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Thread: 100 Years Ago Today

  1. #601

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    1st July 1915.


    Western Front.


    No. 2 Sqn RFC officers July 1915
    Hesdigneul, France.

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    L to r:Capt Heaton-Hall, Lt Clarke, Capts Cooper, Secker, Smith and Heathcote
    (Clarke and Heathcote had both crashed their aircraft in the transfer to Hesdigneul, seemingly to no great ill affect!)



    Eastern Front.

    Germans (Mackensen) occupy Zamosc (near Upper Bug).
    Germans (Linsingen) cross Gnila Lipa south of Rohatyn (Galicia).
    Russians evacuate bridgehead near Tarlov (Vistula).
    Second Battle of Krasnik begins.


    Naval and Overseas Operations.


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    U24 captained by Rudolph Schneider Stopped set on fire, and sank the British sailing vessel L C Towers 25 miles SSW of Fastnet.
    Also torpedoed and sank the Italian sailing ship Sardomene, 35 miles SE of Fastnet.
    Plus the British Steamer Welbury 40 miles SW of Fastnet.



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    Meanwhile U39 Captained by Walter Forstmann was dispatching the following English steamers:-

    Caucasian sunk 80 miles Sof the Lizard,
    Craigard sunk 50 miles SWxS of the Wolf Rock,
    Gadsby sunk 33 miles SSW of the Wolf Rock,
    Inglemoor sunk 75 miles SWxW of the Lizard,and

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    Richmond sunk 54 milesSWxS of the Wolf Rock.


    Galipoli.

    This morning our aeroplane while making a reconnaissance was subjected to a fusilade of shell.
    Enemy’s troops observed moving South West in the direction of KRITHIA through approximately Squares 185 S+T. Two columns of Infantry were seen each consisting of about 600 men followed by a party of mounted men. At intervals during the day small bodies of troops amounting to about 500 men in all were seen in the same place + moving in the same direction.

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    ANZAC Cove photographed Ist. July 1915.

    Last night the news came that the Turks were moving Nor’ East and very likely could come over to attack us. What was expected though did not occur. It was a rather anxious on watch and my time fell at 3am in the morning.
    In orders today it was specially mentioned about the great work done by the 29th Division assisted by our Aus and NZ Forces. Mention was also made of an attack made by the Turks on our left Flank on Wednesday evening and the heavy losses we had inflicted on them. Some prisoners captured on this occasion stated the Enver Pasha was in their trenches on the night of the attack and had given them orders to advance as they were assisted by several new battalions. After this attack hundreds of their dead could be seen laying off our trenches.

    Otavifontein (south-west Africa) captured by South African forces and occupied by General Botha.
    H.M.S. "Lightning" damaged by mine or torpedo.

    Political, etc.

    British Commission on trade with Sweden arrives Stockholm.

    Total German casualties to date, reckoned at 1,700,000, of which 306,000 killed, and 500,000 permanently disabled.

    Australia begins Commonwealth Lighthouse Service.

    Australian Survey Corps becomes part of Military Forces.

    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  2. #602

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    2nd July 1915.


    Western Front.

    German success near Four de Paris (Argonne); severe fighting; enemy repulsed near Blanleuil.

    Home Front.

    The railway managers have now given women a fair trial in the railway service, and have come to the conclusion that their experience during the last few months justifies the employment of women not only as a war emergency measure but as part of the permanent system of working the railways.
    It is proposed to begin at once the employment of some thousands of women on the railways, and at the end of the war these women will be retained in the service except to the limited extent that it may be necessary to discharge some to permit of the reinstatement of former employees who enlisted in the army or navy.

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    The Making of an Aviator-Charles Cook.

    https://sussexpast.co.uk/wp-content/...arles-Cook.pdf

    Eastern Front.

    Austrians (Archduke Josef Ferdinand ) occupy Krasnik; heavy Austro-Russian engagements between Vistula and Bug.

    Southern Front.

    Great battle for Carso Plateau begins.
    Italians nearing Tolmino (Jul.).

    Naval and Overseas Operations.

    U39 captained by Walter Forstmann is at it again sinking the Belgian steamer Boduognat off Ushant.
    Damaging the British steamer City of Edinburgh in the Channel with 4 casualties,

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    and sinking the French sailing vessel Hirondelle 40 miles North of Ushant.


    Gallipoli.

    Action of Gully Ravine ends.


    VC Awarded.
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    Captain Gerald O’Sullivan VC, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, 1st Battalion, A Company
    The citation, published in the Edinburgh Gazette on 3 September 1915, reads:
    ‘For most conspicuous bravery during operations south-west of Krithia on the Gallipoli Peninsula. On the night of 1st–2nd July, 1915, when it was essential that a portion of a trench which had been lost should be regained, Captain O'Sullivan, although not belonging to the troops at this point volunteered to lead a party of bomb throwers to effect the recapture. He advanced in the open under a very heavy fire and in order to throw his bombs with greater effect, got up on the parapet, where he was completely exposed to the fire of the enemy occupying the trench. He was finally wounded, but not before his inspiring example had led his party to make further efforts, which resulted in the recapture of the trench. On the night of 18th–19th June, 1915, Captain O'Sullivan had saved a critical situation in the same locality by his personal gallantry and good leading.’
    This action took place in the Inniskilling Inch trench at the extreme NE of the line at Fusillier’s Bluff, where the British faced almost at right angles eastward towards the Turkish lines along the line of the Nullah.
    He was also directly involved on the same action as that in which sergeant Somers, below, won his own VC. This as in the area of trench J12.
    Captain O’Sullivan was born in 1888 in Frankfield, Douglas, in County Cork and died on the 21st August 1915 at Scimitar Hill, Suvla Bay, Gallipoli. His body was not recovered and he is commemorated on the Helles Memorial at Cape Helles and on the Dorchester War Memorial, this town being the family home. He is also remembered on a wall plaque in Sherborne Roman Catholic Church. His VC is now in the Lord Ashcroft collection.

    German cruiser "Pommern" sunk by British submarine in Danzig Bay.


    Naval action in the Baltic between Russian and German squadrons off Gottland. The German minelayer "Albatross" is driven ashore.


    The Russians fired approximately 3,000 rounds during the battle. Admiral Makarov had about ninety 8-inch and half her 6-inch shells remaining at the end of the fighting.
    Damage Note:-
    Admiral Makarov was hit by one 8.8 cm shell from Albatross which did slight damage and wounded one crewman.
    Bayan was hit by one 21 cm shell from Roon on the hull side and mine deck damaging the amidships area. Two men were slightly wounded.
    Rurik was hit by ten 10.5 cm shells from Lübeck which damaged the deck, funnels and officer's cabins. Fumes from the bursters caused a temporary evacuation of one of the 10-inch turrets. A salvo landing close off the bow threw so much water on deck that the rangefinder apparatus on the command bridge was damaged. Roon made a further hit on Rurik with a 21 cm shell which damaged the aft conning tower and destroyed the adjoining superstructure.


    Political, etc.

    Munitions Bill sent to House of Lords after third reading.

    the UK Parliament passes the Munitions of War Act, giving it sweeping powers for compulsory arbitration of industrial disputes; to ban strikes and lock-outs; to limit profits; and declare any factory a “controlled operation”, and with powers to approve all wage changes etc.



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    Gen Porfirio [Jose de la Cruz] Diaz, the president of Mexico, dies.




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    German-American Erich Muenter, also known as Erich Holt or Frank Holt, an instructor in German at Cornell University, plants and explodes a bomb in the US Senate in Washington DC.

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    After setting off
    the bomb in the Capitol, he fled to New York City, where he hid a time bomb on SS Minnehaha, a ship loaded with munitions bound for Britain. He then made his way to the home of financier J. P. Morgan, Jr. in Glen Cove, New York. Morgan had arranged for Britain to borrow large amounts in the US to finance its war effort against Germany, which angered Muenter. He shot Morgan twice in the groin, but failed to kill him and was captured. (Morgan's butler subdued Muenter with a lump of coal.)
    He was charged with both crimes and soon after committed suicide in jail. On July 7, just two days after his jail cell suicide, the bomb he had planted on Minnehaha exploded. It had been placed far away from the munitions, and the resulting fire only caused minor damage.


    Rob.
    Attached Images  
    Last edited by Flying Officer Kyte; 07-03-2015 at 03:27.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  3. #603

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    That picture of the Pommern is actually the pre-dreadnought battleship "SMS Pommern", which was sunk at the Battle of Jutland in the early hours of 1st June 1916.

  4. #604

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    I thought it might be Tim, but after an hours trawling for the right one, I eventually found this picture embedded in an article about the Cruiser Pommern, so thought that I must have got the right one at last as it only seemed to have one main turret.
    I'm actually getting pretty sick of looking for pictures for this thread anyway. Often they are not what they purport to be, take you to somewhere else some other date like Jutland, show you a totally different set of ships, or portraits, or if there is a key action or incident fill all the Google history pages with just pictures of the main event, for whatever you ask.
    Doing the write up about 20 minutes. Sorting pictures upwards of an hour. So expect a lot fewer pictures in future.
    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  5. #605

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    3rd July 1915.


    Home Front.

    Poison gas explosion during fire at Salford Rubber Mill.

    More info-:

    http://salfordonline.com/3093-100-ye...bber-mill.html

    Eastern Front.

    Russians leave Gnila Lipa for Zlota Lipa (Galicia).

    Southern Front.

    V.C. Awarded to 2nd Lieutenant Herbert James.

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    London Gazette, 1 September 1915 ], Gully Ravine, Helles, Gallipoli, Turkey, 28 June & 3rd July 1915, 2nd Lieutenant Herbert James, 4th Bn, Worcestershire Regiment.
    For most conspicuous bravery during the operations in the Southern Zone of the Gallipoli Peninsula.
    On the 28th June 1915, when a portion of a Regiment had been checked owing to all the Officers being put out of action, Second Lieutenant James, who belonged to a neighbouring unit, entirely on his own initiative gathered together a body of men and led them forward under heavy shell and rifle fire. He then returned, organised a second party, and again advanced. His gallant example put fresh life into the attack.

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    On the 3rd July, in the same locality, Second Lieutenant James headed a party of bomb throwers up a Turkish communication trench, and, after nearly all his bomb throwers had been killed or wounded, he remained alone at the head of the trench and kept back the enemy single-handed till a barrier had been built behind him and the trench secured. He was throughout exposed to a murderous fire.

    Dardanelles: Turks lose 5,159 k. and 15,000 prisoners in last five days.

    Naval and Overseas Operations.

    Walter Forstmann and U39 continue their depredations off Cornwall.
    The Norwegian barque Fiery Cross was scuttled in the Atlantic Ocean 70 nautical miles (130 km) west south west of the Isles of Scilly, United Kingdom . Her crew survived.
    The British cargo ship Larchmore was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 70 nautical miles (130 km) south west of the Wolf Rock, Cornwall with the loss of a crew member.
    The British cargo ship Renfrew was shelled and sunk in the Atlantic Ocean 85 nautical miles (157 km) south west by west of the Wolf Rock. Her crew survived.

    Political.

    South Africa's offer of volunteer contingent announced by General Smuts.

