Canadian Expeditionary Force Study Group
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1916

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This Page Last Updated January 26, 2009

Chronology 1916

This page is part of the "Chronology of the Great War", a Matrix Utility created to highlight what was happening within many nations during this period, relative to the actions that involved the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) during that same period. There are separate pages for each of these years in the Chronology:

We welcome the addition of events that are not reported here on either a national or international basis. Additional information and suggested corrections to the chronology are shown in Column 3. We have added a calendar for each year so that dates can be referenced.

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International Actions Canada and Canadian Forces
National and Overseas Actions
Other
January

Jan. 8 Helles evacuated, Gallipoli Peninsula
Jan. 16 Capture of Ezerum by the Russians (Trukish Front)
Jan. 13 Austrians take Cettinje, Montenegro.
Jan. 16 Russians begin drive in Caucasus.
Jan. 19 King Nicholas of Montenegro flees.

January

Jan. 9 Evacuation of British and ANZAC troops completed at Suvla Bay on the Gallipoli peninsula.
Jan 31 6th Brigade CEF raid on Spanbroekmolen salient.
Jan 31 Canadian troop strength at 50,000 in the field.

January

Jan. _ Britain asks Canada for expert timbermen to produce lumber in the United Kingdom.

February

Feb. 16 Russians take Erzerum.
Feb. 18 Allied conquest of Cameroons.
Feb. 20 German offensive at Verdun begun. Battle of Verdun recorded as longest of the war, extends from February 21 to December 18 1916.
Feb. 26 Germans take Fort Douaumont.

February

Feb.2 Secret trial of "land-cruiser" or "land-ship" completed. Renamed to "tank".
Feb. 8 German diversionary offensives to 19th in preparation for Verdun offensive.
Feb. 14 Joffre and Haig reach compromise on actions in Europe at 2nd Chantilly Conference.
Feb. 21 Germans strike at Verdun.

February

Feb. 3 House and Senate Chambers and Clock Tower of Canadian Parliament Buildings destroyed by fire.
Feb. _ British Secretary of State for Colonies requests 1,500 skilled lumbermen from Canada and other colonies. Minister of Militia authorizes formation of 224th Forestry Battalion.
Feb. _ 1st Canadian Tunnelling Company reaches France.

March

Mar. 10 Germany declares war on Portugal.
Mar. 11 5th to 9th Battles of Isonzo between Italy and Austria-Hungary begin and continue to November 14th.
Mar. 15 Von Tirpitz retires as head of German navy.
Mar. 19 Ispahan in Persia occupied by advancing Russians.
Mar. 24 French channel steamer "Sussex" torpedoed; the United States again protests.
Mar. 26 British naval air raid on Jutland.
Mar. 31 Russian hospital ship " Portugal" sunk.

March

Mar. 9 Minister of Militia, Sir Sam Hughes travels to England to set up "Canadian Overseas Council" (abandoned April 27th).
Mar. 14 Two Austro-Hungarian armies attack in South Tyrol.
Mar. 27 Actions of St. Eloi Craters to April 16th.

March

Mar. 9 US Forces (not in the war) deal with Pancho Villa's raid on Columbus, New Mexico.
Mar. _ 2nd Canadian Tunnelling Company arrives in France.

April

Apr. 18 United States sends ultimatum to Germany on " Sussex" case; Germany yields.
Apr. 18 Russians take Trebizond.
Apr. 21 Arrest of Sir Roger Casement.
Apr. 24 Irish "Easter Rebellion" starts in Ireland.
Apr. 28 General Townshend surrenders British force at Kut-el-Amara.
Apr. _ British forces in Mesopotamia begin advance on Baghdad.

April

Apr. 4 First use of steel helmets by Canadian troops. Canadians under heavy artillery fire.
Apr. 5 Canadian's win back Crater 5 at St. Eloi.
Apr. 12 General Turner releases report on "lesson to be learnt" from St. Eloi.
Apr. 26 4th Canadian Division formed from existing units in England.
April 26 Germans explode 2 large mines on 1st Division front.

April

 

May

May 1 Dublin rebels surrender.
May 5 Germany promises to stop sinkings without warning (i.e renounces submarine policy).
May 15 Austrian drive in Trentino begun.
May 19 Britain and France conclude Sykes-Picot Agreement for creation of Arab state.
May 23 British Commons adopt conscription.
May 27 Austrians take Asiago.
May 31 Naval battle off Jutland.

May

May _ 38th Battalion in Bermuda relieved by the 163rd Battalion.
May 14 Two Austro-Hungarian armies attack in South Tyrol.
May 28 General Alderson appointed Inspector General Canadian Forces in England. British Lt.-Gen. Sir Julian Byng replaces Alderson in the field.

