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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Jan. 1 General Haig promoted New Years Day to Field Marshall.
Jan. 9 Allies state their terms of peace "restitution and reparation", in response to USA President Wilson's December 1916 peace note.
Jan. 10 British 5th Army begins push on Ancre Valley.
Jan. 11 British take Rafa, Sinai Peninsula.
Jan. 30 German General Ludendorff agrees to Crown Prince Rupprecht's argument to retire to the Hindenburg Line.
Jan. 31 Germany announces resumption of submarine ruthlessness after Feb. 1st.

Jan. 12 Canadian 5th Division travel to France cancelled and allocated to home defence in UK.
Jan. 17 4th Brigade (20th & 21st Battalions) raid on Lens-Bethune Railway area.

Jan. 13 Second CRT battalion arrived at Le Havre.

Feb. 1 Unrestricted German submarine warfare begins.
Feb. 3 United States announces severance of diplomatic relations with Germany.
Feb. 3-5 British advance on the Ancre.
Feb. 4 German High Command authorizes withdrawal of forces March 15 to 18.
Feb. 22 Germans fall back across 15 mile front in Ancre Valley.
Feb. 24 German withdrawal on Somme detected; the Hindenburg retreat to form a stronger defensive.
Feb. 24 British take Sanna-y-Yat.
Feb. 25 "Laconia" sunk.
Feb. 25 British advancing in Mesopotamia retake Kut.
Feb. 28 Zimmermann's Mexican plot exposed.

Feb. 13 Maj.-Gen. Garnet Hughes assumes command 5th Canadian Division at Witley, UK.
Feb. 13 10th Brigade raid on 5th Bavarian Reserve Division.
Feb. 28 Elaborate raid by 4th Canadian Division in Hill 145 at Vimy deemed almost a complete failure.

Feb. 24 Zimmerman Telegram passed to USA from Britian re alleged German proposal for alliance with Mexico against USA.
Feb. 26 US President Wilson asks Congress for permission to arm US Merchant Ships.
Feb. 27 Calais Agreement for Allied G.H.Q. in France.

Mar. 9 President Wilson orders arming of merchant ships.
Mar. 9-11 Revolutionary riots in Petrograd (Russia).
Mar. 11 British take Baghdad under General Sir Stanley Maude.
Mar. 12 Russian Revolution underway.
Mar. 14 German retreat to Hindenburg Line underway.
Mar. 19 Some 29 German Divisions have completed withdrawal.
Mar. 15 Czar Nicholas abdicates; republic organized, Lvoff premier.
Mar. 17 Briand cabinet resigns.
Mar. 20 US war cabinet votes unanimously in favour of declaring war on Germany.
Mar. 26 First Battle of Gaza.
Mar. 31 British before Hindenburg line.

Mar. 5 Sir Julian Byng releases "Scheme of Operations" for Canadian Corps attack on Vimy Ridge.
Mar. 8 Pending start of meetings in England (delayed by Australian election) Prime Minister Borden travels to France for 4 days.  Meets Haig, Currie, Nivelle and Canadian forces in the field.
May 16 Prime Minister Borden returns to Canadian House of Commons..
Mar. 17 "Canadian Defence Force" mobilized from militia units in Canada to free CEF troops for service overseas.
Mar. 20 Prime Minister Borden attends opening session of "Imperial War Cabinet" meeting in England (Britain, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, Newfoundland and India).
Mar. 20 Preparatory bombardment of Vimy Ridge commences using only half of guns.
 Mar. 24 German retreat to the Hindenburg Line from March 24th to March 29th.

Mar. 1 Zimmerman Telegram published in US press.
Mar. 12 US merchant ships authorized by Presidential Executive Order after request turned down by Congress.
Mar. _ Billy Bishop transfers as cavalry officer with 2nd Canadian Division begins his career as a fighter pilot.