    After exploding a bomb in the US Senate reception room the previous day, Erich Muenter, an instructor in German at Cornell University, shoots and wounds JP Morgan for representing the British government in war contract negotiations.

    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  6. #606

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    I second your thoughts on pictures of ships its a nightmare trying to get the right one, especially when you have several ships of the same name. They just weren't considering future historians when they conducted their naming ceremonies were they?

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  7. #607

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    Right Chris.
    It's not just that either. Yesterday I found one battle which started on three different days. People get confused over first, second, and third Isonzo for instance, and you get pictures from one purporting to be from another. One ship has been sunk twice by the same U- boat, and Ludendorff has all sorts of other generals masquerading as him.
    So no worries there for Monty's double when we get to the 100th of WW2.
    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  8. #608

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    4th July 1915.

    Western Front.

    Ypres.Working party of 200 men under Capt Edgar Horace Heathcote shelled on return. 9 killed & died. 21 wounded & 2 previously wounded.

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    Battle of the Argonne dies down; Crown Prince fails to break the French line.


    Eastern Front.

    Austro-Germans reach the Zlota Lipa.


    Southern Front.

    Heavy attack by Turks against Naval and 29th Divisions repulsed (Gallipoli).
    Serbians enter Durazzo (Albania).


    Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres.

    Lahej (near Aden) attacked and taken by Turks.


    Naval and Overseas Operations.

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    French Steamer Carthage sunk off Cape Hellas Gallipoli in three minutes by U21 commander Otto Hersing. Luckily, the troops had been disembarked 3 days before.


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    Commander Otto Hersing

    The British Sailing Vessel Sunbeam was stopped and sunk by gunfire by U25, captain Otto Wunsche 16 miles E of Wick.


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    The British Steamer Anglo-Californian attacked by our old friend U39 captain Walter Forstmann in the Western Approaches, She was Damaged by gunfire and put into Queenstown.


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    Walter Forstmann.


    The Cruiser "Konigsberg" was partially destroyed by monitors in Rufiji river (German East Africa).


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    Max Looff, captain of the Königsberg.

    More info:-

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Rufiji_Delta


    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  9. #609

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    Rob - what is meant by monitors re- the damaging of the Konigsberg?

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  10. #610

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    Here is the info on the Mersey Chris.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Mersey_(1913)

    and here the Severn.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Severn_(1913)

    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  11. #611

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    Brilliant thanks Rob - always nice to learn something new

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  12. #612

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    5th July 1915.

    Western Front.

    Fierce fighting at Souchez, Arras, and on Meuse.



    Eastern Front.

    Severe enemy defeat between Vistula and Bug, and their offensive between Veprj and Bug repulsed.

    Northern movement of Austro-Germans from Galicia towards Kholm-Lyublin line suspended.

    Southern Front.

    Sir Ian Hamilton's dispatch issued describing Turkish counter-attacks beaten off 30 June to 2 July.

    Turkish attempt to dislodge British from Gallipoli Peninsula defeated.
    On 5 July the last major attack of the battle for Gully Ravine commenced but met with a very strong wall of fire the Allies put up. The dead were mounting again in front of the British trenches.
    Mehmet Ali Paşa staff were of the opinion that the Allied advance was already halted and there was no need for these heavy losses. Mehmet Ali Paşa, in fear of a reaction from Liman Paşa, who was in turn initimidated by Enver Paşa hesitated. Again, Major Eggert intervened and Liman Paşa yielded. Finally the slaughter was stopped. This was the bloodiest episode in the entire campaign.
    After the counter-attacks ceased, the front line stabilised and remained largely static for the rest of the Gallipoli campaign although both sides engaged in a vigorous mining war around the ravine
    Lemnos Island." Heavy attack by the Turks along our centre and right wing. They managed to take one trench but we got stuck into them this morning, retook the trench and inflicted awful slaughter on its defenders. All this morning we were in action, our friend the 4 inch Battery got on to us again, but did no damage, only blew a hole in our pit wall.
    Taube amusing itself by bomb dropping all afternoon."



    Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres.

    British evacuate Lahej and retire to Bir Nasr, then to Aden, after attack by Turks.

    Naval and overseas.

    U19 commanded by Constantin Kolbe dealt out the following damage on this day to the Russian sailing ship Adolf, sunk 30 miles off Rattray Head, and British Trawlers, Bardolph, stopped and sunk 115 miles SxW of Sumburgh Head. Curlew and Gasehound, both stopped and sunk 40 miles E1/2S of Peterhead. Persimon, Stopped and sunk 50 miles ENE of Peterhead, and
    Star of the West, Stopped and sunk 55 miles NE1/2E of Buchanness. In all cases there were no casualties.

    Political, etc.

    Statement concerning German violation of neutral mails on Swedish mail steamers.

    Lord Fisher appointed Chairman, Inventions Board.


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    Rob.
    Attached Images  
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  13. #613

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    6th July 1915.

    Western Front.

    Entire BEF now equipped with sack-like Hypo Helmet‘, a crude counter-measure against tear gas (T-Stoff) shells.



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    Flanders: Kitchener visits the front until July 8. British storm trenches between Boesinghe and Ypres.


    Meuse: Slight German gains at Vaux Fery near
    St Mihiel.

    French recapture position on heights of the Meuse.

    British capture trenches near Pilkem.


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    the 1st Rifle Brigade and 1st Somerset Light Infantry attacked a section of German trenches east of the Yser Canal near Pilkem. The attack was successful but the two attacking battalions suffered heavy losses from German shelling and counter-attacks. During the night of 6/7th July they were relieved by 2nd Lancashire Fusiliers (attached to 11th Brigade for the attack) and elements of 1st Royal Warwicks. Around noon on 7th the Germans launched a heavy bombardment of the British positions preparatory to furher counter-attacks. One shell hit the slit trench on the canal bank acting as 2nd LF HQ. The CO, Lieutenant-Colonel C. J. Griffin, the Adjutant and several other officers were wounded. They included Acting Captain William Appleby, Commander of A Company, who was blinded.
    More info:-
    http://www.westernfrontassociation.c...ser-canal.html

    Eastern Front.

    Archduke Josef Ferdinand beaten near Krasnik.
    Russians take 15,000 prisoners between Krasnik and Lyublin.

    German Ninth Army gas attack (1,450 casualties) on riverBzura fails.

    Southern Front.

    Isonzo: 8 Austrian divisions and 350 guns face 18 Italian divisions with 700 guns but morale of former boosted by defensive success.

    Battle for Carso plateau developing.

    Gallipoli.

    During the night of 6 July the 6th LNLs were put ashore by lighter at Seghir Dere in Gully Ravine, where they went into bivouac.
    Extract from a Cavalry Officer's diary on Lemnos Island.
    "Fearfully hot day. Asia didn't want the beach this morning so we went for a swim. Their field batteries from Achi Baba wanted a portion of it though and made things just a fraction uncomfortable. A whole Scottish Div. landed here now. Have been expecting another bombardment. All crews on the guns at 4 am today but nothing so far. Went for a ride down to the beach at night on Challen's horse. Awfully funny to be mounted again. Great fun jumping trenches with a few shells dropping about."

    Naval and Overseas Operations.

    HMS Strathgarry was sunk in a collision with the battleship HMS Monarch in Hoxa Sound on 6 July 1915 when the 2nd Battle Squadron were returning to the Scapa Flow anchorage. One crew member was drowned. She was a single-deck steam trawler used by the Aberdeen Steam Trawling And Fishing Co until hired as a boom defence vessel in June 1915.
    Another pair of victories for Constantin Kolbe and U19.
    The British Trawler Dromio stopped and sunk 35 miles NExE of Buchanness, and JaponicaStopped and sunk by gunfire 45 miles E of Kinnaird Head.
    Also Waldemar Kolbe in U35 who stopped and sank the sailing ship Sunlight, 20 miles SW of Galley Head.


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    Southwest Africa:

    Botha gives Gouverneur Seitz draft surrender terms and deadline July 9, 2am.

    East Africa:

    British monitors Severn and Mersey (hit twice, 3 killed) fire 635 rounds at German light cruiser Königsberg (hit 6 times) in 8-hour action.

    Two shallow-draught monitorsHMS Mersey and Severn—were towed to the Rufiji from Malta by the Red Sea making it to the delta in June 1915. With nonessential items removed, added armour bolted on, and covered by a full bombardment from the rest of the fleet, they ran the gauntlet. Aided by a squadron of four land planes—two Caudrons and two Henry Farmans—based at Mafia Island to spot the fall of shells, they engaged in a long-range duel with Königsberg, which was assisted by shore-based spotters. Although Mersey was hit and the monitors were unable to score on the first day, they returned again on 11 July. Finally, their 6 in (150 mm) guns knocked out Königsberg* '​s armament and then reduced her to a wreck. At around 14:00, Looff ordered her scuttled with a torpedo. After the battle, the British were unquestionably the strongest naval power in the Indian Ocean.



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    Political, etc.

    South Africa's offer of Imperial Contingent gratefully accepted by Government.

    Anglo-French Conference at Calais.

    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  14. #614

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    7th July 1915.


    Eastern Front.


    Von Mackensen held up near Krasnostav.

    Southern Front.

    Italians attack bridgehead at Gorizia and are repulsed.

    The first battle of the Isonzo, between Italian and Austro-Hungarian forces, draws to a close after two weeks.

    “The first battle of the Isonzo cost the Italians 14,947 casualties, including 1,500 men taken prisoner. The Austrians lost 9,948 men, a higher proportion of their army on the Isonzo, but not enough to win the Italians a breakthrough. The search for that breakthrough would result in ten more Italian attacks on the Isonzo, none of which would achieve the decisive breakthrough.”

    Naval and overseas.



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    The Italian, Pisa class Armoured Cruiser Amalfi was
    torpedoed by the German submarine UB14, captained by Heino von Heimburg, pretending to be the Austrian U26 in the Adriatic, 15 miles off Venice with the loss of 72 lives.

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    Heino von Heimburg

    Gallipoli.

    First Australian Hospital Ship, the Kyarra, left Suez, Egypt, carrying wounded back to Australia.


    Political.

    First meeting in London of the Dardanelles Committee of the British government. It had been set up to oversee the campaign and to decide the level of support it should receive.

    The first inter-allied military conference of the war was convened at Chantilly shortly after Italy entered the conflict against the Central Powers. Attending were representatives from Britain (including the Commander-in-Chief Sir John French and the Chief of the General Staff William Robertson), France (Alexandre Millerand the war minister and Joseph Joffre the Commander-in-Chief), Belgium, Italy, Serbia and Russia. Joffre used the conference to advise his allies that only by concerted co-ordinated action would the most favourable conditions for an Allied victory present themselves. However no specific undertakings were agreed as a consequence of the conference.


    Despatches published from Sir Ian Hamilton dated 20 May, covering period 13 March-5 May.

    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  15. #615

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    8th July 1915.

    Western Front.

    French success at Fontenelle (Vosges).

    British repulse German attack south-west of Pilkem.

    Home Front.

    At Aldershot, Lance Corporal Benjamin Burnley, a collier from Pontefract, overstays his authorised leave by 9 hours and 35 minutes, for which he is severely reprimanded and forfeits a day’s pay.