May

May _ 1600 all ranks of lumbermen in United Kingdom from Canada.

June

June 1-7 German drive on Douaumont-Vaux.
June 2-16 Third battle of Ypres.
June 4–Aug. 15 Russia rallies and makes her third great advance into Austrian lands; Brusiloff captures Bukowina and threatens Hungary.
June 5 Arab revolt against Turks led by T. El Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia).
June 6 Lord Kitchener drowned by sinking of cruiser "Hampshire."
June 6 Russians take Lutsk.
June 7 Germans take Fort Vaux.
June 10 Russians take Dubno. 
June 13 Shereef of Mecca revolts from Turkey.
June 17 Russians take Czernowitz.
June 25 Russians complete conquest of Bukowina.

June

June 2 Battle of Mount Sorrel to June 13th. 4th CMR nearly annihilated. General Mercer killed, General Williams wounded and taken prisoner. 
June 2 Squadron of Fort Gary Horse replaces 2nd King Edward's Horse in Canadian Cavalry Brigade.
June 4 Four Russian armies drive back Austrians northward from Rumanian border.
June 6 Germans explode large mines at Hooge.
June 13 Consolidation of new Canadian front lines.
June 19 Franco-British conference on munitions at Boulogne, France.
June 21 Army Council approves change of Canadian troops to British made Lee-Enfield rifle.

June

 

July

July 1 First Battle of the Somme begun. Greatest number of casualties in British history (60,000).
July 9 German merchant submarine " Deutschland" crosses the Atlantic.
July 11 British take Contalmaison.
July 26 Russians take Erzingam.

July

July 1 Detached units in the opening of the Battles of the Somme at Albert until July 13th.
July 14 British forces begin Batle of Bazentin Ridge with Squadron of CEF Fort Gary Horse.
July 17 Bazentine Ridge.
July 19 Detached units in attack at Fromelles.
July 20 Attacks on High Wood until July 25th.
July 30 Sir Sam Hughes returns to England and remains until at least September 6th.

July

July 1 Newfoundlanders at Battle of Beaumont Hamel as unit of British Army.
July 29 US Marines land in Haiti. American forces not in Great War at this time.

August

Aug. 1-10 Russian advance into Austria checked at Stochod River.
Aug. 4 Roger Casement executed.
Aug. 4 French retake Fleury and Thiaumont.
Aug. 9 Italians take Gorizia.
Aug. 11 Italians take Corso plateau.
Aug. 18 Bulgarians invade Northern Greece.
Aug. 27 Italy declares war on Germany.
Aug. 27 Rumania declare war on Austria.
Aug. 27 Bulgarians enter Greek Macedonia.
Aug. 27 Hindenburg and Ludendorff become head of German Staff.
Aug. 28 Rumania declares war on Austria.
Aug. 29 Hindenburg becomes German chief of staff.
Aug. 30 Rumanians take Kronstadt.
Aug. 31 Germany suspends submarine assaults (until Oct. 15).

August

Aug. _ New 4th Canadian Division complete and crosses the Channel.
Aug. 5 Warsaw falls to German and Austrian forces.
Aug. 12 Canadians repulse German attack on Hill 60 at St. Eloi.
Aug. 14 Canadian Corps hosts King George V and the Prince of Wales near Kemmel.
Aug. 25 Canadian 4th Division enters the line.
Aug. 27 Italy declares war on Germany.
Aug. 30 Canadian Corps begins relieving ANZAC Corps at Posieres.

August

 

September

Sept. 2 Rumanians take Hermanstadt.
Sept. 2-8 Bulgarians defeat Rumanians in Dobrudja.
Sept. 6 Russian victory near Halicz.
Sept. 15 First use of British tanks.
Sept. 19 Allies blockade the coast of Greece
Sept. 19-23 Rumanians defeated at Vulcan Pass.
Sept. 26 British take Combles and Thiepval.

September

Sept. 1 Battle at Posieres Ridge to September 3rd.
Sept. 3 Detached units at Guillemont. ANZACs final attempt to capture Mouquet Farm at Fabeck Graben.
Sept. 3 CEF 4th Division with "Frank's Force" formed as temporary unit of allied forces.
Sept. 9 Detached units at Ginchy.
Sept. 15 Battles at Flers-Courcelette to September 22nd. Tanks used in battle for the first time.
Sept. 16 7 Raids carried out by CEF to September 17th.
Sept. 18 "Frank's Force" ceases to exist.
Sept. 26 Action at Thiepval Ridge to September 28th.
Sept. 29 General Turner issues orders for capture of Kenora Trench then Regina Trench.

