October 1914

October

• 01

  • Key eventBattle of Arras beginsOn 1 October 1914 three German corps attacked between Arras and Douai. The Battle of Arras began, the heaviest phase of the fighting in Artois.
• 02

  • Germans occupy DendermondeOn 2 October 1914 the Germans again occupied ruined Dendermonde on the Scheldt, threatening the road by which the Belgian army could leave Antwerp.
  • Indian Expeditionary Force "E" is formedOn 2 October 1914 Indian Expeditionary Force "E" was formed in Egypt. Indian troops were to defend the Suez Canal against the Turks.
• 03

  • German cavalry in YpresThe British chronology records the capture of Ypres by German cavalry on 3 October 1914. Its main body entered the town several days later.
  • 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.
  • British marines arrive in AntwerpOn 3 October 1914 Winston Churchill arrived in Antwerp. That night the Royal Marine Brigade arrived and took up positions on the Nete near Lier.
  • 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.
  • End of the Austro-Hungarian retreat in GaliciaIn early October 1914 the Austro-Hungarian armies halted on the Dunajec and the Biała. After three weeks of retreat they were preparing a counter-offensive.
  • Russians take MáramarosszigetIn early October 1914 Russian cavalry that had crossed the Carpathian passes took Máramarossziget, capital of the Hungarian county of Máramaros.
  • British lay mines off the Belgian coastIn early October 1914 the Royal Navy laid its first minefield in open waters, between the Goodwin Sands and Belgium, to protect the Channel routes.
• 04

  • The Germans take Lens and BailleulOn 4 October 1914 the Germans entered Lens, centre of the Artois coalfield. The British chronology also records the capture of Bailleul.
  • Battle of Arras endsOn 4 October 1914 Maud'huy considered retreating from Arras, but Joffre forbade it and sent Foch north. Arras was saved, and the Germans took Lens.
  • Austria-Hungary launches a counter-offensive in GaliciaIn early October 1914 the Austro-Hungarian armies advanced east from the Dunajec. They drove the Russians behind the San and relieved Przemyśl, then stalled.
  • Essad Pasha forms a government in DurrësIn early October 1914 Essad Pasha Toptani returned to Albania, took Durrës and became head of the government. He was backed by Serbia and Italy.
• 06

  • British 7th Division lands in BelgiumOn 6 October 1914 the British 7th Division, sent to help Antwerp, began landing at Zeebrugge. It came too late, but covered the Belgian army's retreat.
• 07

  • Austro-Hungarians retake MáramarosszigetOn 7 October 1914 Austro-Hungarian troops, supported by the Polish Legions, drove the Cossacks out of Máramarossziget, capital of Máramaros, taken days before.
  • Belgian government moves to OstendOn 7 October 1914 the Belgian government left Antwerp and moved to Ostend. The army was withdrawing across the Scheldt and residents fled the bombardment.
  • Japanese occupy YapOn 7 October 1914 a Japanese squadron occupied the island of Yap in the Carolines, an important hub of German telegraph cables and radio links in the Pacific.
• 08

  • Foch takes command in FlandersAccording to the British chronicle, on 8 October 1914 Foch took command of the Allied forces in Flanders. In practice his role was above all to coordinate them.
  • Second British air raid on GermanyOn 8 October 1914 RNAS pilot Reginald Marix bombed a shed in Düsseldorf and destroyed the airship Z IX. Spenser Grey failed to find his target at Cologne.
  • End of the first Russian invasion of HungaryA British chronicle dates the end of the first Russian invasion of Hungary to 8 October 1914. The Russians were then falling back behind the Carpathian passes.
• 09

  • Germans occupy Armentières, Hazebrouck, Merville and EstairesA British chronicle records the German capture of four towns in French Flanders on 9 October 1914. In reality these were cavalry raids.
  • Germans occupy MeninThe British chronology records the German capture of Menin on the Lys around 9 October 1914. Belgian sources date the town's occupation from 14 October.
  • Fall of the last forts of AntwerpOn 9 October 1914 the Germans found the inner ring forts abandoned and entered Antwerp. The burgomaster signed the fortress's surrender at Kontich.
  • Battles of Warsaw and Dęblin beginOn 9 October 1914 the Germans reached the Vistula and moved on Warsaw. The British chronology dates the start of the battles of Warsaw and Dęblin to this day.
  • Relief of PrzemyślOn 9 October 1914 cavalry of General Boroević's Third Army reached Przemyśl. After a failed assault the Russians drew back from the fortress behind the San.
• 10