    Eastern Front.

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    The Army of the Bug was formed on 8 July 1915 by renaming the previous South Army with headquarters in Lemberg. After the commander, General der InfanterieAlexander von Linsingen, had been appointed to simultaneous command of Heeresgruppe Linsingen on 20 September 1915, the Army of the Bug was split into Armee-Gruppen that were under the direct command of the Heeresgruppe.
    The Army of the Bug was commanded throughout its existence by
    General der InfanterieAlexander von Linsingen (previously commander of South Army).


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    Austrian troops withdraw to heights north of Krasnik after defeat on Urzedowka.

    Southern Front.

    Monticello taken by Italians (Trentino).

    Naval and Overseas Operations.

    Union troops reach Tsumeb (German south-west Africa), releasing all prisoners captured by enemy.
    Germany reply to "Lusitania" Note.



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    The Russian sailing vessel Marion Lightbody was sunk by U20 Captain Walther Schwieger at a point. 50° 53'N, 8° 48'W.



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    U25 captain Otto Wusche sank the British Steamer Guido, 27 miles NE1/4N of Rattray Head.




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    Guido.

    The Russian steamer Anna was his next victim, sunk 35 miles NExE of Kinnaird Head.

    Political, etc.

    Third reading of National Registration Bill.

    Order in Council passed to increase Canadian Expeditionary Force to 150,000 men.

    Austrian Note to Romania.

    Rob.
    Last edited by Flying Officer Kyte; 07-08-2015 at 08:33.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  16. #616

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    9th July 1915.


    Just because the Western Front is not mentioned much during July does not mean that small scale actions were not taking place. Here is one that covers the date of today's post.

    It was the 1st Rifle Brigade who, in the early morning of 6 July 1915, launched the attack on the German positions of the International Trench, Farm 14 (Moortelweg) and Fortin 17 (some 150 metres north of the crossroads Moortelweg – Kleine Poezelstraat). The fierce fighting would go on for four days, until 9 July. Four days of what is called in a British regimental history “a small but successful operation”. But also in the following days and weeks there would be fighting. And many casualties.
    During the period 6-9 July and the following days the encounter was so violent and the casualties so numerous, that other units were called in for support :

    • the 1st Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment (10th Brigade)
    • the 2nd Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers (12th Brigade)
    • the 1/5th Battalion King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
    • the 1/5th Battalion York & Lancaster Regiment
      (Both of the 148th Brigade van de 49th (West Riding) Division.)

    On the German side :

    • the Königlich Preussisches Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment 213 (RIR 213)
    • the Königlich Preussisches Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment 215 (RIR 215)

    The objectives and the course of the fighting – and the horrors of these bloody events in the aftermath of Second Ypres, which in official World War I historiography are practically ignored – will be kept brief here, for reasons already explained. In that four-day period the occupants of the International Trench changed a couple of times. Though the trench itself hardly looked like a trench anymore, in the fights and after the shelling. And then the Germans decided, on the evening of 8 July, to give up the International Trench and to ensure the link between their trenches by means of a ‘bypass’ near Farm 14.



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    Left : The situation at the British attack of 6 July 1915, with as the major objective the International Trench and the Südspitze.
    Right : After the fights of 8 July, in the evening, the Germans give up the International Trench and substitute it with a bypass northeast of it. This enables the British troops to advance some 20 - 30 metres. But hundreds of soldiers have been sacrificed for this territorial gain.

    The fighting goes on 10 July, and the following days. The 1/5th Battalion York & Lancaster that day, ‘in a brilliant show’ (in which 30 soldiers are killed in action), regain a line that was previously lost. Most casualties are due to the shelling.
    And the result of almost a week of violent combat ? Territorial gain of a few dozen metres on a front of approximately 300 metres. But also : the loss of hundreds of lives, on both sides.

    Eastern Front.

    Austrian offensive on Zlota Lipa repulsed.

    Southern Front.

    Italians capture Malga Sarta and Costa Bella (Trentino).

    Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres.

    Bomb thrown at Sultan of Egypt.

    Naval and Overseas Operations.

    South-west Africa conquered; German troops surrender unconditionally to General Botha.
    As per agreement between the parties involved, a train carrying the Governor of German South West Africa accompanied by Schutztruppe Major Victor Frank arrived at a point known as Kilometre 500, north of Otavi. They were met by South Africa’s General Louis Botha, Colonel de Waal, Major Bok, Major Esselen and Major Leish. The treaty that saw the end of German rule in South West Africa (now known as Namibia) was signed by General Louis Botha, Governor Seitz and Major Victor Franke.


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    More info:-
    http://www.history.com/this-day-in-h...f-south-africa

    A U boat attempted to torpedo the Cunarder "Orduna" without any prior warning. There were several U.S. passengers aboard at the time of the attack.

    U20 captained by Walther Schwieger sank the British Steamer Ellesmere 48 miles SW of The Smalls, St George’s Channel.
    Also Russian Steamer Leo

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    Leo.
    and the British Steamer Meadowfield 50 miles SW of Tuskar Rock, St. George Channel.
    Meanwhile U25 captain Otto Wunsche was accounting for the Norwegian Steamer Nordaas 30 miles E of Aberdeen.

    Political, etc.

    Anglo-Portuguese Treaty of Commerce ratified at Lisbon.

    Lord Kitchener appeals for more recruits at Guildhall.

    Mr. Walter Long makes statement on conscription.

    Export of gold prohibited in France.

    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  17. #617

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    Rob - I have my leave ticket stamped 1st -12th August (have to be back for the grouse !!) but if you want me to pick up the reins for a few days and give you a break let me know sir.

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  18. #618

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    That is very considerate of you Chris. If you could do next Friday to Monday inclusive it would help as I'm orf to Brizol for the weekend, and whilst I will have access to a computer, it won't have all my bookmarks on it.
    Keep an eye on Tim. I think he is weakening.
    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  19. #619

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    11th July 1915.


    Western Front.

    Despatch dated 15 June from Sir John French published, covering operations from 5 April to 30 May.


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    More info:-
    http://www.1914-1918.net/french_eighth_despatch.html

    Eastern Front.

    Fighting on Lyublin front continues; Austrians lose nearly all ground gained in past week.
    The intensity of Russian attacks against the Austro-Hungarian 4th Army in southern Poland declines markedly today, as the infantry of the Russian XXV and VI Siberian Corps are worn out after several days of heavy assaults. They have, nevertheless, accomplished their objectives: the threat to the vital railway linking Ivangorod, Lublin, and Cholm has been been thwarted and substantial casualties have been inflicted on the enemy - several Austro-Hungarian corps have been reduced to the size of Russian regiments - breaking what little offensive power the Austro-Hungarian 4th Army possessed. It is a notable Russian victory, but one which does nothing to counter the vastly-greater threat of the Germans, whose own offensive is mere days away.


    Enemy attacks on Zlota Lipa and Dniester repulsed.

    Russians withdraw to right bank of Urzedowka.

    Southern Front.

    Successful Italian offensive in Carnia region.

    Venice bombed by Austrian aeroplanes for fourth time.

    Gallipoli.

    "Sunday again and our friends have great memories. Always paste us somewhat. Asia has had a fairly good innings this morning. Landed some Lt 3 Howitzer shells on the flat in our rear. Went down for a swim this morning and saw the French 7.5 engaging Asia's Howitzers. Great.

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    French 7.5 Battery being moved into place.

    We could see the full effect of both sides fire, particularly Asia's because we were only about 800yds from where their shells were landing. No damage done to the French. They're still at it. Seem to have a never ending supply of ammunition. Quiet night".

    Naval and Overseas Operations.


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    U25 commander Otto Wunsche was at it again attacking three British ships.
    The first Fleetwood, a Trawler was damaged by gunfire 30 miles E1/2N of Hornsea.
    Hainton another Trawler was Stopped and sunk 45 miles NExE of Hornsea.
    The third Trawler Syrian was stopped and sunk 45 miles ENE of Hornsea.
    There were no casualties from any of the ships.

    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  20. #620

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    Keep up the great work chaps!
    Last edited by Flying Helmut; 07-11-2015 at 02:21.

  21. #621

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    Quote Originally Posted by Flying Officer Kyte View Post
    Keep an eye on Tim. I think he is weakening. Rob.
    I'll have you know HE IS NOT!!!

  22. #622

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    Look even the capital letters are getting smaller.
    Kyte.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  23. #623

  24. #624

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    12th July 1915.


    Western Front.


    Crown Prince checked in Argonne after vigorous offensive.
    German advance round Souchez and capture cemetery.
    German attack in the "Labyrinth" (north of Arras) repulsed.

    Eastern Front.

    Enemy offensive on the Bobr and Narev fronts (north-east of Warsaw).

    Southern Front.

    Italian air raid on Pola.

    The Italian airships were "semi-rigid dirigibles," they were different to the "rigid" Zeppelins in that they had a keel only, as opposed to an entire frame as favoured by the Germans.

    Their first bombing raid was on the 26th of May, 1915, three days after entering the war, when they crossed the Adriatic to attack Sebenico, which was attacked by a dirigible again the following day.
    The airships were used throughout the war, attacking railway yards and enemy encampments and the naval base at Pola.




    Gallipoli.

    Turkish trenches before Achi Baba captured.
    On July 12, 1915, Allied forces make a sixth and final attempt to capture Achi Baba, a prominent hill position featuring a commanding view of Cape Helles, on the Gallipoli Peninsula, from its Turkish defenders.
    Though many modern-day historians have questioned the actual strategic importance of the hill in the grand scheme of the Gallipoli invasion, Achi Baba was seen by the Allied command at the time as a crucial objective in their struggle against the Ottoman Empire s forces and their German allies. Because of this, Sir Ian Hamilton, chief commander of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, had set the capture of Achi Baba as a priority from the first day of the Allied land invasion, on April 25, 1915. In addition to the disorderly landing itself, three separate unsuccessful attempts had been made to capture the heights, as well as the nearby village of Krithia, by that June. On June 28, another attempt met with similar failure, at the cost of heavy Allied casualties, in the Battle of Gulley Ravine.
    The attack of July 12 began after the arrival of Sir Aylmer Hunter-Weston, a regional commander sent from the Western Front to aid Hamilton on the front lines in Gallipoli, along with an additional division of Allied forces. Yet again, the Allies were unsuccessful, gaining a total of only 350 yards over two days of heavy fighting before Hunter-Weston called off the attacks. The Allied casualty figure–4,000 dead or wounded–was lower than the Turkish one–some 10,000 men–but Achi Baba remained in Turkish hands. From then on, the bulk of Allied operations in Gallipoli were focused further north, around the so-called Anzac Cove (named for the Australia and New Zealand Army Corps) and Suvla Bay.
    "12th July 1915
    6 am. Have just got orders for the big bombardment. For the last 2hrs the warships and batteries on the left have been letting loose and already the air smells thickly of cordite and H.E. We are to open fire at 6:30 supporting the Naval Div. and the French left. Everything O.K. and feeling fit to bombard for 24hrs non stop run."

    British residency at Bushire (South Persia) attacked by Tangistani tribesmen.

