Year 1917

World War One Diary for Friday, October 12, 1917: Eastern Front Baltic Provinces – German landings on Gulf of Riga Islands: Operation Albion with General Kathen’s 23,000 men (42nd Infantry […]

World War One Diary for Thursday, October 11, 1917: Air War France: Royal Flying Corps’ 41st Wing (DH4s, FE2bs and 8 RNAS Handley Page bombers) formed, LAUNCHES 13­-MONTH DAY/NIGHT STRATEGIC

World War One Diary for Wednesday, October 10, 1917: Africa East Africa: Kilwa Force No 1 Column takes Ruponda road and supply centre. Linforce (3,200 troops) resumes advance on Mtama.

World War One Diary for Tuesday, October 9, 1917: Western Front Flanders – Battle of Poelcapelle: Severe fighting. On 6-mile front 3 British divisions (nearly 7,000 casualties) gain crest of

World War One Diary for Monday, October 8, 1917: Home Fronts Russia: Kerensky forms third Coalition Government to rule until Constituent Assembly meets. Trotsky now Petrograd Soviet chairman denounces it

World War One Diary for Sunday, October 7, 1917: Home Fronts France: Scantiest harvest for 50 years announced. Western Front Ypres: German attack near Reutel. Steady rain falling. Haig refuses

World War One Diary for Saturday, October 6, 1917: Southern Fronts Italian Front: Italians have identified 43 Austro-German divisions. Intelligence warns of offensive for October 16-20. Western Front USA: Pershing

World War One Diary for Friday, October 5, 1917: Air War Palestine: Royal Flying Corps Palestine Brigade formed for Allenby’s offensive under Brigade-General W Salmond, 5 new Bristol fighters fly

World War One Diary for Thursday, October 4, 1917: Western Front Ypres – Battle of Broodseinde: British pre­emptive (without prelim bombardment) attack (including 12 tanks which help capture Poelcapelle) ridge

World War One Diary for Wednesday, October 3, 1917: Western Front Ypres: Battle of Polygon Wood ends. Champagne­: French guns disrupt German reserves massing for attacks east of Reims. Eastern

World War One Diary for Tuesday, October 2, 1917: Sea War Atlantik: Cruiser HMS Drake (19 killed) sunk by U-79 (Rohrbeck) in shallow water north of Ireland. East Atlantic: Q-Ship

World War One Diary for Monday, October 1, 1917: Air War Britain: 6 of 18 Gothas sent bomb London; 6 others bomb Kent, Essex and Suffolk (53 casualties). British first

World War One Diary for Sunday, September 30, 1917: Sea War Allied and neutral shipping loss to U­-boats: 159 ships (68 British with 293 lives) lowest since January or 338,242t

World War One Diary for Saturday, September 29, 1917: Western Front Germany: First tank unit formed, 113 men with 5 A7Vs (delivered December 8, more units created). Southern Fronts Isonzo:

World War One Diary for Friday, September 28, 1917: Middle East Mesopotamia – Battle of Ramadi (until September 29): Brooking (995 casualties) annihilates 4,100 Turks with 10 guns (3,456 PoWs),

World War One Diary for Thursday, September 27, 1917: Western Front Flanders: British repulse 7 counter-attacks east of Ypres; 5th Australian Division completes recapture of Polygon Wood. Africa East Africa

World War One Diary for Wednesday, September 26, 1917: Western Front Ypres – Battle of Polygon Wood (until October 3): British 0550 hours thrust (15,000 casualties) including 5 tanks and

World War One Diary for Tuesday, September 25, 1917: Western Front France: At Boulogne Conference British agree in principle to extending BEF front. Ypres – Battle of the Menin Road

World War One Diary for Monday, September 24, 1917: Air War Britain: 11 Navy Zeppelins dispatched: 5 wander east and north counties; only 3 civilian casualties but 5 defence fighters

World War One Diary for Sunday, September 23, 1917: Air War Western Front: Lieutenant Werner Voss (48 victories since November 27, 1916), leader of Jasta 10 killed in action, aged