 1915: Eastern Front Russian Corps report: ‘Superhuman efforts were required to keep the men in the trenches’. Middle East Gallipoli – Helles bridgehead: GOC VIII

Diary for Friday, July 16, 1915: Western Front Aisne: German attack near Fontenoy. Lorraine: German attack in Parroy Forest. Eastern Front Poland: Austrian first Army crosses river Bug. Sea War

Diary for Thursday, July 15, 1915: Air War Western Front: About 12 Fokker EI’s in use. Western Front BEF has now 7 companies of special gas troops. Argonne: French repulse

Diary for Wednesday, July 14, 1915: Southern Fronts Montenegro: Montenegrins repulse Austrian attack at Grahovo. Western Front Haig discovers King has lost confidence in Field Marshal French (Monarch tells CoS

Diary for Tuesday, July 13, 1915: Western Front Argonne: Germans (including gas shell) make transient gains at Vienne-le-Chateau and La Fille Morte, but French Third Army casualties since 20 June