    Naval and Overseas Operations.


    Following an inconclusive exchange of fire on 6 July, the monitors HMS Severn and HMS Mersey re-engage the German Navy cruiser Königsberg, which had been trapped in the Rufiji Delta by blockships. A seaplane of the Royal Naval Air Service provided spotting for the monitors until forced to land due to a combination of engine trouble and damage from anti-aircraft shrapnel. The Königsberg was destroyed during the bombardment.



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    UB 6 commanded by Erich Haecker attacked no fewer than four British Vessels.
    The fishing Smack Merlin was stopped and scuttled 20 miles ESE of Lowestoft.
    Purple Heather, another Smack was stopped and scuttled 23 miles SExE of Lowestoft.
    The third Smack Speedwell was stopped and scuttled 19 miles SExE of Lowestoft, and finally the Smack Woodbine was stopped and sunk 18 miles SE of Lowestoft.
    No casualties were reported.

    .

    Transvaal Siege Battery formed.
    “From July 12th 1915, The Date Of Its Formation At Cape Town, To The 11th November 1918, when “Cease Fire!” Sounded At Lesdain, On The Escault Canal, Near Turnai, Belgium” The 71st Transvaal Siege Battery had served in the German South West Africa campaign as No3 Battery of the SA Heavy Artillery (one of five Btys of that Regt). In 1915 the title was changed to 71st (South African) Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery and the unit moved to England and then to the Western Front. Although it was during that period an element of the British Army, The Battery kept its South African identity and the men continued to wear South African gunner cap badges.

    Engagements reported between British-Belgian force and Germans on north Rhodesian frontier.

    Political, etc.

    State control of coal industry announced in Germany.

    South Wales miners conference rejects Government proposals.

    More info:-

    http://pubs.socialistreviewindex.org...194/sagall.htm

    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  25. #625

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    13th July 1915.

    Western Front.

    New German offensive in Argonne. They capture French line at Vienne-le-Chateau and the height of La Fille Morte.

    Home Front.

    The British Armstrong Whitworth SS (Submarine Scout) airship with an extra fuel tank successfully completes trials at Kingsnorth in Kent.



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    Eastern Front.


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    Great Austro-German Offensive on Eastern front begins.

    Austrian advance across Dniester in Bukovina; German attack on Narev.
    Battle of the Narew and Bobr begins
    Second Battle of Przasnysz begins
    Battles of Maslomencze and Grabowiec begin.


    Southern Front.


    French advance to the Kereves Dere stream (Gallipoli).

    A bit of a bodge on the British front!
    On the morning of 13th July a curious incident happened among certain troops in the firing line. The trouble began, as it so often does, with an indiscreet verbal message. One of the front trenches was over-crowded and the officer in charge wished to relieve the congestion by sending back a section. Without thinking of possible consequences he passed along a message for No. —— Section to retire, and, as this order was not complied with as rapidly as he expected, followed it up with a more peremptory message that the section was to retire at once. Scarcely ever does the simplest verbal message passed along a line of men reach its intended recipient in the form in which it was despatched. The result is sometimes puzzling, sometimes amusing; on this occasion it was nearly tragic, as part of the firing line was left untenanted.

    Captain John MacDonald, who had "B" Company in Parsons Road as Permanent Garrison, as soon as he became aware of what was happening telephoned back for instructions. His message was somehow delayed, and receiving no reply to it he took the responsibility of acting on his own initiative. Though the Permanent Garrison was detailed in orders to remain in Parsons Road, he pushed forward at once with his company and occupied the abandoned trenches before the enemy had time to make any move to secure them. This saved the situation.

    Early in the forenoon vague and conflicting rumours began to come in about "A" Company and the losses it had sustained. As we were anxious to get definite particulars of what really had happened and as to where the company now was and how it was faring, Major Jowitt set out to find it and obtain the desired information. He had not been long gone when a message arrived from Lieut. Beckett giving particulars of the losses. The hours slipped past without any word from Major Jowitt and we began to fear that some mischance had befallen him. At last, towards three o'clock, word came from the 7th H.L.I. that he was lying wounded in a trench known as E12A a short distance in front of the Horse Shoe. On further enquiry we learned that his wounds did not appear to be serious, but that it would not be possible to get him out of the trench until after dark as all approaches to it were being heavily sniped. Colonel Galbraith, who had found him wounded, had made him as comfortable as was possible in the circumstances, and one of our own men, having heard where he was, had gone up to the trench to remain with him until he could be removed. As soon as it was dark enough to cross the intervening ground, Captains Simson and Neilson with our medical officer, Captain Kennedy, and a stretcher party went up and brought him down to a dressing station, where his wounds were attended to and he was sent down to an hospital ship. The report was that his wounds were not serious, although he was naturally in considerable pain after lying so long in the sun and after his trying passage down from the front through narrow and winding trenches.

    At a conference of C.O.'s held at Brigade Headquarters at 3.40, we were informed that a battalion of the Royal Naval Division was arriving to deliver an attack on the right of the 155th Brigade with the object of securing some gaps in the line between that Brigade and the French. This was preceded, at 4.30, by the usual bombardment. There would appear to have been some ghastly blundering in connection with the arrangements for this attack. We heard afterwards that the battalion was quite ignorant of the ground; that it only arrived a few minutes before the attack was timed to commence; and that it had difficulty in finding the trench from which it was to move on its objective. There must have been similar uncertainty about the objective itself, for the troops advanced across the open, suffering severely from shell-fire, into a trench already held by the 155th Brigade, a trench which—had they known it was so held—they might have walked into by a communication sap with little if any loss. Afterwards they pushed on some distance beyond this trench but found no other to take, and when they fell back on the existing front line the position remained exactly as it had been before the attack, except for the terrible casualties they had so unnecessarily sustained. In his published despatch, Sir Ian Hamilton, referring to this attack, explains its necessity by stating that "about 7.30 a.m. the right of the 157th Brigade gave way before a party of bombers, and our grip upon the enemy began to weaken." He must have been entirely misinformed as to the position, unless the "giving way" to which he refers was the mistaken retirement from the trench which Captain John MacDonald had occupied, as previously narrated. If this is so, the officer who issued the orders to the Naval Battalion cannot have been informed that the "giving way" was only temporary and that the 157th Brigade had almost immediately reoccupied its trenches and was actually holding them when this unfortunate attack was launched.

    About four o'clock we received the bad news that Captain John MacDonald had been killed—shot through the head by a sniper's bullet—in the front trench which his company was still assisting to hold. This brought the total of our officers' casualties in the two days' fighting to seven; three killed (Captain MacDonald and Lieutenants Malcolm and May) one missing (Captain Morton), and three wounded (Majors Jowitt and Downie and Lieutenant J.G. Milne).

    Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres.

    Death of Sultan of Lahej from wound received during Turkish attack.
    More info:-
    http://mideasti.blogspot.co.uk/2015/...inst-aden.html

    Naval and overseas.

    Only one ship lost today.

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    The Russian Steamer Lennok was sunk by U20 captain Walther Schweiger 35 miles NNE of Muckle Flugga (NW Shetlands) No casualties were recorded.

    Fighting the Tangistanis: Bushire, Persia, July – September 1915.



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    More info:-
    http://www.westernfrontassociation.c...ngistanis.html

    Political, etc.

    £570,000,000 (besides £15,000,000 through the Post Office) subscribed to War Loan.

    Strikes proclaimed an offence.

    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  26. #626

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    14th July 1915.

    Western Front.

    Germans attack Belgians on Yser canal and are repulsed.

    Eastern Front.

    Russians fall back towards Narev.

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    Great Austro-German offensive from Baltic to Bukovina begins.
    Enemy capture Przasnysz (Narev).

    The Battle for Schaulen: 14th-27th of July 1915

    After the battle of Gorlice-Tarnow the Russian front line was shaky and disorganized. Gerneral Otto v. Below’s Njemen-Armee on the Northern flank of the German front line made the most of the chaos and launched an offensive that swept across the hot summer landscape like a tornado.

    Three cavalry divisions, reinforced by flying columns, threw off the chains of trench warfare and burst through the weakly defended Russian lines. The spirit of the cavalry was taken up by the accompanying infantry who could not be held back as they stormed forward in the direction of Schaulen where the mass of the Russian 5th army was to be found.
    It was the war of movement that the Generals had dreamed of. Through forests, around lakes, across meadows, through the wheat fields the cavalry galloped. Accompanying them were the Reitenden Abteilungen of the Feldartillerie and the infantry on wagons and automobiles.

    In a series of head on attacks and encirclements they drove the shocked enemy from the battlefield, either in confusion to towards the east or captivity in the West. The Russian high command had lost its head. The simple soldiers and Cossacks fought bravely, defending their ground, but they were left to their own defenses.

    Out on the Northern flank they faced the full force of the offensive. The Germans pushed past their flanks and caught them from behind. The attackers covered up to 52km a day held up only by fighting in the forests, the villages and at river crossings.

    By the time the advance approached Schaulen the Russians had begun to prepare their counter attack. They massed their forces to hit the wheeling German left flank at its pivot. Von Below was faster. He threw his regiments of Bavarian and Prussian infantry in a right hook that closed around the Southern Flank of the Russian units at Schaulen while the Brigade under Homeyer (Which had been in reserve) attacked Schaulen itself.

    Now the Russians fought a fighting retreat, a counter attack was no longer possible. As always they showed themselves to be the masters of the fighting retreat and von Below was not able to fully encircle the 5th Army, a portion of which escaped to the East. Only the northern extremity of the front saw the Russian troops crushed on the battlefield, here they pulled back to form a new defensive line which stretched from Mitau to Poniewiez. The German troops followed with the intention of taking Mitau but the front hardened and the offensive came to a halt.


    Southern Front.

    Montenegrins repulse Austrian attack at Grahovo (Montenegro).

    Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres.

    Turks driven from Nasriya (Euphrates) by British force from Kurna.

    Naval; and overseas.

    Two vessels lost today.
    The Norwegian Steamer Rym was sunk by UC1 Captain Egon von Werner 1.5 miles SSW of the Shipwash Light, and the Belgian Fishing vessel Vivid was sunk off Calais by UC 3 Captain Erwin Weisbach.

    Political, etc.

    A Dominion Premier (Sir R. Borden, Canada) for the first time attends meeting of the British Cabinet.
    Sherif of Mecca opens direct negotiations with British Government for co-operation against the Turks.

    National Registration Bill passes House of Lords.

    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  27. #627

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    Nice map there, Rob. Could wish for a higher resolution, but hey, good to see.
    Also noting that one of MvR's relatives commanding a division, or maybe a corps
    Karl
    It is impossible for a man to begin to learn what he thinks he knows. -- Epictetus

  28. #628

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    Not sure if it might be this chap.


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    The First World War brought about a turning point to Silesia in Germany, which lost quite some territory in Upper Silesia. Many members of the Richthofen family died in the trenches of the war.

    Manfred (1855-1939, Barzdorf) would be a typical member of the family at the time of the German empire. His military career was closely connected to the traditional regiment of the Gardes du Corps. As an officer of this unit he served as personal flank adjutant to the last emperor in charge of military and representative services. He fought at both the western and eastern fronts during the First World War and ended his military services at the rank of a deputy general of the Guards Corps in Berlin.