  • Capitulation of AntwerpOn 10 October 1914 Antwerp formally capitulated. Governor Deguise surrendered at Fort Sainte-Marie, and thousands of soldiers were interned in the Netherlands.
  • British retake Hazebrouck and EstairesThe British chronicle records the recapture of Hazebrouck and Estaires on 10 October 1914. British cavalry entered Hazebrouck; Estaires was still under threat.
  • Key eventBattle of La Bassée beginsOn 10 October 1914 the British II Corps, moved from the Aisne, marched towards Béthune and La Bassée. So began the British fighting in Flanders.
  • Panama Canal neutrality protocolOn 10 October 1914 the United States and Panama signed a protocol meant to stop belligerent warships from evading the canal's neutrality rules.
  • King Carol I of Romania diesOn 10 October 1914 King Carol I of Romania, a backer of the alliance with Germany, died. His nephew Ferdinand I, closer to the Entente, took the throne.
• 11

  • The British retake MervilleThe British chronology records the recapture of Merville on 11 October 1914. The British 1st Cavalry Division took the Lys town, linking up with the French.
  • Sinking of the cruiser PalladaOn 11 October 1914 the German U-26 torpedoed the Russian cruiser Pallada at the entrance to the Gulf of Finland. The ship blew up with all hands.
  • Australians capture the yacht KometOn 11 October 1914 the Australian patrol vessel Nusa surprised the German government yacht Komet in a bay on New Britain and took her without a shot.
• 12

  • Key eventBattle of Messines beginsOn 12 October 1914 Allenby's British cavalry took the Mont des Cats in Flanders. The battle for the Messines ridge south of Ypres had begun.
  • First Battle of Artois endsOn 12 October 1914 the First Battle of Artois ended. The French held Arras, but Lens and the heights of Vimy and Lorette remained in German hands.
  • Belgians abandon Ostend and ZeebruggeOn 12 October 1914 the Belgians abandoned Ostend and Zeebrugge. The King and government left, the army fell back to the Yser and the ports were left undefended.
  • Capitulation of LilleOn 12 October 1914, after heavy bombardment, the French garrison of Lille surrendered. For the city a German occupation lasting four years began.
  • Germans occupy GhentOn 12 October 1914 the Germans entered Ghent, abandoned by the Allies after the fighting at Melle. The city remained under occupation until November 1918.
• 13

  • Key eventBattle of Armentières beginsOn 13 October 1914 the British III Corps attacked the Germans at Meteren in Flanders. After a day's fighting in rain it took the village, losing over 700 men.
  • Allies return to YpresIn mid-October 1914 Rawlinson's British IV Corps, falling back from Ghent, reached Ypres. French Territorial divisions took up positions beside it.
  • U-boats on the Southampton–Le Havre routeOn 13 October 1914 a British torpedo boat came upon a German submarine off the Isle of Wight. The Admiralty diverted the Canadian convoy to Plymouth.
  • Battle of Chyrów beginsOn 13 October 1914 the Austro-Hungarian armies launched a general attack on the Russian Eighth Army at Chyrów and Stary Sambor. A hard battle began.
  • Belgian government in Le HavreOn 13 October 1914 the Belgian government sailed from Ostend to Le Havre. It settled in Sainte-Adresse, and France granted its buildings extraterritoriality.
• 14

  • British occupy BailleulOn 14 October 1914 the British III Corps entered Bailleul in French Flanders. The Germans had left the town after less than a week of occupation.
  • Germans occupy BrugesOn 14 October 1914 the Germans entered Bruges without a fight. The city soon became the headquarters of the German navy in Flanders and a U-boat base.
  • British capture YabassiOn 14 October 1914 British troops took the German post of Yabassi on the Wouri river in Kamerun. A first attack a week earlier had failed.
• 15

