Herbert Kitchener

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(41)

1914

August

06
- Lord Kitchener becomes Secretary of State for WarOn 6 August 1914 Field Marshal Lord Kitchener took over the British War Office, replacing Prime Minister Asquith, who had headed it since March 1914.
21
- Kitchener's first New Army is formedOn 21 August 1914 the British War Office ordered the formation of the first New Army, six divisions strong, from volunteers.

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.
11
- Kitchener's second New Army is formedOn 11 September 1914 the British government ordered the formation of a second New Army of volunteers. It comprised six infantry divisions, the 15th to 20th.
13
- Kitchener's third New Army is formedOn 13 September 1914 the British War Office ordered the formation of a third New Army of volunteers, consisting of six infantry divisions.

October

November

22
- War Office takes over the East African campaignOn 22 November 1914, after the defeat at Tanga, direction of British operations in East Africa passed from the India Office to the War Office in London.

December

30
- Grand Duke Nicholas appeals for helpAt the end of December 1914 the Russian commander-in-chief asked the British to strike at Turkey to relieve the Caucasus. It spurred the Dardanelles attack.

1915

February

March

12
- Ian Hamilton to command the Mediterranean forceOn 12 March 1915 Kitchener gave General Ian Hamilton command of the land forces that were to support the fleet attacking the Dardanelles.

May

June

07
- First meeting of the Dardanelles CommitteeOn 7 June 1915 the Dardanelles Committee met for the first time. Kitchener persuaded it to send Hamilton three New Army divisions and new warships.

July

September

October

November

December

1916

January

27
- Key eventBritain introduces conscriptionOn 27 January 1916 the Military Service Act received royal assent. Unmarried men in Great Britain aged 18 to 41 became liable for conscription.

February

March

19
- Murray takes command of all troops in EgyptOn 19 March 1916 General Archibald Murray took over all troops in Egypt from General John Maxwell; they took the name Egyptian Expeditionary Force.

June

05
- Key eventDeath of KitchenerOn 5 June 1916 the cruiser Hampshire, carrying Lord Kitchener to Russia, struck a mine off Orkney. The war minister died with almost all the crew; 12 survived.