Year 1916

Diary for Monday, July 24, 1916: African Fronts East Africa: NRFF (1,200 soldiers) defeats Captain Braunschweig’s Southern Detachment at Malangali, drives it towards Iringa. Belgian battalion takes Kasulu. Western Front […]

Diary for Sunday, July 23, 1916: Western Front Battle of the Somme: Battle of Pozieres Ridge (second phase of Somme battle) begins (until September 3). Anzac Corps captures Pozieres village,

Diary for Saturday, July 22, 1916: Southern Fronts Trentino: Alpini battalion and 154th Regiment night attack and gain footing north of Mt Cimone summit (July 23) dominating Arsiero to south

Diary for Friday, July 21, 1916: Eastern Front Pripet: Bezobrazov‘s Guard Army (11 divisions, 134,000 men and 396 guns) formed. Brusilov Offensive – Galicia: Austrians retreat and begin to evacuate

Diary for Thursday, July 20, 1916: Western Front Battle of the Somme: 778 surviving South Africans relieved at Delville Wood. 4 British divisions begin attacks on High Wood (until July

Diary for Wednesday, July 19, 1916: Western Front Flanders: British First Army diversionary attack but inept daylight attack at Fromelles (until July 20) fails bloody, new 5th Australian Division has

Diary for Tuesday, July 18, 1916: Western Front Battle of the Somme: Strong German counter-attacks at Longueval and Delville Wood. Middle East Armenia: Russians occupy Gumusane, capture 800 Turks 15

Diary for Monday, July 17, 1916: Southern Fronts Macedonia: Serbs begin to move to take over 60 miles of front west of river Vardar. Sarrail told to be ready to

Diary for Sunday, July 16, 1916: Home Fronts Britain: War Savings Week. Western Front Battle of the Somme: British 62nd Brigade relieved at Mametz Wood (night July 15-16). Since July

Diary for Saturday, July 15, 1916: Western Front Battle of the Somme – Battle of Delville Wood (until July 20): 3,153-strong South African Brigade, ordered to capture and hold wood

Diary for Friday, July 14, 1916: Western Front Battle of the Somme – Battle of Bazentin Ridge: 4 BEF divisions (22,000 men) break into German second position on 3 1/2-mile

Diary for Thursday, July 13, 1916: Eastern Front Brusilov offensive, Galicia: Heavy fighting in Suedarmee centre northwest of Buczacz on river Styrpa; Russian Seventh Army takes 12,000 PoWs. Neutrals Western

Diary for Wednesday, July 12, 1916: Western Front Battle of the Somme: British repulse further counter-attacks at Contalmaison. Air War Western Front: French ace-to-be Xavier de Sevin scores his first

Diary for Tuesday, July 11, 1916: Western Front Verdun: 5 German divisions attack, 30 German soldiers reach outskirts of Fort Souville (all killed), but overall gains 436 yds deep by

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