  • Germans reach the Belgian coastOn 15 October 1914 the Germans reached the North Sea in Belgium. The race to the sea was ending; the Belgians dug in on the Yser between Nieuport and Dixmude.
  • Germans occupy Ostend and ZeebruggeOn 15 October 1914 the Germans took Ostend and Zeebrugge without a fight. Both ports became bases for U-boats and torpedo boats threatening shipping.
  • Canadians land in EnglandOn 15 October 1914 the first Canadian contingent began disembarking at Plymouth. It took over a week, and from there the soldiers went on to Salisbury Plain.
  • Sinking of HMS HawkeOn 15 October 1914 Otto Weddigen's U-9 sank the British cruiser Hawke in the North Sea. More than 520 sailors were killed and about 70 survived.
• 16

  • Key eventBattle of the Yser beginsOn 16 October 1914 the Germans attacked Diksmuide. By Belgian reckoning this began the Battle of the Yser, in defence of the last strip of their country.
  • 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.
  • Antonino di San Giuliano diesOn 16 October 1914 the Italian Foreign Minister Antonino di San Giuliano, the architect of Italy's policy of neutrality, died in Rome.
• 17

  • The British retake ArmentièresOn 17 October 1914 the British III Corps entered Armentières, hastily abandoned by the Germans. The town remained in Allied hands until 1918.
  • Battle off TexelOn 17 October 1914 the British cruiser Undaunted and four destroyers sank four German torpedo boats off Texel that were on their way to lay mines.
  • British submarines enter the BalticOn 17–18 October 1914 the British submarines E1 and E9 forced their way through the Sound into the Baltic. They were to support the Russian fleet.
  • Alarm at Scapa FlowOn 16–17 October 1914 an alarm over a supposed U-boat was raised at the Grand Fleet base, Scapa Flow. The fleet put to sea, though no submarine was ever found.
  • Australians sail for the warIn mid-October 1914 the first Australian units boarded ships and sailed for Albany. From there the convoy set out for Egypt on 1 November.
• 18

  • British ships shell the Belgian coastOn 18 October 1914 Admiral Hood's flotilla backed the Belgians on the Yser from the sea, shelling the Germans on the coast between Nieuport and Ostend.
  • Germans take RoeselareOn 18–19 October 1914 the Germans took Roeselare after fighting the French. Taking the inhabitants for francs-tireurs, they murdered dozens of civilians.
  • Grand Fleet leaves Scapa FlowOn 18 October 1914, fearing U-boats, the Grand Fleet began moving from Scapa Flow to Lough Swilly in Ireland and Loch na Keal on the island of Mull.
  • Sinking of the cruiser TakachihoOn the night of 17–18 October 1914 the German torpedo boat S90 sank the Japanese cruiser Takachiho off Tsingtao. About 270 sailors were killed.
• 19

  • Key eventFirst Battle of Ypres beginsOn 19 October 1914 a British attack on Menin ran into new German corps. This was how the First Battle of Ypres began.
  • 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.
  • Battle of Warsaw endsAround 19 October 1914 the Germans began to withdraw from Warsaw. The British chronology ends the Battle of Warsaw on that day.
• 20

  • Battle of Dęblin endsThe British chronology ends the Battle of Ivangorod, or Dęblin, on 20 October 1914. In reality the fighting there went on for another week.
  • Sinking of the GlitraOn 20 October 1914 the German U-17 stopped and sank the British steamer Glitra off Norway. She was the first merchant ship sunk by a U-boat.
• 21

  • Key eventBattle of Langemarck beginsOn 21 October 1914 the British I Corps advanced from Ypres towards Bruges. It ran into new German reserve corps and went over to the defensive that same day.
• 22

  • Austro-Hungarians retake CzernowitzAround 20–22 October 1914 Austro-Hungarian forces recovered Czernowitz, the capital of Bukovina, which the Russians had taken at the beginning of September.
  • United States abandons the Declaration of LondonOn 22 October 1914 the USA withdrew its proposal to apply the Declaration of London and said it would defend neutral rights on the basis of the old rules.
  • Polish Military Organisation foundedOn 22 October 1914 Piłsudski's envoy Tadeusz Żuliński took command of the riflemen's underground in Warsaw and named it the Polish Military Organisation.
• 23

  • Indian Expeditionary Force "D" in BahrainOn 23 October 1914 the 16th Indian Brigade reached Bahrain. The soldiers waited on board ship until the Ottoman Empire entered the war.
• 24