    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  29. #629

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    15th July 1915.

    Western Front.

    Failure of Germans in attempt to reach left bank of Yser results in heavy losses.

    The first confirmed air victory of the new German Fokker monoplane EI on 15 July 1915 on a Morane-Saulnier L by Lieutenant Kurt Wintgens was symbolic. Seit April hatten die Franzosen mit der Morane, als dem als ersten durch den Propellerkreis feuernden Flugzeug, den Luftraum beherrscht. Since April the French had dominated the air space with the Morane, as the first firing through the propeller aircraft.

    Eastern Front.

    New German offensive towards Riga develops.

    Germans storm line south of Zielovna (near Przasnysz), and force Russians to retreat towards the Narev.

    Southern Front.

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    Italian offensive in Upper Cadore develops (Dolomites).



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    Italian Alpine troops 1915.


    Gallipoli.

    On the afternoon of July 15th, "C" and "D" Companies took over the trenches on the west of the Achi Baba nullah from the Plymouth Battalion, while "A" Company relieved part of the Drake Battalion and the 6th H.L.I. on the east of the nullah. This relief had to be carried out after nightfall, as the position was as yet unsafe from Turkish marksmen who sniped the approaches by day. The sector included the famous Horse Shoe Trench which was then a death trap, although, after much labour had been expended upon it, it was latterly known as the safest position on the Peninsula.

    "That first night was an eerie one for "A" Company, and for our Signalling Officer, Captain R.H. Morrison, who had to link up Battalion Headquarters in Wigan Road with the isolated company. Selecting a quiet interval about 11 p.m. he slipped out from F12 with a couple of his Headquarters signallers to run the line across. Working over almost unknown ground, with only a general idea of the direction and position of the enemy, their worst anxiety was lest in the dark they should lead their wire into a Turkish trench instead of the Horse Shoe. A few bullets were sweeping down the nullah as they crossed, but fortunately none of the little party was hit. Breasting the slope on the further side they eventually landed safely in the Horse Shoe, much to the surprise of the sentries there. It did not take long to install the instrument, and, leaving one of the signallers in charge of the new station, the party retraced its steps and got back to Headquarters shortly before midnight to report communication established."

    Naval and overseas.


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    Captain Egon von Werner on the right.

    UC1 Captain Egon von Werner sank the British Naval Trawler Agamemnon Ii mined off the Shipwash LV with 9 casualties.


    Political, etc.

    National Registration Act introduced in Britain, obliging all eligible men to register for military service.

    Strike of Welsh miners begins.



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    The head of German propaganda in the US, Dr Heinrich Albert, loses his briefcase on a subway in New York City; an examination of its content reveals an extensive network of German espionage and subversion across the US.

    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  30. #630

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    Did a bit of digging (when I should be sewing a banner and housework )
    It would indeed be General der Kavallerie Manfred Freiherr von Richthofen, commanding the 1 HKK (1st Cavalry Corps) which for this battle had the 3rd and Bavarian Cav Divisions at least, probably a couple more (1st and Guards ).
    He was a great uncle of his more famous namesake Manfred von Richthofen, known as the Red Baron, who was his godson and named after him. As he had no children and he wished to keep his estate in the family, he legally adopted his nephew Wolfram Freiherr von Richthofen.
    .

    More interesting bits.
    Thanks Rob
    Karl
    It is impossible for a man to begin to learn what he thinks he knows. -- Epictetus

  31. #631

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    Quote Originally Posted by Flying Officer Kyte View Post
    The head of German propaganda in the US, Dr Heinrich Albert, loses his briefcase on a subway in New York City; an examination of its content reveals an extensive network of German espionage and subversion across the US. Rob.
    Own goal!
    It beggars belief that such a cock-up could occur then, but Ministers of Government still do the same things today!

  32. #632

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    Quote Originally Posted by Flying Helmut View Post
    Own goal!
    It beggars belief that such a cock-up could occur then, but Ministers of Government still do the same things today!
    Right on the nail Tim.
    That is one of the reasons I thought it worth including.
    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  33. #633

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    16th July 1915.


    Western Front.

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    21st RGA Siege Battery arrives in France.
    Siege Batteries RGA were equipped with heavy howitzers, sending large calibre high explosive shells in high trajectory, plunging fire. The usual armaments were 6 inch, 8 inch and 9.2 inch howitzers, although some had huge railway- or road-mounted 12 inch howitzers. As British artillery tactics developed, the Siege Batteries were most often employed in destroying or neutralising the enemy artillery, as well as putting destructive fire down on strongpoints, dumps, store, roads and railways behind enemy lines. The armaments of each battery will be given as details are added.

    German attack in Lorraine (forest of Parroy) and in sector of Fontenoy (west of Soissons).

    Eastern Front.

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    Prussian Guard Cavalry Division now transferred from Belgium and fighting on Eleventh Army Front in Poland
    Between Vistula and Bug Germans attack Russians on the Wolitsa, and Russians repulse Archduke north of Krasnik.
    Heavy Austro-German losses on Vieprz.
    Russians defeat Austrians on east bank of Dniester and capture 2,000 prisoners.

    Gallopoli.


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    Field Kitchens arriving on Lemnos Island today- the envy of every A.I.F. Brigade
    on the nearby Gallipoli peninsula.


    "Fresh meat for breakfast. How delightful it was and what a break in the monotony of our daily fare. I noticed that the Light Horse Brigades were getting Travelling Kitchens from funds collected in Brisbane and I thought that we should have one for our 7th Battery – and wrote home to that effect.

    Each day to fill in moments when not reading or shelling the unspeakable Turks there were many odd jobs we did such as [illegible] etc. We always kept ourselves shaved even while bullets or shells played merrily over the dug outs and trenches. We got an issue of English War notes to-day. Small pieces of paper which hardly looked genuine."


    Naval and overseas.
    . HMS Speedwell reported having rammed U-Boat at 15 knots north of Shetlands.

    U19 captained by Constantin Kolbe attacked the British Navy Trawler HMT Cameo and Damaged it by gunnery (one shell hit).
    U41 captained by Claus Hansen sank the Russian Balva in the North Sea 59° 45'N, 4° 05'E.
    No casualties were recorded in either incident.


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    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  34. #634

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    Quote Originally Posted by Flying Helmut View Post
    Own goal!
    It beggars belief that such a cock-up could occur then, but Ministers of Government still do the same things today!
    Laptops on trains - say no more !!!

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  35. #635

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    Right in the absence of out glorious leader the baton for the updates has once again fallen to me... so here goes

    July 17th 1915



    According to the RAF / RFC roll of honour there were no deaths recorded on this day.

    Eastern Front

    Heavy fighting between Vistula and Bug.

    Mackensen continues offensive on the Wolitsa.

    Southern Front

    Serbians evacuate Durazzo (Albania) at request of Italians, but keep neighbouring strategical points.

    Naval and Overseas Operations

    General Radetzky ( Russia): World War I: The cargo ship was sunk in the North Sea 65 nautical miles (120 km) north east of Lerwick, Shetland Islands United Kingdom (60°04′N 1°52′E) by SM U-41 ( Kaiserliche Marine). Her crew survived

    "Lusitania" report issued by Lord Mersey.

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    SHIPPING CASUALTIES.

    (LOSS OF THE STEAMSHIP “LUSITANIA”.)

    REPORT of a Formal Investigation into the circumstances attending the foundering on 7th May, 1915, of the British Steamship “Lusitania,” of Liverpool, after being torpedoed off the Old Head of Kinsale, Ireland.

    Presented to both Houses of Parliament by Command of His Majesty

    LONDON:
    PRINTED UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF HIS MAJESTY’S STATIONERY OFFICE
    By DARLING AND SON, LIMITED, BACON STREET, E.

    Report on Loss of the “LUSITANIA” (S.S.)

    THE MERCHANT SHIPPING ACTS, 1894 TO 1906


    IN THE MATTER OF the Formal Investigation held at the Central Buildings, Westminster, on the 15th, 16th, 17th, and 18th of June, at the Westminster Palace Hotel on the 1st of July, and at the Caxton Hall, Westminster, on the 17th of July, before the Right Honourable LORD MERSEY, Wreck Commissioner, assisted by Admiral Sir F. S. INGLEFIELD, K.C.B.; Lieutenant-Commander HEARN; Captain D. DAVIES; and Captain J. SPEDDING, acting as Assessors, into the circumstances attending the loss of the steamship “Lusitania,” of Liverpool, and the loss of 1,198 lives at a spot ten to fifteen miles south of the Old Head of Kinsale, Ireland, on the 7th May, 1915.

    REPORT OF THE COURT.

    The Court, having carefully enquired into the circumstances of the above-mentioned disaster, finds, for the reasons appearing in the annex hereto, that the loss of the said ship and lives was due to damage caused to the said ship by torpedoes fired by a submarine of German nationality whereby the ship sank.

    In the opinion of the Court the act was done not merely with the intention of sinking the ship, but also with the intention of destroying the lives of the people on board.

    Dated this seventeenth day of July, 1915.


    Political, etc.

    Two spies condemned to death at Westminster Guildhall.

    Signing of secret treaty between Turco-German Allies and Bulgaria- Treaty of alliance signed at Sofia between Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, Germany, and Turkey. Albania to be ceded to Bulgaria in return for Bulgarian participation in war.

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  36. #636

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    Nice one Chris.
    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  37. #637

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    July 18th (Sunday) 1915


    According to the RAF / RFC official war records there were NO DEATHS ARE RECORDED FOR SUNDAY JULY 18TH 1915

    Western Front

    German attack at Souchez repulsed.

    Eastern Front

    Mackensen captures Krasnostav.

    Windau (Courland coast) captured.

    Russians retreat from north and west of Warsaw and on entire front of Vistula and Bug.

    Southern Front

    Italian success on Isonzo, 2,000 prisoners.- The last component of Mackensen's offensive in southern Poland has been the redeployment of the Austro-Hungarian 1st Army from west of the Vistula River to the right of the Army of the Bug, straddling the pre-war frontier between Austria-Hungary and Russia. Tasked with covering the eastern flank of the German advance northward, most of 1st Army's formations have reached the front along the Bug River, though several divisions are still in transit. The delays are symptomatic of the inferior quality of Austro-Hungarian logistics in comparison with their German allies, and the German offensive cannot wait for the last stragglers to arrive - the Army of the Bug, accompanied by the German 81st Reserve Division of 1st Army, launch their preliminary attacks today, seizing ground near the villages of Werbkowice and Zaborce.

    - Though the first offensive against the Austro-Hungarian positions along the Isonzo River was suspended barely a week ago, Cadorna issues orders today for a second major operation, scheduled to begin on the 18th. The primary effort will be undertaken by the Italian 3rd Army, whose first attacks will be launched against Mounts S. Michelle (by XI Corps) and dei sei Busi (by VII Corps), the capture of which would then allow for the seizure of the Görz bridgehead on the west bank of the Isonzo. Further north, 2nd Army is to launch diversionary assaults on the enemy lines, to prevent reinforcements, and in particular artillery, from being transferred south to oppose 3rd Army.