Apr. 4 Germans defeat Russians on the Stokhod.
Apr. 5 New Allied Line established in from the German Hindenburg position.
Apr. 6 United States declares war on Germany and enters the Great War.
Apr- 7 Cuba declares war on Germany.
Apr. 9 British begin battle of Arras; Canadians take Vimy Ridge.
Apr. 10 Diary of German Crown Prince Rupprecht acknowledges success at Vimy Ridge (Arras) by allied forces.
Apr. 10 Brazil severs diplomatic relations with Germany.
Apr. 11 British 3rd Army captures Monchy-le-Preux.
Apr. 12 German withdrawal from Vimy
Apr.14 U. S. Congress passes $7,000,000,000 war bond bill.
Apr. 16 French General Nivelle's offensive begun (Second Battle of Aisne) but with limited success. 
Apr. 16 Lenin arrives in Russia.
Apr. 21 British and French commissioners reach U.S. for consultation on war plans.
Apr. 22 Hospital ships " Lanfranc" and "Donegal" torpedoed.
Apr. 28 U. S. Congress passes conscription bill.
Apr. 29 Start of mutiny within French Army, to May 20th.

Apr. 2 Forestry Directorate under Canadian Forestry Corps set up at GHQ in France.
Apr. 2 Intensified bombardment in Vimy area begins from Bully Grenay (north of Lens) to Arras, an arc of 22,000 yards.
Apr. 9 Collective Battles of Arras by British 1srt and 3rd Armies. Opening Phase is First Battle of Scarpe from 9th to 14th by 3rd British 3rd Army. Includes Canadian defensive flank of 3rd Army at Vimy.
Apr. 9 Canada becomes a nation at the Capture of Vimy Ridge from April 9th to 14th.
Apr. 9 Vimy Ridge is part of the British Battle of "First Scarpe" with Canadian detached units.
Apr. 10 Fight for Hill 145 by CEF 4th Division.
Apr. 12 Attack on the northern tip of Vimy Ridge to secure "The Pimple" by 4th Canadian Division.
Apr. 23 British action of "Second Scarpe" takes place April 23rd and 24th with Canadian detached units.
Apr. 27 Canadian patrols report only partial destruction of wire and large number of machine guns in Arleux Loop (Arleux-en-Gohelle).
Apr. 28 Action at Arleux Loop on 28th and 29th by 8th, 10th and 5th Battalions CEF.

Apr. 2 US President Wilson delivers war message to US Congress.
Apr. 4 US Senate approval.
Apr. 6 US Congress approval and signed by Wilson. Mobilization begins.

May 3 French and British military leaders meet at the Paris Conference.
May 4 First squadron U. S. navy reaches England.
May 5 French take Chemin des Dames.
May 6 First meeting of the Allied War Council in Paris.
May 7 British General Haig announces two phase attack plan to his Army Commanders.
May 7 Greek Venizelist troops first go into action beside Allies.
May 12  Italian offensive on the Isonzo.
May 15 French General Nivelle transfered to North Africa. General Petain takes over in France.
May 20 End of mutiny in French Army.
May 21 Preliminary bombardment of Messines Ridge by British.
May 25 German squadron of 21 heavy German "Gotha" heavier-than-air ships conduct daylight raid on Folkestone-Shorncliffe are of Britain.
May 28 US General Pershing leaves for France.

May 2 Royal Flying Corps destroy 8 observation balloons on 1st Army front. 
May 3 "Third Battle of Scarpe" May 3rd and 4th.
May 3 Canadian attack on Fresnoy-en-Gohelle and subsequent German counter-attacks.
May 5 British 5th Division takes over 1st Canadian Division front at Fresnoy.
May 5 Canadian preparatory action by 10th Infantry Brigade at La Coulotte in the Souchez sector.
May 15 Prime Minister Borden returns from England and the process of "Conscription" begins to form in Canada.
May 17 Preliminary Canadian plans for action along the Souchez in May-June 1917.
May 25 17 Canadians killed and 93 wounded in German Gotha (air-ship) attack on England.

May 1 US "Army Expansion Act" for 4.8 million soldiers.
May 16 US Sedition Act.
May 19 US Selective Service Act. 42 Divisions to go to France with 2 million men.

June 7 British take Messines Ridge after exploding 19 large mines under the ridge.
June 12 King Constantine of Greece abdicates.
June 13 First German Gotha air-ship attack on London England.
June 19 Haig presents battle plans of Cabinet Committee on Policy in response to British shipping loses. Hope for Netherlands to join the war to expel the Germans from Belgium.
June 26 First United States contingent lands in France.
June 27 Greece enters war on the side of the Allies.

