Military
Category
(381)1898
1906
1908
1910
1914
July
- 26
- Austria-Hungary orders partial mobilisation against SerbiaOn 26 July 1914 the partial mobilisation of the Austro-Hungarian army against Serbia got under way – the monarchy's first step from diplomacy to war.
- Montenegrin government orders mobilisationOn 26 July 1914 Montenegro ordered the mobilisation of its army, standing alongside Serbia in its conflict with Austria-Hungary.
- Admiralty halts the dispersal of the fleetOn 26 July 1914 the First Sea Lord, Prince Louis of Battenberg, kept the fleet ready for action instead of sending the ships back to their home ports.
- 29
- Russia orders partial mobilisation against Austria-HungaryOn 29 July 1914 Russia mobilised four military districts against Austria-Hungary. That evening the Tsar halted a general mobilisation that was ready to go.
- Admiralty sends the "warning telegram" to the fleetsOn 29 July 1914 the Admiralty sent the pre-arranged "warning telegram" to the ships of the Royal Navy, placing the fleet on a war footing.
- War Office announces the "precautionary period"On 29 July 1914 the British War Office sent out telegrams bringing in the "precautionary period": guards on bridges, forts manned, leave cancelled.
- 30
- Tsar orders general mobilisation of the Russian armyOn the afternoon of 30 July 1914 Nicholas II, persuaded by Sazonov, agreed to general mobilisation. Its first day was 31 July.
- Australia places its fleet on a war footing alongside the Royal NavyOn 30 July 1914 a British warning of possible war reached Melbourne. The Australian navy took up war stations and on 3 August was offered to the Admiralty.
- 31
- Belgium orders mobilisationOn 31 July 1914 the Belgian government ordered a general mobilisation of the army to defend the country's neutrality against anyone who might violate it.
- Russia begins general mobilisation31 July 1914 was the first day of general mobilisation in Russia. The news of it provoked an immediate reaction from Berlin.
- Austria-Hungary orders general mobilisationOn 31 July 1914 Austria-Hungary, responding to Russia's mobilisation, ordered general mobilisation. Its first day was set for 4 August.
- Ottoman Empire orders mobilisationAround the turn of July and August 1914 the Ottoman government ordered a mobilisation that began on 3 August. It also secretly allied with Germany.
August
- 01
- Britain mobilises the fleetOn the evening of 1 August 1914, on news that Germany had declared war on Russia, Winston Churchill ordered the mobilisation of the Royal Navy.
- France orders general mobilisationOn the afternoon of 1 August 1914 France proclaimed general mobilisation. By mid-August nearly three million men had been called to arms.
- 03
- Great Britain orders the mobilisation of the armyOn 3 August 1914 the British government decided to mobilise the army. Proclamations calling up the reservists and the Territorial Force were issued on 4 August.
- Britain authorises the requisitioning of shipsOn 3 August 1914 a royal proclamation authorised the government to requisition British merchant ships for the needs of the war.
- Grand Duke Nicholas becomes commander-in-chief of the Russian armyAt the beginning of August 1914 Tsar Nicholas II entrusted the supreme command of the Russian army to Grand Duke Nicholas Nikolaevich.
- 04
- Admiral Jellicoe takes command of the Grand FleetOn 4 August 1914 the main force of the Royal Navy was renamed the Grand Fleet, and Admiral Sir John Jellicoe became its commander.
- British Expeditionary Force headquarters appointedOn 4 August 1914 the command of the British Expeditionary Force was appointed. Field Marshal Sir John French became its Commander-in-Chief.
- 23
- General Dobell to command the Kamerun expeditionOn 23 August 1914 General Charles Dobell was appointed commander of the Allied land forces against German Kamerun.
- Hindenburg takes command of the Eighth ArmyOn 23 August 1914 General Paul von Hindenburg, recalled from retirement, took command of the Eighth Army in East Prussia, with Ludendorff as chief of staff.
September
- 01
- Lord Kitchener arrives in FranceOn 1 September 1914 Lord Kitchener met Field Marshal Sir John French in Paris and stopped the plan to withdraw the British from the front behind the Seine.
- First Indian contingent arrives at MombasaOn 1 September 1914 the first unit of Indian Expeditionary Force "C" reached Mombasa, sent to aid the weak forces of British East Africa.
- General Stewart takes command in East AfricaOn 1 September 1914 Brigadier-General James Marshall Stewart, commander of Indian Expeditionary Force "C", took command of the British forces in East Africa.
- 28
- First markings on German aircraftAt the end of September 1914 it was noted that German aircraft bore black crosses. The markings were meant to protect airmen from their own troops' fire.
- General Barrett to command the expedition to MesopotamiaOn 28 September 1914 General Arthur Barrett was named commander of Indian Expeditionary Force D, intended for operations at the head of the Persian Gulf.
October
- 03
- The British leave the Aisne frontOn 3 October 1914 the British Expeditionary Force began secretly leaving the Aisne front. It was to move north, closer to the Channel ports.
- First Canadian contingent sails for EnglandOn 3 October 1914 a convoy carrying over 30,000 Canadians sailed from Gaspé Bay for England. The first contingent from Newfoundland joined them.
- 16
- New Zealanders sail for warOn 16 October 1914 about 8,500 New Zealand soldiers sailed from Wellington. They were meant to fight in Europe but ended up in Egypt.
- Indian Expeditionary Force "B" sails for AfricaOn 16 October 1914 General Aitken's Indian Expeditionary Force "B" sailed from Bombay. Some 8,000 soldiers were to conquer German East Africa.
- Indian Expeditionary Force D sails for the Persian GulfOn 16 October 1914 General Delamain's 16th Indian Brigade sailed from Bombay. It was to protect British oil in Persia in case of war with Turkey.
- 19
- British complete their move to FlandersOn 19 October 1914 Haig's I Corps finished detraining near Hazebrouck. The whole British army, moved from the Aisne, now stood in Flanders.
- First Indian soldiers at the frontA British chronicle records the arrival of the first Indian soldiers at the front on 19 October 1914. They entered the trenches at Messines on 22–23 October.
- 31
- Admiralty orders hostilities against TurkeyOn 31 October 1914 the British Admiralty ordered its ships to begin hostilities against Turkey at once, although war had not yet been declared.
- Indian Expeditionary Force "B" off MombasaOn 31 October 1914 at Mombasa the command of Force "B" settled the plan to attack Tanga. After a two-week voyage the troops were not landed.
- Aitken replaces StewartAt the end of October 1914 Gen. Arthur Aitken took supreme command in East Africa. Gen. Stewart and his Force "C" came under his orders.
November
- 02
- Indian Expeditionary Force "F" sails for EgyptAt the beginning of November 1914 three new Indian brigades sailed from India for Egypt. They were to defend the Suez Canal against the Turks.
- North Sea declared a war zoneOn 2 November 1914 the Admiralty declared the whole North Sea a military area. From 5 November neutral ships were to sail through the English Channel.
December
- 04
- Wapshare replaces AitkenAfter the defeat at Tanga Gen. Arthur Aitken was recalled. Command of the British forces in East Africa passed to Gen. Richard Wapshare.
- Portuguese reinforcements sail for AngolaIn early December 1914 more Portuguese units sailed from Lisbon to Angola to strengthen the colony's defence against a German attack from the south.
- The Puławy Legion is formedOn 4 December 1914 the first volunteers of a Polish Legion, raised with Russian consent and National Democrat backing against Piłsudski's, reached Puławy.