100 Years ago.... 19 October 1914 HMAS Australia approaches Samoa. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Battles of Ypres 1914 begins. (pronounced eeepr, Im told) Still hoping to score a quick victory in the West, the Germans launch a major attack on Ypres in Belgium. Despite heavy losses, British, French and Belgian troops fend off the attack and the Germans do not break through. During the battle, the Germans send waves of inexperienced 17 to 20-year-old volunteer soldiers, some fresh out of school. They advance shoulder-to-shoulder while singing patriotic songs only to be systematically gunned down in what the Germans themselves later call the massacre of the innocents. By November, overall casualties will total 250,000 men, including nearly half of the British Regular Army. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Transfer of British army from the Aisne to Flanders completed. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- First Indian units reach the Flanders front. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Battle of Warsaw ends. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sir John Frenchs despatches of 17 September and 8 October published. 1914-1918.net/french_second_despatch.html 1914-1918.net/french_third_despatch.html It was in despatches such as these that people became entitled to the distinction M.I.D (mentioned in despatches) as in these would be described the soldiers gallant or meritorious action in the face of the enemy and would be entitled wear a decoration. The decoration consisted of a spray of oak leaves in bronze worn on a campaign medal ribbon. This decoration was only established in 1919, but it had retroactive effect. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Yser: German attacks on Lombartzyde repulsed. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Poland: Germans cross the Vistula at Josefov. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- New Naval Decoration, the Distinguished Service Medal, established. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- French troops have again entered Alsace, and are once more in possession of Altkirch. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It was during the First Battle of Ypres that a young German Corporal, Adolf Hitler, was awarded the Iron Cross for bravery under fire. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Daily News, 19 October 1914 trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/page/8377009?zoomLevel=1 The West Australian, 19 October 1914 trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/page/2798887?zoomLevel=1
Posted on: Sat, 18 Oct 2014 23:10:10 +0000
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