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    Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

    Turks reported to have ordered Greeks to evacuate Aivali (north of Smyrna).

    Naval and Overseas Operations

    Italian cruiser "Giuseppe Garibaldi" torpedoed. Giuseppe Garibaldi was the lead ship of the her class of armored cruisers built for the Royal Italian Navy (Regia Marina) in the 1890s. The ship often served as a flagship and made several deployments to the Eastern Mediterranean and the Levant during her career. At the beginning of the Italo-Turkish War of 1911–12 she bombarded Tripoli. Giuseppe Garibaldi bombarded Beirut in early 1912 and sank an Ottoman ironclad there. Several months later she bombarded the defenses of the Dardanelles.

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    The ship spent several months deployed to Albania after the end of the First Balkan War in 1913 to protect Italian interests there. Giuseppe Garibaldi was sunk by an Austro-Hungarian submarine in the Adriatic Sea shortly after Italy declared war on the Central Powers in 1915 with the loss of 53 crewmen. Her wreck was discovered in 2008 and has been examined by underwater archaeologists in subsequent years.
    Giuseppe Garibaldi had an overall length of 111.8 meters (366 ft 10 in), a beam of 18.2 meters (59 ft 9 in) and a deep draft (ship) of 7.3 meters (23 ft 11 in). She displaced 7,350 metric tons (7,230 long tons) at normal load. The ship was powered by two vertical triple-expansion steam engines, each driving one shaft, using steam from 24 coal-fired Niclausse boilers.[1] The engines were rated 13,500 indicated horsepower (10,100 kW) and designed to give a speed of approximately 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph). During her sea trials on 7 September 1900, Giuseppe Garibaldi failed to reach her designed speed, reaching 19.7 knots (36.5 km/h; 22.7 mph) from 14,713 ihp (10,971 kW).[2] She had a cruising range of 5,500 nautical miles (10,200 km; 6,300 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). Her complement ordinarily consisted of 555 officers and enlisted men and 578 when acting as a flagship.[1]

    Her main armament consisted of one 254-millimeter (10 in) gun in a turret forward of the superstructure and two 203-millimeter (8 in) guns in a twin turret aft. Ten of the 152-millimeter (6 in) guns that comprised her secondary armament were arranged in casemates amidships; the remaining four 152-millimeter guns were mounted on the upper deck. Giuseppe Garibaldi also had ten 76-millimeter (3 in) and six 47-millimeter (1.9 in) guns to defend herself against torpedo boats. She was fitted with four single 450-millimeter (17.7 in) torpedo tubes.[3]

    The ship's waterline armour belt had a maximum thickness of 150 millimeters (5.9 in) amidships and tapered to 80 millimeters (3.1 in) towards the ends of the ship. The conning tower, casemates, and gun turrets were also protected by 150-millimeter armor. Her protective deck armour was 37 millimeters (1.5 in) thick and the 152-millimeter guns on the upper deck were protected by gun shields 50 millimeters (2.0 in) thick.[1]


    Political, etc.

    Prince Hohenlohe-Langenburg, German ambassador at Constantinople, received by King Ferdinand at Sofia.
    World Affairs: US President Woodrow Wilson sends US forces to Haiti in an attempt to prevent Germany or France from taking it over. Haiti controls the Windward Passage to the Panama Canal and is seen as strategically critical. The Haitian government is near insolvency at this time and is significantly in debt to foreign corporations. German companies control almost 80 percent of Haitian trade. US forces will occupy the country until 1934.

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  38. #638

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    July 19th 1915

    Another day where the RAF/RFC roll of honour states that there were no recorded deaths...

    Meanwhile in France.... Guynemer's first 'Kill'

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    Although not flying his beloved Spad at the time seems like a good excuse to add a picture of one of the war's most iconic aircraft

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    On the outbreak of the war, 19-year-old Georges Guynemer, given his love of flight, attempted to enlist in the French air force. Rejected three times, he is finally accepted as a mechanic at Pau airfield in November. He convinces his superiors to allow him to enrol in pilot training, where he earns a reputation for recklessness for insisting on flying the more advanced Parasol, usually reserved for experienced pilots, during his training. Assigned to MS3, he makes a poor initial impression by crash-landing his first aircraft, and his CO threatens to ship him out if he hasn't demonstrated he can make the grade. Fortunately not only for Guynemer but also the French air force, he soon shows his skill - flying his two-seat Morane aircraft today, he and his gunner Private Charles Guerder intercept and shoot down a German Aviatik aircraft near Soissons, Guynemer's first kill. When the German crashes behind French lines, Guynemer lands beside it and promptly breaks his propellor. Success, however, allows such mistakes to be overlooked; Guynemer and Guerder are awarded the Military Medal, and today's kill will be just the first of many for Guynemer.

    Western Front

    The crater at Hooge

    “At 7pm on 19th July 1915, a large mine was exploded by 175th Tunnelling Company [British] Royal Engineers, under a German trench position. The spoil from the detonation threw up a lip 15 feet high, around a crater 20 feet deep and 120 feet wide. After the firing, it was immediately occupied by two Companies of the 4th Middlesex (8th Brigade, 3rd Division). British artillery quelled all signs of German attempts to recover the crater.

    German retaliation came on 30th July 1915. The Hooge sector was being held by 41st Brigade of 14th Division, which had taken over the area only a week before. The 8th Rifle Brigade held the near crater lip, with the 7th KRRC on their right, across the road. These battalions had relieved the others of the Brigade during the night. At 3.15am, with dramatic suddenness, the ruins of the Stables were blown up, and jets of flame shot across from the German trenches. This was the first time in warfare that liquid fire flamethrowers had been used by the Germans against the British. Immediately a deluge of fire of all kinds fell on the Brigade, and on all support positions back to Zouave Wood and Sanctuary Wood. The ramparts of Ypres and the exits from the town were also shelled.”

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    German attack near Les Eparges (Verdun), repulsed with heavy losses, also west and south-west of Souchez.

    Eastern Front

    Russians concentrating on Narev.

    Germans attacking north and south of Warsaw.

    Grand Duke Nicholas, chief of staff of the Russian army, visits the headquarters of General Alexeiev of North-West Front today and, given the continued setbacks, gives the latter the authority to order a retreat eastward from the Vistula and to abandon Warsaw, if the situation warrants. In southern Poland, 3rd Army disengages overnight from the Germans opposite and retreat to a prepared defensive line just south of the vital Lublin-Cholm railway. The Germans undertake an energetic pursuit, and by nightfall have come up against the new Russian positions. To the west, on the other side of the Vistula River, the German forces under General Woyrsch continue their advance, reaching the line Przylek-Zwolen-Podgora and taking five thousand prisoners by evening.

    Fiercest fighting on Lyublin-Kholm line.

    Southern Front

    Italian success on Carso plateau after two days' fighting: capture of M. San Michele.
    Along the Isonzo River Italian infantry attacks expand to include actions against the Austro-Hungarian bridgehead on the west bank of the river at Görz. Despite heavy fighting, however, all of these assaults are thrown back, and after the first two days of the offensive nothing of any significance has been gained. In holding off the Italians, however, the Austro-Hungarians have suffered heavy casualties - VII Corps on the Karst plateau has already lost 5500 men, and 20th Honved Division in particular is down to one-third strength. To reinforce VII Corps, 93rd Division is transferred from reserve to reinforce the front.

    East African Front

    In the Italian colony of Libya, the garrison continues to be under pressure from the uprising of the Senussi of the interior. Lacking sufficient numbers to hold the entire colony, the Italians have been abandoning posts to the south, and today retire from Ghadames in western Libya on the border with French Tunis. Most of the colony is essentially under the control of the Senussi, with the Italians only able to cling to the coast.


    Political, etc.

    Total casualties in Dardanelles to 30 June, 42,434, announced in House of Commons.

    Venizelist movement gains ground as opposed to Germanophil policy of Gournaris.

    Bulgaria again declares neutrality.

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  39. #639

    Default

    20th July 1915.

    Western Front.

    French advance up valley of the Fecht towards Munster (Alsace).

    In July 1915 the French carried out an offensive almost 3,000 feet above sea level on the rounded peaks of the Vosges mountains of Alsace. The offensive followed battles between the French and the Germans for possession of the peaks in deep snow and storms in the early part of 1915. Following a limited offensive to try to push the Germans out of the Fecht valley on the east side of the mountain range at Munster the French pressed on later in the summer to try to take the peaks and mountain road toutes around Le Linge. The Battle of Le Linge (20th July - 15th October 1915) was fought for almost three months. Since the fighting there earlier in the year the Germans had reinforced their lightly-held positions by constructing an impregnable fortress of tunnels, trenches and bunkers hewn either out of the rock or supplemented by reinforced concrete. The German line could not be broken and after the close of the battle the Front Lines on this peak remained static, and only a few yards apart in places, for the rest of the war.

    Eastern Front.

    Zeppelin XII. raided Bialystock.

    By the summer of 1915 Z 12 had dropped around 9,000 kg (20,000 lb) of bombs on the
    Warsaw to Petrograd trunk railway line between the stations at Malkina and Białystok.

    Stubborn Russian defence of Lyublin-Kholm railway.
    Heavy fighting south of Ivangorod.
    Heavy fighting on Narev line before Rozhan, Pulusk, and Novo Georgievsk.
    Russians evacuate positions west of Groitsi and retreat north of Novogorod (Warsaw region).
    Germans break through Russian line on the Bubissa (north).

    Southern Front.

    Italians attack round Gorizia and capture of 500 prisoners on Carso. Part of Podgora ridge captured.

    Gallipoli.

    Anzac Trench diagram (Compiled by Air Reconnaisance) Corrected to 20th July, 1915



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    Naval and overseas.



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    H.M. submarine C27, in combination with decoy trawler Princess Louise, torpedoed and sank U23 off Fair Island.

    G.E.R. s.s. Brussels missed by U-Boat’s torpedo off Inner Gabbard ; fifth encounter.

    The British Naval Yacht Rhiannon was sunk off the Longsand by UC3 commanded by Erwin Weisbach. there were no casualties recorded.

    Political, etc.

    Welsh miners strike settled.

    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  40. #640

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    Welcome back Rob

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  41. #641

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    Quote Originally Posted by Hedeby View Post
    Welcome back Rob
    Thank you for the welcome back and for minding the printing press my co editor.
    Kyte.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  42. #642

    Default

    21st July 1915.

    Eastern Front.

    Ivangorod fortress invested.
    Second Battle of Ivangorod ends.

    Russian offensive round Sokal expels enemy from right bank of Upper Bug.


    Southern Front.

    Italians advance at Plava (Julian).

    Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres.

    British force reach Euphrates from Kurna and captures Turkish troops.

    British re-occupy Sheikh Othman (Aden).

    Naval and overseas.

    The U6 Captained by Reinhold Lepsius was responsible for the taking as a prize the Norwegian Steamer Anvers between Skagerrak and Firth of Forth. Also for the sinking of the Sweedish sailing vessel Madonna in the North Sea.
    Neither ship suffered any casualties.

    UC3, Commander Erwin Weisbach, sank the British Navy Trawler Briton off the Longsands, with the loss of 11 crew members.