June _ 4th Canadian Divisional Artillery formed.
June 2 Successful gas bombardment of German positions.
June 3 Affairs south of the Souchez River from June 3rd to June 25th.
June 6 General Curried assumes command of the Canadian Corps effective June 9th.
June 7 Detached Canadian units in the Battle of Messines and capture of  Wytschaete June 7th to 14th.
June 8 Large scale raid by Canadian forces suggested by Currie and implemented by 7th and 11th Brigades CEF.
June 14 Battle of Messines ends.
June 26 Capture of Avion June 26th to 29th.
June 25 Capture of Hill 70 from June 26th to June 29th, one of Canada's "Lost Battlefields" described by Norm Christie.

June 2 Captain Billy Bishop awarded first Victoria Cross to a Canadian airman for action this day.
June 6 Opposition leader Sir Wilfred Laurier advises Prime Minister Borden that he could not accept conscription.
June 11 Military Service Bill introduced in the Canadian Parliament by Prime Minister Borden, as per Militia Act of 1868 and 1904.
June 15 US Espionage Act passed.

July 1 Russians begin last offensive in Galicia.
July 1 Deposition of Constantine.
July 2 Greece declares war.
July 6 T. E. Lawrence and Arabs capture Aquaba.
July 8-10 Russians win battle of Dolina.
July 10 First use of dichloroethyl sulphide "Yellow Cross" gas by German3rd MArine Division against British at Yser
July 11 British reverse on Yser.
July 16 Third Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele) commences.
July 17 Bethmann-Hollweg resigns as German Chancellor.
July 19 German counter-offensive breaks Russian front in Galicia.
July 19 Peace Resolution in Reichstag.
July 22 Kerensky succeeds Lvoff as premier of Russia.
July 22 Russian soldiers in Galicia refuse obedience and start flight.
July 23 Germans take Tarnopol.
July 23 Council of workmen and soldiers makes Kerensky dictator.
July 25 Rumanians take offensive.
July 31 Allies begin Fourth battle of Ypres.

July 7 British 1st Army notifies Canadian Corps of Haig's orders to capture Lens.
July 23 CEF one battalion raid bu 116th on Mericourt trench in advance of attack on Hill 70.
July 31 "Canadian Defence Force" demobilized in Canada. Government of Canada aware dire shortage of volunteer troops to serve overseas.
July 31 4th Battle of Ypres commences with Canadian action in many events.

July 2 US General Pershing asks for 1 million US troops.
July 11 Pershing increases request to 3 million troops.

Aug. 1 Papal Peace Note.
Aug. 2 Brusiloff and Dimitrieff resign. Russian forces broken.
Aug. 7 Liberia declares war on Germany.
Aug. 14 Pope makes peace proposal.
Aug. 14 China declares war on Germany and Austria-Hungary.
Aug. 18-24 Italian offensive on Isonzo; take Bainsizza plateau, Monte Santo and Monte San Gabriele.
Aug. 20 French attack on Verdun inflicting serious setback on German forces.
Aug. 20 French take Dead Man's Hill.
Aug. 25-27 Moscow conference.

Aug 1 4th Battles of Ypres continues with detached Canadian units.
Aug. 1 Battle of Pilckem Ridge with detached units July 31st to August 2nd.
Aug. 15 Canadians commence attack on Hill 70 with two brigades (10 battalions) and defend against significant counter-attacks. Actions continued on 16th to 18th. Currie reports this as "hardest battle in which the Corps had participated".
Aug.16 Langemarck August 16th to 18th, also with detached Canadian units.
Aug. 21 Canadian attacks on Lens.
Aug. 23 Canadians heroic but failed attack on the Green Crassier at Lens.
Aug. 25 CEF 10th Brigade attack on Aloof Trench to end the Canadian operations at Lens.

Aug 1 Pope Benedict XV peace appeal influences US President Wilson.
Aug. 29 Military Service Act passed into law in Canada (applied to men aged 20 to 45).
Aug. 31 Military Voter's Bill passed in Canada.

Sept. 1 Germans commence action on northern Russian front.
Sept. 3 Germans take Riga (Russia).
Sept. 7 British General Haig and French General Petain begin discussions to continue offensive in Flanders to draw German forces north and relieve the French at Verdun.
Sept. 8 Luxburg sink-without-trace dispatch disclosed.
Sept. 8 Korniloff rebels against Kerensky.
Sept. 15 Korniloff surrenders to Alexieff.
Sept. 20 British 2nd Army atack on Gheluvelt Plateau (Flanders).
Sept. 22 Germans take Jacobstadt.
Sept. 26 Attack by ANZAC forces on Polygon Wood and subsequent capture of Gravenstafel Ridge.
Sept. 27 German conference alters their planned defense at Ypres to hold more men in reserve with smaller groups in the forefield.