September

Sept. Some 30 members Canadian Pioneer Training Depot with water transportation expertise discharged from CEF and sent to Mesopotamian Expeditionary Force (served in Port of Basra and operated barges on the Tigris and Euphrates). Served for some months after the end of the Great War.

October

Oct. 7 German submarine "U-53 " crosses Atlantic to United States coast.
Oct. 8 "U-53" sinks six ships off Massachusetts coast.
Oct. 11-13 Italian advance on the Carso.
Oct. 15 Germany resumes U-Boat attacks.
Oct. 17 Allies take over Greek fleet and land forces.
Oct. 23 Rumanians lose Constanza.
Oct. 24 French retake Fort Douaumont.

October

Battles at Le Transloy Ridges and the capture of Eaucourt l'Abbaye until October 18th.
Oct. 1 Battle of Ancre Heights and the capture of Regina Trench to November 11th (major action delayed 1st week due to rain).
Oct. 8 Piper Richardson, V.C. KIA at Regina Trench.
Oct. 10 Canadian 4th Division arrives on the Somme.
Oct. 13 British attack north of Loos but are unable to hold ground. Canadian engineers demonstrate skills with 600 home-made bombs.
Oct. 17 Canadian 1st, 2nd and 3rd Divisions leave Somme for Arras-Lens area.
Oct. 18 Sir Sam Hughes as Honorary Lt.-Gen. British Army recorded in London Gazette.
Oct. 21 Battle of Ancre Heights resumes. CEF 4th Division at Regina Trench.
Oct. 27 "Ministry of Overseas Forces from Canada in the UK" formed.
Oct. 27 Imperial General Staff asks Canadian Government to proceed with mobilization of 5th Canadian Division.
Oct. 31 Sir George Perly appointed Minister Overseas Forces.

October

Oct. 26 First Canadian Railway Troops Battalion arrived at Le Havre.

November

Nov. 6 Lloyd George finds War Cabinet in UK.
Nov. 13 German Peace Note suggesting compromise.
Nov. 15-17 Rumanians defeated in battle of Tirgu-Juil.
Nov. 18 American Peace Note, offends British.
Nov. 18 End of the Battle of the Somme.
Nov. 19 Serbians take Monastir.
Nov. 21 Emperor Francis Joseph dies; Carl succeeds.
Nov. 25 French retake Fort Vaux.
Nov. 28 First German airplane (not Zeppelin) attach on Britain.
Nov. 29 Sir David Beatty succeeds Sir John Jellicoe in command of British fleet.

November

Nov. 1 Sir Sam Hughes writes to Prime Minister regarding appointment of Perly.
Nov. 7 Formation of Canadian Forestry Corps through reorganization completed.
Nov. 9 Prime Minister Borden responds to Sam Hughes and requests his resignation.
Nov. 9 Resumption of CEF 4th Division action at Regina Trench on 9th and 10th. End of Battle of Ancre Heights.
Nov. 11 Sir Sam Hughes resigns and A. E. Kemp appointed new Ministerof Militia and Decence.
Nov. 13 Battle of The Ancre and the capture of Beaumont Hamel (differs from Ancre Heights).
Nov. 16 CEF 4th Division to seize Desire Support Trench and on to Grandcourt Trench.
Nov. 21 Conference of Corps at British 1st Army H.Q. initiates Canadian plans for operations at Vimy Ridge in April 1917.

November

Nov. _ German sub U-20 (sank Lusitanian 1915) drifted ashore in Denmark due to engine. Scuttled by crew.
Nov. 7 US President Woodrow Wilson secures re-election.
Nov. 29 US occupation of Santa Domingo proclaimed.
Nov. _ Request for 5,000 more skilled lumberman and more to follow.

December

Dec. 2 Entente troops move on Athens.
Dec. 3 Rumanians beaten in battle of Argechu.
Dec. 5 Asquith resigns as premier of Britain.
Dec. 6 Teutonic allies take Bucharest.
Dec. 10 Lloyd George forms ministry.
Dec. 11 Nivelle succeeds Joffre in command of French.
Dec. 15 Brilliant French victory north of Verdun.
Dec. 21 Peace proposals made by United States.

December

Dec. 1 Maj.-Gen. Turner appointed GOC Canadians.
Dec. 5 Acting Sub-Militia Council (Perly) disbanded and new HQ "Overseas Military Forces of Canada" came into being.
Dec. 19 British General Sir John French replaced by General Sir Douglas Haig.

December

Dec. 7 Prime Minister David Lloyd George takes over in Britain.
Dec. 12 Germany suggests compromise peace.
Dec. _ Entente looses minor ally with crushing of Rumania.

 

Copyright 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 Richard Laughton
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