    Political.

    Less than one year after the start of the war, Private Herbert Burden of the Northumberland Fusiliers, aged 19, becomes the 41st British solider to be judicially executed.
    President Wilson's Protest to Germany

    The Government of the United States is not unmindful of the extraordinary conditions created by this war or of the radical alterations of circumstances and method of attack produced by the use of instrumentalities of naval warfare which the nations of the world can not have had in view when the existing rules of international law were formulated, and it is ready to make every reasonable allowance for these novel and unexpected aspects of war at sea; but it can not consent to abate any essential or fundamental right of its people because of a mere alteration of circumstance. The rights of neutrals in time of war are based upon principle, not upon expediency, and the principles are immutable. It is the duty and obligation of belligerents to find a way to adapt the new circumstances to them.

    The events of the past two months have clearly indicated that it is possible and practicable to conduct such submarine operations as have characterized the activity of the Imperial German Navy within the so-called war zone in substantial accord with the accepted practices of regulated warfare. The whole world has looked with interest and increasing satisfaction at the demonstration of that possibility by German naval commanders. It is manifestly possible, therefore, to lift the whole practice of submarine attack above the criticism which it has aroused and remove the chief causes of offense.

    In view of the admission of illegality made by the Imperial Government when it pleaded the right of retaliation in defense of its acts, and in view of the manifest possibility of conforming to the established rules of naval warfare, the Government of the United States can not believe that the Imperial Government will longer refrain from disavowing the wanton act of its naval commander in sinking the "Lusitania" or from offering reparation for the American lives lost, so far as reparation can be made for a needless destruction of human life by an illegal act.

    The Government of the United States, while not indifferent to the friendly spirit in which it is made, can not accept the suggestion of the Imperial German Government that certain vessels be designated and agreed upon which shall be free on the seas now illegally proscribed. The very agreement would, by implication, subject other vessels to illegal attack, and would be a curtailment and therefore an abandonment of the principles for which this government contends, and which in times of calmer counsels every nation would concede as of course. The Government of the United States and the Imperial German Government are contending for the same great object, have long stood together in urging the very principles upon which the Government of the United States now so solemnly insists. They are both contending for the freedom of the seas.

    The Government of the United States will continue to contend for that freedom, from whatever quarter violated. without compromise and at any cost. It invites the practical cooperation of the Imperial German Government at this time, when cooperation may accomplish most and this great common object be most strikingly and effectively achieved.... Repetition by the commanders of German naval vessels of acts in contravention of those [neutral] rights must be regarded by the Government of the United States, when they affect American citizens, as deliberately unfriendly.

    Question by Lord Paramoor in the House.
    My Lords, I rise to ask the Lord President whether he can give any information as to the terms and conditions of the Government insurance scheme for dealing with damage to property which may result from bombardments or air raids. Since I put this Question on the Paper the other day the Report of the Aircraft Insurance Committee has been issued, and I notice at the outset that the terms of reference to the Committee which has brought forward the present scheme state that "Any scheme prepared must be on the basis of reasonable contribution being paid by the owners of property insured towards the cost of insurance." In view of the experience that has been gained in a way which I shall mention in a moment, I think that the proposed contributions are most unreasonable.

    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  43. #643

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    22nd July 1915.


    Western Front.

    French positions east of Metzeral (Alsace) attacked, captured, and finally evacuated by enemy.
    French gain near Bagatelle (Argonne).

    Eastern Front.

    Russians cleared from left bank of Vistula above Ivangorod.
    Enemy storms Miluny (Warsaw) and attacks Narev bridgehead at Rojan.

    Zeppelin XII raided Malkin. Zeppelin LZ39 raided Warsaw.

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    LZ Class Airship.

    Southern Front.

    Austrians hold bridgehead of Gorizia against fierce attacks.
    Italian capture 1,500 prisoners on Carso.

    Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres.

    Announced that 30 Turkish officers with arms cargo sailed for Tripoli; Italians demand war on Turkey.

    Naval and overseas.

    Bukoba, on Victoria Nyanza (German East Africa), captured by British forces (22nd/23rd).

    H.M. Submarine E7 again shelled Turkish trains at Kaya Burnu.


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    E7 had a short career in World War I. She took part in the Second Heligoland Bight Patrol along with E5, D2 and D3. She and the other submarines returned from the patrol on 18 August 1914. Then on 30 June 1915, E7 began a 24-day patrol in the Sea of Marmara. She succeeded in sinking 13 ships and damaging many more.

    U36 commanded by Ernst Graeff accounted for no fewer than three vessels on this day. They were, the British trawler King Athelstan, stopped and scuttled 100 miles NxW of Hoy Head. Russian Steamer Rubonia, W of the Shetlands, and the British trawler Star of Peace, stopped and sunk 114 miles N1/2W of Hoy Island, Orkneys. No casualties were recorded in any of the above.

    U6 captained by Reinhold Lepsius stopped and sank the Sweedish sailing vessel Fortuna in the North Sea.


    Political, etc.

    Mr. Roosevelt denounces his countrymen as accessories after the fact to Germany's crimes in Belgium.

    Turkey, at insistance of Central Powers, modified Treaty of Pera (Sept. 1913) in favour of Bulgaria. Turkish portion of Dedeagach railway ceded to Bulgaria with territory (600 square miles) between river Maritza and frontier.

    - See more at: http://www.westernfrontassociation.c....DRoHx14d.dpuf

    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  44. #644

    Default

    23rd July 1915.


    Eastern Front.

    Fortresses of Rojan and Pultusk stormed and river Narev crossed by Germans.

    Russians overtaken and defeated near Shavli (Courland).

    Southern Front.

    Italians advance along Luznica Ridge (Julian).

    Innsbruck bombed.

    Gallipoli.

    From a hospital in Malta, Private Roy Denning, 1st Field Company, Royal Australian Engineers, wounded on Gallipoli on 16 June, wrote to his mother in Yass, New South Wales, the following words about the landing of 25 April in which he had taken part:
    "I knew what the ordeal of the strenuous day before [25 April] had been, and knew what pluck and determination was necessary to keep awake and alert through the long weary hours of the night, therefore I thought I was justified in being proud of being an Australian …"


    Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres.

    Italian garrisons massacred in revolt of Senussites in Tripoli, German and Turkish officers in command.

    Naval and Overseas Operations.

    Austrian warships bombard Ortona and the Tremiti Islands (Adriatic).

    U36 captained by Ernst Graeff had another field day,
    sealing the fates of the French Steamer Danae, sunk 80 miles NW of Cape Wrath.
    The Norwegian Steamer Fimreite W of the Shetlands.
    The British Steamer Hermione. Stopped and sunk by gunnery 60 miles NxW of Hoy.
    The British Trawler Honoria. Stopped and sunk 60 miles NxW of Hoy Island, Orkneys, and finally the British Trawler Sutton 60 miles NxW of Hoy.



    Political.

    Third American Note to Germany re: "Lusitania" published.

    Rob.
    Last edited by Flying Officer Kyte; 07-23-2015 at 05:40.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  45. #645

    Default

    24th July 1915.


    Western Front.

    German attack near Hooge repulsed.

    Dunkirk bombarded.

    French capture positions in Ban de Sapt (Vosges).


    A letter from Flanders dated 24th July.

    Vosges


    Saturday July 24th 1915
    My Dear Mother
    Yrs. of July 19th …came today …
    Enclosed 2 things may interest you, one re Mrs Smith I cut out of a Sydney paper sent to me & other out of this mornings communiqué which will explain why we have been so busy & going day & night all the week, I don’t know how much longer it is going on, but we can’t keep it up much more. Many of us nearly dropping off the cars for want of sleep, dust too has been very bad & ones eyes get in such a state. I was given a night in bed for a change last night which was most acceptable.

    Two days ago 3 or 4 of us who happened to be out over pass saw a big fight from hill in wood looking across valley on bare hills opposite. Fearful shelling of trenches & then Germans climbing out & running up hill to a wood & then the 75 guns firing shrapnel into them. It was a particularly clear day & could follow it all so well.

    We saw another night a fight on a famous Kopf here, sort of hill 60 of these parts, wonderful at night. We were up a high hill above valley looking down over German positions & where we were was just behind French trenches but not near the Kopf in question. Guns going off in every unexpected spot & the view of flashes from the hand grenades & bombs they throw at one another is like fireworks, extraordinary sight.
    The want of sleep, continual guns firing off close to you in dark when going along road at night & the wounded everywhere waiting to be brought in on ambulances is all rather weird & gets a bit on ones nerves. The talk of nothing else & various fellows describing some ghastly wounded man he has brought down, one gets, we all are I think rather fed up of it all & I shan’t be sorry today when today fortnight comes …

    I certainly have no intention at present of returning here for more than 3 months, it is a beastly cold place in Winter & I shall have had more than enough of this job by 1st Dec.if not long before. One could always come back to it in Feb or March if war is still on then, but hope to be elsewhere & war over by then …

    Cecil Starkie [??] had a narrow shave going over the pass two evenings ago, shell burst close to him & broke the front glass of the car.

    Several of us have had shells pretty close lately, they shell the road we use to try & stop the staff & ammunition going down to the troops & also searching for batteries in hills around. Russians seem in not a very good way at moment & Warsaw in balance! Nothing seems ever to happen in Flanders & I don’t suppose we shall ever advance in those parts. How sick everyone must be of it all, Germans included ...

    Best love
    Yr affect. son
    Arthur


    Eastern Front.

    Rozan and Pultusk (North Poland) stormed by German forces.

    Southern Front.

    Austrian attacks on Luznica Ridge (Julian) repulsed.

    Gallipoli.

    Colonel F.H. Sykes is appointed to command all Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) air units in the Eastern Mediterranean, effectively becoming the air commander for the Dardanelles operation.

    Diary entry.

    24th July 1915.
    "Quiet night. Taube over this morning. Dropped bombs. Didn't hit anything in particular, only the peninsular. Got shelled by some insignificant Battery this morning. Got a fine specimen of a shell which I'll try to hang on to. Went for a swim, and Asia wanted the beach too. But we didn't go back until we had had our share. They put 3 H.E. 4.7 into the water, and when we were leaving lobbed one just 12yds away. We all got covered in sand and stuff but no damage done. We're all going to take a ticket in Tatts when we get back. Sent 3 over after us as we were going back to the Bty. But we signalled W.O. each time."

    Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres.

    Turks defeated outside Nasriya (Euphrates).

    In Turkish Mesopotamia (now Iraq) British forces take the town of Nasiriya from the Turks, and begin to prepare plans for an advance northward to Baghdad.
    Some 400 British and
    Indian and up to 2,000 Turkish soldiers were killed in the battle.

    Naval and overseas.

    U36 captained by Ernst Graeff struck again, no fewer than five times on this day.
    First the British trawler Anglia stopped and sunk 25 miles NW of Sulisker.
    Next the Cassio Stopped and sunk 60 miles NxW of Hoy.
    Then the American Sailing Vessel
    Pass Of Balmaha in the Shetland area - taken as a prize and retained.
    Followed by the British Fishing vessel Roslin Stopped and sunk 60 miles NxW of the Butt of Lewis.