  • End of the Battle of LangemarckOn 24 October 1914 the British drove the Germans from Polygon Wood near Ypres and the French took over north of the town. The Battle of Langemarck ended.
• 25

  • General Sir Charles Douglas diesOn 25 October 1914 the Chief of the Imperial General Staff, General Sir Charles Douglas, died in London. The cause of death was overwork.
• 26

  • Germans attack AngolaIn late October 1914 the Germans in South West Africa resolved to avenge the Naulila incident and struck at Portuguese posts in Angola.
  • French take EdeaOn 26 October 1914 Colonel Mayer's French troops took Edea on the Sanaga in Kamerun. The British helped them, and the Germans withdrew into the interior.
  • Wolfe Murray becomes Chief of the Imperial General StaffOn 26 October 1914 General Sir James Wolfe Murray became Chief of the Imperial General Staff. In Kitchener's shadow he played no significant role.
• 27

  • Sinking of HMS AudaciousOn 27 October 1914 the modern British battleship Audacious struck a mine off the north coast of Ireland and sank. The Admiralty kept it secret.
• 28

  • Russians retake CzernowitzThe British chronicle records the Russians' return to Czernowitz on 28 October 1914. Other sources say they entered the Bukovinian capital a month later.
  • Emden attacks PenangOn 28 October 1914 the German cruiser Emden slipped by ruse into the harbour of Penang and sank the Russian cruiser Zhemchug and a French destroyer.
• 29

  • Key eventBattle of Gheluvelt beginsOn 29 October 1914 the Germans attacked the crossroads at Gheluvelt on the Menin–Ypres road in fog. The next day Fabeck's group began its great offensive.
  • Key eventOttoman fleet attacks Russian portsOn 29 October 1914 Admiral Souchon's Ottoman warships shelled Russian Black Sea ports without a declaration of war. Turkey entered the war.
  • Britain tightens its contraband rulesOn 29 October 1914 Britain issued new contraband lists and a new order on applying the Declaration of London, replacing the August one.
  • Prince Louis of Battenberg resigns from the AdmiraltyOn 29 October 1914 the First Sea Lord, Prince Louis of Battenberg, stepped down. He fell victim to anti-German feeling.
• 30

  • Russians take StanisławówThe British chronicle records the Russian capture of Stanisławów on 30 October 1914. The town had, however, been in their hands since early September.
  • Serbs withdraw from the DrinaOn the night of 30–31 October 1914 the Serbian Second Army left its trenches in Mačva on the lower Drina. A retreat began that took the Serbs to the Kolubara.
  • Allied ultimatum to TurkeyOn 30 October 1914 London gave Turkey 12 hours to expel the German missions and the crews of Goeben and Breslau, or face a break in relations.
  • The Entente breaks off relations with TurkeyOn 30 October 1914 the ambassadors of Russia, Britain and France demanded their passports in Constantinople. War with Turkey was only days away.
  • Salandra reshapes his governmentAt the end of October 1914 Antonio Salandra's government resigned. On 5 November the premier formed a new cabinet with Sidney Sonnino as Foreign Minister.
  • Wreck of the hospital ship RohillaOn 30 October 1914 the British hospital ship Rohilla was wrecked in a storm off Whitby. The rescue lasted three days. About 85 people died.
  • Fisher returns to the AdmiraltyOn 30 October 1914 the 73-year-old Admiral John Fisher became First Sea Lord again. He replaced Prince Louis of Battenberg.
• 31

  • Key eventCritical day at YpresOn 31 October 1914 the Germans broke the British line at Gheluvelt. A counter-attack by the 2nd Worcestershire closed the gap, ending the Battle of Gheluvelt.
  • Sinking of HMS HermesOn 31 October 1914 U-27 torpedoed the British seaplane carrier Hermes in the Strait of Dover. More than 20 sailors were killed.
  • 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.
  • Königsberg found in the Rufiji deltaAt the end of October 1914 the British found the German cruiser Königsberg hidden in the Rufiji delta in East Africa and blockaded her.
  • Kitchener writes to the Sharif of MeccaOn 31 October 1914 Lord Kitchener promised the Sharif of Mecca protection and help if the Arabs supported Britain in the war with Turkey.