Haig and Rawlinson | 22 Aug 1916
Haig and Rawlinson It seems that the rule among the BEF’s high command at the moment is “if in doubt, shout at General Rawlinson”. While Continue reading Haig and Rawlinson | 22 Aug 1916
Haig and Rawlinson It seems that the rule among the BEF’s high command at the moment is “if in doubt, shout at General Rawlinson”. While Continue reading Haig and Rawlinson | 22 Aug 1916
Romania Negotiations for bringing Romania into the war have finally concluded, to the alleged satisfaction of all parties. I’m far from convinced. After a little Continue reading Sixth Isonzo | Boselli | Bissolati | 17 Aug 1916
Sixth Isonzo Yesterday we had a rather odd concept to digest; there’s been a battle on the Isonzo and there is good news for the Continue reading Gorizia | Sixth Isonzo | 7 Aug 1916
Pozieres windmill Between the ANZACs and Pozieres windmill, there is a very nasty interconnected trench system with two main fire trenches. The staff knows them Continue reading Pozieres Windmill | 29 Jul 1916
Battle of Erzincan Erzincan has surrendered. A second overwhelming Russian victory in 1916 is now complete. Vehip Pasha’s Third Army has, for the second time Continue reading Erzincan | Haig & ANZACs | 25 Jul 1916
Battle of Fromelles The diversion at Fromelles has time for one last ignominy. During the evening, plans were made and orders were sent out at Continue reading Fromelles | Pozieres | 20 Jul 1916
Battle of the Somme A huge rainstorm has blown in. Even if the BEF had been in position to launch a major attack on the Continue reading German counter-attacks | 4 Jul 1916
“Y” Day on the Somme Just as most of the BEF’s part of the Western Front has been delivering intense artillery bombardments to disguise the Continue reading Rain and raids | 28 Jun 1916
Battle of Verdun Here we go again. It’s time once more for the Germans to move hell and high water outside Verdun. The map again. Continue reading Fleury | Bras | Souville | 23 Jun 1916
Offensives in Anatolia We begin today with a return to the Russo-Ottoman fighting on the Caucasus front. Quick recap: the Ottomans have sent significant reinforcements Continue reading Bayburt | French infantry tactics | 20 Jun 1916
Battle of Asiago Right then. Time for Conrad von Hotzendorf to prove, once and for all, that his armies are totally capable of fighting on Continue reading Battle of Asiago | 15 May 1916
Chinese labourers We open today with some very interesting news from France. Unsurprisingly, with the voracious demand for men to go into the Army, there’s Continue reading Chinese labourers | Kondoa | 14 May 1916
Deception for the Somme As the French continue throwing in more and more men at Verdun, preparations for the summer offensive continue to, ahem, continue. Continue reading Deception for the Somme | Hill 304 | 6 May 1916
Gas at Wulverghem There’s been another German gas attack on the Western Front, this one at Wulverghem, just south of Ypres. (It’s close enough to Continue reading Wulverghem | Supplies to Russia | 30 Apr 1916
Surrender of Kut General Townshend is apparently too sick to surrender personally. He is, however, apparently well enough to issue one last message to the Continue reading Kut surrenders | Easter Rising | 29 Apr 1916
Siege of Kut Let’s go straight to Edward Mousley. It’s been an extremely busy day, and I feel I owe it to him to let Continue reading Unconditional surrender | Lt-Col Churchill | 28 Apr 1916
Siege of Kut Today General Townshend attempts to open negotiations for his surrender. I say “attempts” advisedly, since he spends a great deal of time Continue reading Negotiating for Kut | Hulluch | 27 Apr 1916
Siege of Kut Today sees the final, desperate throw of the dice for relieving the Siege of Kut. A large paddle steamer, the Julna, has Continue reading Julna | Easter Rising | 24 Apr 1916
Siege of Kut There’s now absolutely no chance for success if the relief column tries to attack out of Bait Isa towards Es Sinn. But, Continue reading Kut | Trebizond | 18 Apr 1916
Battle of Bait Isa Good news from Mesopotamia! For one thing, the rain’s stopped for the moment. And, after some very confused, very wet, very Continue reading Bait Isa | Luxueil | 16 Apr 1916
Battle of Bait Isa The rains rain, the men sink. There was supposed to be an all-out assault on the Twin Pimples today, in the Continue reading Nightmares | Balakian’s escape | 15 Apr 1916
Tanks for the Somme Time to start exploring what General Haig might have been thinking when he decided that bite and hold was not going Continue reading Haig, tanks, & Swinton | 14 April 1916
Breslau in the Black Sea The preparations for the final attack on Trebizond are nearly complete, and then what must be the final straw is Continue reading Breslau | Trenchard | 13 Apr 1916
Africa General van Deventer’s altitude is increasing as he and his horsemen ride through Tanzania. Today they’ve arrived at a boma, a fortified village with Continue reading Indian engineers | HMS Campania | 12 Apr 1916
Siege of Kut The siege continues. The garrison, and Edward Mousley, has just had bad news. Two paramount budgets of especial interest and importance reached Continue reading Rations at Kut | SS Sussex | 11 Apr 1916
Edward Mousley Hey, is there anyone out there who’s got a pet? Yeah, me too. Um, this might be a bit difficult to read. You Continue reading On les aura! | Mousley’s horse | 10 Apr 1916
Battle of Verdun Here we go again. With carefully moderated expectations, the Germans launch yet another punishing assault along the two banks of the River Continue reading Verdun again | Halberstadt | 9 Apr 1916
Siege of Kut Before dawn, another attack goes in against Sannaiyat. There’s not much to say about it other than it’s unsurprising that they tried, Continue reading Flooding | Yudenich | 7 Apr 1916
Apologies for the rather disjointed update schedule of late. Stick with it; hopefully we’ll get back on terms by next week. Anyway. Siege of Kut Continue reading Sannaiyat | Lolkisale | 6 Apr 1916
Hanna chokepoint Yesterday, we left General Gorringe’s men at the Hanna chokepoint. They’re from the 13th (Western) Division, Kitchener’s Army men who’ve already survived Gallipoli Continue reading Miracle at Hanna | 5 Apr 1916