    Finally the British trawler Strathmore, Stopped and sunk also 60 miles NxW from the Butt of Lewis.
    We next turn to the U41 captained by Claus Hansen who sank the British Steamer Grangewood 20 miles ENE of the Flugga LH, Shetland.

    It was now the turn of UB 12 and Captain Hans Nieland who scored four victories sinking
    the British Fishing vessels, Activity, Henry Charles, Kathleen, and Prosper, all 30 miles ENE of Lowestoft.

    Political, etc.

    Strikes and German outrages in munition factories irritate public opinion in U.S.A.

    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  46. #646

    Default

    July 25th 1915


    Victoria Cross:
    The Victoria Cross is awarded to Lieutenant Lanoe G. Hawker of No.6 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps, for his actions during an offensive patrol over France and in recognition of the continuous courage he demonstrated while flying a Bristol Scout 1611, with a hastily fitted cavalry carbine.

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    Born in Hampshire in 1890 Hawker enlisted with the British Royal Flying Corps (RFC) before war broke out in 1914.

    Once war was underway however Hawker quickly distinguished himself, receiving the DSO in April 1915 for his overtly aggressive tactics with 6 Squadron in successfully attacking - with hand grenades - a German Zeppelin shed at Gontrode.

    The following year, on 25 July 1915 in the skies above Ypres, Hawker succeeded in bringing down two German aircraft by - unusually - deploying a variant of the Lewis Gun as a weapon on the starboard side of his Bristol Scout aircraft. This remarkable success (which included forcing a third aircraft to land) earned Hawker the Victoria Cross, the first for an airman.

    Attachment 171695

    Promoted to Major Hawker, whose motto was simply "attack everything", was given command of 24 Squadron in February 1916 while flying the DH2 aircraft. Having established himself as the first Commonwealth air ace - he achieved seven victories in total - Hawker's remarkable run came to an end when, following a lengthy dogfight with Manfred von Richthofen - the Red Baron, he was downed and killed shot through the head on 23 November 1916 above Bapaume. He was aged 25.

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    Eastern Front

    Enemy reaches Posvol and Poneviezh district on the Dvina.

    Russian Government evacuates factories at Riga and Warsaw.

    Enemy troops cross Narev above Ostrolenka.

    Southern Front

    Italians progress on Lower Isonzo.

    Barracks at Verona bombed.

    Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

    Nasriya shelled, attacked and occupied by British troops under General Gorringe.

    Naval and Overseas Operations

    U.S.A. steamer "Leelanaw" torpedoed.
    GERMANS SINK THE LEELANAW; Destroy Freighter Bearing Contraband, Then Tow Boats Toward Land. GIVE VESSEL FULL WARNING Hail Her Off Orkney Islands, and, Finding Flax Aboard, Shell Her While Her Men Look On. GRAVELY VIEWED AT CAPITAL American Officials Regard the Act as a Contemptuous Disregard of Our Rights. The American steamer Leelanaw, from Archangel, Russia, on July 8 for Belfast, with a cargo of flax, was sunk last night by a German submarine off the Orkney Islands. All the crew has landed safely at Kirkwall. The steamer was owned by the Harby Steamship Company of New York..

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    French occupy Lomie in Cameroons; rising in Zemen district, Germans retreat.
    Nasiriya (Mesopotamia) taken by British forces

    BORN TODAY: in Hull, Massachusetts – Lieutenant Joseph Patrick “Joe” Kennedy, Jr., the first of nine children born to American businessman, investor, and government official Joseph P Kennedy (Sr) and Rose Fitzgerald. Joe junior was killed in action during a “top a secret mission” in world war 2

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  47. #647

    Default

    Trivia for you Chris.

    General Gorringe.

    According to QI the only word in English which rhymes with Orange. Just in case you ever feel like writing an ode to an Orange.

    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  48. #648

    Default

    July 26th 1915

    According to the RAF / RFC hall of records there were NO DEATHS RECORDED FOR MONDAY JULY 26TH 1915

    Western Front

    Attacks by Crown Prince in Argonne checked.

    French success on Lingekopf (Alsace).

    Eastern Front

    Enemy held on Narev line, fierce fighting east of Rojan; Zeppelin captured by Russians.

    Germans repulsed at Shlok (Riga), warships co-operating.

    Southern Front

    Italians occupy crests on Julian front and capture Monte Sei Busi; and attack Plateau of Doberdo.

    Great fire in Constantinople.A great fire in Istanbul, later attributed to Russian airplane bombing, destroys over 3000 buildings.

    Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres

    Announced that Nejd (north-east Arabia) has proclaimed its independence and put Turkish garrisons to flight.

    Naval and Overseas Operations

    French operate against Lagosta (Adriatic) destroying Austrian submarine supply station, etc.
    The French submarine “Mariotte” is sunk by the Ottoman Navy, and its crew taken as prisoners of war.

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    The French submarine Mariotte (Q74) was a submarine built for the French Navy prior to World War I. Intended to accompany the fleet, she was designed for high speed on the surface. Although the navy was unsatisfied with her performance on the surface, the boat had a higher underwater speed than any French submarine before or during the following 35 years. Mariotte was plagued with engine problems during her construction and the navy spent years fixing the various issues before finally commissioning her five years after beginning construction. During the war, she participated in the Dardanelles Campaign, but had to be scuttled after she became entangled in the cables of a minefield on her first attempt to penetrate the Dardanelles.

    Italians land and capture Pelagosa Island (centre of Adriatic).

    German destroyer sunk by British submarine in North Sea - SMS V188 ( Kaiserliche Marine): World War I: The V138-class destroyer was torpedoed and sunk in the North Sea by HMS E16 ( Royal Navy) with the loss of five of her crew.
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    Political, etc.

    Great Britain's reply to American Note of 30 March received in Washington.

    Socialism in Italy: a “rising star” of the Italian socialist party, one Benito Mussolini, expresses the view that “Italian workers should give ‘not a penny’ to the cause of war, nor spill ‘one drop of blood’ for a cause that had ‘nothing to do with it’. If the government failed to declare neutrality, the proletatriat would force it to do so”. [Mark Thompson: “The White War: Life and Death on the Italian Front, 1915-1919″].

    Canada's recruits up to date, 140,000.

    Never Knowingly Undergunned !!

  49. #649

    Default

    27th July 1915.

    Western Front.

    French capture position above Lingekopf.

    Soissons and Reims bombarded.

    No.11 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps (RFC), the first fighter squadron to be fully equipped with the Vickers Gunbus 2-seat fighter, arrives in St Omer, France.

    Eastern Front.

    Enemy captures Goworowo (east of Rojan).
    Warsaw attacked on three sides.
    Austrians lose heavily in attack near Majdan-Ostrowski and on front Terriatin-Annopol (Cholm region).
    Fighting for the Pruth south-east of Poltusk proceeding.

    Asiatic and Egyptian Theatres.

    Russians forced back by Turks near Mush (Asia Minor).

    A bored expat: stationed as an intelligence officer in Cairo, writes home to his family:
    “There is of course, nothing happening here, or likely to happen. Reports, and ciphering and drawing maps all day. The Dardanelles show will end soon:- Syria is quite quiet, though the Armenian villages in the North have been broken up, and the people scattered to various districts. No massacres, however, as yet. I can’t think of anything else to say:- The hot weather, as Father is interested in it, will end at the end of September. It’s not very hot now – and besides I am never more than about 5 minutes in the open air.”
    T. E. Lawrence (later – “of Arabia”),

    Gallipoli.

    Australian troops charge near a Turkish trench, Gallipoli Peninsula, Turkey, 1915.
    From a letter received by an Australian woman in London from a nurse in the Dardanelles:-
    I am doing transport duty to Gaba Tepe, where we take on wounded Australians and New Zealanders direct from the field dressing stations. We take all the serious cases. The slightly wounded and the medical cases are taken on minesweepers to where troopships are used as hospitals. When they have a certain number of cases they take them back to the hospitals in Egypt. It is a sad time for us all, but you can be proud of being an Australian. Our men are perfect dears at all times. They bear suffering and trouble without a whimper and just die smiling. It breaks my heart to see them. I hear to-night that the casualties to date are 12,000, and killed 4,000, but that must include British also: but really I am not sure. Every place here is full.
    It’s a charming trip going up to
    Gallipoli. We pass amongst little islands, and the sunsets and the twilights are lovely. It’s all very charming until you come round - and the bursting of shells, the cracking of machine guns, and rifle fire make you realize what war is. All night long it never ceases. But we are so busy that after a time one grows indifferent except when something unusual takes place. The aeroplane flying over us gets an audience out on deck. We take on most of our wounded at night. We are a mile out front the shore, and trawlers tow them out on barges. They are under fire coming out. So are we, for that matter, but the Turks are decent enough. What firing takes place is at transport and ammunition ships which get near us, so if we get hit it’s their fault, as they won’t keep away on a patch of their own. Our captain often has to move when shells come rather too close for comfort. We are very well fitted up, although rather cramped. Still, the ship’s people are awfully kind and do all they can for our comfort.

    Naval and Overseas Operations.

    Three Danish schooners torpedoed by German submarine.

    Walther Gustav Becker and UB 13 continued his spree accounting for two British
    Fishing Smacks, Iceni and Salacia both stopped and scuttled 15 miles E of Lowestoft . No casualties reported.

    Meanwhile Hans Valentiner in UB 16 sank the British Fishing Smack Westward Ho, 25 miles SE of Lowestoft.

    The Railway from Ancona to Pesaro was bombarded from the sea.

    Political, etc.

    Mr. Asquith announces total military casualties to 18 July, 830,995; naval 9,106.

    French Chamber agrees to necessity of Parliamentary control for army.

    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

  50. #650

    Default

    28th July 1915.


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    Western Front.

    Air-raid on St. Omer.

    Home Front.

    Born today in Kensington, London – Brigadier Peter Young: Monmouth; Oxford; the Commandos; and Sandhurst Royal Military Academy. Military historian.


    Eastern Front.


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    Germans cross Vistula between Warsaw and Ivangorod.

    Russians repulsed south-west of Gora Kalvariya (south of Warsaw).

    Austrians repulsed beyond the Kamienka (Upper Vistula).

    Southern Front.

    Austrians repulsed in Carnia.
    Italian offensive in Cordevole Valley (Ventian Alps) progressing.
    Italians evacuate positions just west of Gorizia. (Isonzo).

    Naval and overseas.

    British 2nd Battle Cruiser squadron with light forces from Rosyth, Scapa and Harwich, carried out operations in Skagerrak.

    UB 16 captained by Hans Valentiner torpedoed and sank British s.s. Mangara (1,821 tons) off Aldeburgh ; no warning, 11 lost.

    UB 13 captain Walther Gustav Becker sank the British Fishinfg Smack Young Percy 30 miles ExN of Lowestoft.

    U 41 captain Claus Hansen Stopped and sunk by torpedo the Norwegian Steamer Trondhiemsfjord W of the Shetlands.

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    Political, etc.

    Final debate on Compulsory Service; Mr. Asquith reviews situation.

    Mr. Lloyd George speaks on munitions.

    Pope Benedict XV issues call for peace to all those fighting.

    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

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