Union of South Africa

The Union of South Africa in the First World War →

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(46)

1914

August

21
- Germans cross the border of the Union of South AfricaIn August 1914 a detachment from German South West Africa took up positions on the South African side of the border, near Nakob.

September

15
- Boer rebellion beginsOn 15 September 1914 General Beyers left the army of the Union of South Africa in protest against the war, and General De la Rey was killed by a police bullet.
19
- South African troops occupy LüderitzbuchtOn 19 September 1914 troops of the Union of South Africa landed unopposed at Lüderitzbucht. The invasion of German South West Africa had begun.

December

1915

January

February

22
- Northern Force advances on WindhoekIn late February 1915 Botha's troops moved out of Swakopmund up the Swakop valley. The march across the Namib on the colonial capital, Windhoek, began.

March

April

25
- Clash at GibeonIn late April 1915 General McKenzie's mounted troops caught the retreating Germans at Gibeon. A night ambush failed, but in the morning the Germans were routed.

May

13
- South Africans occupy WindhoekOn 12 May 1915 Botha rode into Windhoek, surrendered without a fight by the town authorities. The capital of German South West Africa passed to the Union.

June

19
- South Africans advance on OtavifonteinOn 18–19 June 1915 Botha led the Union forces north from around Karibib towards the last Germans at Otavi. On 19 June Brits took Omaruru.

July

November

22
- Smith-Dorrien appointed to command in East AfricaOn 22 November 1915 London chose Gen. Horace Smith-Dorrien to lead the expedition against German East Africa. Illness prevented him from taking up the post.

1916

January

31
- Smith-Dorrien resigns the East African commandUnder 31 January 1916 the chronology of the war records Gen. Smith-Dorrien's resignation of the East African command. Serious illness had kept him at Cape Town.

February

March

April

May

June

19
- British occupy HandeniOn 18–19 June 1916 Smuts's troops entered Handeni without a fight. Major Kraut's Germans escaped encirclement and fell back along the road to Morogoro.

July

August

September

07
- Action at KisakiOn 7–8 September 1916 two of Smuts's columns attacked the Germans separately at Kisaki, south of the Uluguru Mountains. Both were repulsed; the pursuit stalled.

October

18
- End of the Battle of the Transloy RidgesOn 18 October 1916 the British Fourth Army attacked on the Somme before dawn, in rain and mud. It took a few trenches but did not reach Le Transloy.

1917

January

March

20
- First meeting of the Imperial War CabinetOn 20 March 1917 the Dominion premiers and India's representatives sat in London with the British War Cabinet. The Imperial War Conference began next day.

May

30
- Van Deventer replaces HoskinsAt the end of May 1917 General Jacob van Deventer took over command in East Africa from General Hoskins. London demanded a swift end to the campaign.

July

19
- Battle of NarungombeOn 19 July 1917 the Kilwa columns assaulted the German trenches at Narungombe all day. The Germans withdrew at night, but the British lost more than 600 men.

1918

April

10
- Key eventGermans take MessinesOn 10 April 1918 the German 4th Army attacked in fog north of Armentières and took Messines. In the evening the South Africans briefly retook the village.