Year 1916

Diary for Monday, July 10, 1916: Western Front Battle of the Somme: Very hot weather, no wind. British 38th Division attacks Mametz Wood; most of wood secured until July 11 […]

Diary for Sunday, July 9, 1916: Western Front Battle of the Somme: Trones Wood fighting continues until July 14. French advance along Bray-Peronne road, taking Biaches and Hill 97 with

Diary for Saturday, July 8, 1916: Western Front Battle of the Somme: First British 30th Division attacks secure most of Trones Wood; German shelling and counter-attack compels withdrawal. French Foreign

Diary for Friday, July 7, 1916: Home Fronts Britain: Lloyd George succeeds Kitchener as War Minister. Lord Derby Under-Secretary for War. Southampton receives record of 6,174 wounded from France. Western

Diary for Thurday, July 6, 1916: Eastern Front Brusilov offensive, Pripet: Disorderly German retreat in Chartorysk salient between river Styr and river Stokhod; 30,000 PoWs and 30 guns lost since

Diary for July 5, 1916: Occupied countries Serbia and Montene­gro: Guerrilla risings begin against weakened Austrian garrisons, continue for duration of war. Western Front Battle of the Somme: British storm

Diary for Tuesday, July 4, 1916: Western Front Battle of the Somme: British attack La Boisselle until July 6. Gough’s Reserve Army in command of 8 divisions on British left

Diary for Monday, July 3, 1916: Western Front Battle of the Somme: British capture Ovillers-La Boisselle, 9th Scottish Division captures Bernafay Wood (east of Montauban). Falkenhayn visits F Below at

Diary for Sunday, July 2, 1916: Western Front Verdun: Falkenhayn issues ‘The unequivocal order for the complete cessation of the attack’, begins to transfer 60 heavy guns to the Somme,

Diary for Saturday, July 1, 1916: Western Front Somme: ANGLO-FRENCH OFFENSIVE, BATTLES OF THE SOMME BEGIN (until November 18). First phase: Battle of Albert (until July 13). After 224,221 shells

Diary for Friday, June 30, 1916: Sea War North Sea: ­First German 15 inch-gun battleship Bayern joins Fleet (sister Baden likewise February 1917). Germany: Chancellor Bethmann again informs Admiral Scheer

Diary for Thursday, June 29, 1916: Eastern Front Austria: Vienna Crown Council attacks CoS Conrad for first time, Emperor orders him to give more info. Air War Mesopotamia: Royal Navy

Diary for Wednesday, June 28, 1916: Southern Fronts Trentino: Italian cavalry reach Pedescala northeast of Arsiero. Isonzo – First major gas attack on Italian Front (until June 29): with help

Diary for Tuesday, June 27, 1916: African Fronts East Africa: British Lake Force (2,000 soldiers, Crewe GOC since June 17) advances south from river Kagera and via Lake Victoria. Major-General

Diary for Monday, June 26, 1916: Air War Western Front: Royal Flying Corps observers engage 161 targets. 5 FE2bs (1 lost) of No 25 Squadron including Capt A W Tedder

Diary for Sunday, June 25, 1916: Southern Fronts Trentino: Italians retake Asiago, Posina and Arslero regained (June 27), as Austrians begin silent and orderly general retreat from salient (night June

Diary for Saturday, June 24, 1916: Western Front Somme – British barrage opens: 2,029 guns fire 1,732,873 shells, but c 1/3 dud, although 109 German guns destroyed or damaged. BEF

Diary for Friday, June 23, 1916: Western Front Verdun – FINAL CRISIS: 30,000 Germans attack at 0600 hours, capture Hills 320 and 321, Thiaumont and Fleury (stormed by Bavarians, French

Diary for Thursday, June 22, 1916: Air War Germany: French bombers attack Karlsruhe (266 civilian casualties). Public outcry for protection across Germany. Western Front­: Royal Flying Corps observers engage 198

Diary for Wednesday, June 21, 1916: Neutrals Spain: German U-boat ­U35 delivers Kaiser letter to King at Cartagena. Mexico: 400 Mexican regulars (38 killed) capture US 10th Cavalry troop (40