Sept. 1 4th Battle of Ypres continues.
Sept. 20 Menin Road Ridge to September 25th.
Sept. 26 Polygon Wood to October 3rd.

Oct. 4 ANZAC forces capture Gravenstafel Ridge, where Canadians fought in 1915.
Oct. 6 Meeting of Haig and Petain.
Oct. 9 Battle of Poelcappelle by British and Australian (ANZAC) forces.
Oct. 12 ANZAC assault toward Passchendaele (1st Battle of Passchendale) petered out in the mud.
Oct. 13 Germans land on Oesel Island, Baltic Sea.
Oct. 18 Battle of German and Russian fleets in Moon Sound.
Oct. 20 Five Zeppelins destroyed in raid on London.
Oct: 21 Battle of Caporetto; Italian front broken.
Oct. 24 Central Powers force in Italy reinforced by 6 German Army Divisions.
Oct. 24 Italians routed at Caporetto.
Oct. 24 Bolsheviks seize power in Russia.
Oct. 25 French drive Germans across the Ailette.
Oct. 26 Brazil declares war on Germany.
Oct. 28 Gorizia retaken by Austrians; Bainsizza and Carso lost.
Oct. 30 Austrians take Udine.
Oct. 31 British take Beersheba, Palestine.

Oct. 1 4th Battle of Ypres continues.
Oct. 4 Detached units at Broodenseinde.
Oct. 9 Poelcappelle
Oct. 9 British General Haig moves Canadian Corps from 1st to 2nd British Army so all 4 Canadian Divisions can be employed at Passchendaele.
Oct. 17 Canadian sappers and pioneers active in tunneling at Passchendaele with British 2nd Army Royal Engineers.
Oct. 12 First Passchendaele
Oct. 26 Second Passchendaele to November 10th. Major action by CEF on 26, 27, 28 October under Currie.
Oct. 26 Canadians take Bellevue Spur (9th Infnatry Brigade).
Oct. 30 Renewed assault on Passchendaele. Three Victoria Cross awards to men of the 3rd Canadian Division.

Oct. 6 Prime Minister Borden dissolved Canadian parliament.
Oct. 10 Nobel Peace Prize is awarded to The International Red Cross Committee.
Oct. 11 Union Government with Liberal and Conservative representation comes into power in Canada.
Oct. 13 Royal Proclamation in Canada calling for registration of "Class 1" Canadian men.
Oct. 23 1st Division American Expeditionary Force (AEF) on Swiss Border.

Nov. 3 First American trench fight on Rhine-Marne canal.
Nov. 6 British take Passchendaele.
Nov. 7 Kerensky overthrown by Bolsheviki.
Nov. 7 Italian stand on Piave.
Nov. 8 Italians defeated on the Tagliamento.
Nov. 9 General Diaz succeeds Cadorna in command of Italians.
Nov. 9 Clemenceau becomes Premier of France.
Nov. 10 British take Askalon.
Nov. 16-17 Kerensky forces defeated by Bolsheviki.
Nov. 18-19 Battle of the Piave; Italians hold.
Nov. 18 British take Jaffa.
Nov. 19 Death of General Cyril Maude.
Nov. 20 Battle of Monte Tomba.
Nov. 20 British surprise attack at Cambrai. First massed tank attack.
Nov. 23 British take Bourlon Wood.
Nov. 27 Germans retake Bourlon Wood.
Nov. 29 Lansdowne Peace Letter.
Nov. 30-Dec. 7 German counter-attack at Cambrai.

Nov. 5 Canadian forces in strength in the Ypres salient.
Nov. 6 Capture of Passchendaele after intense artillery bombardment and strong infantry attack by Canadian forces.
Nov. 10 Final British and Canadian action to end the Third Battle of Ypres.
Nov. 14 Gradual relief of Canadian Divisions in Ypres are commences.
Nov. 20 General Currie resumed command of the Lens-Vimy front.
Nov. 20 The "Tank Attack" at the Battle of Cambrai, November 20th and  21st catches Germans with "tactical surprise". Active participation with British 3rd Army by Canadian "Fort Garry Horse".
Nov. 23 Detached units at the capture of Bourlon Wood.
Nov. 30 German counter-attacks to December 3rd. 

Nov. 3 First US soldiers die in German attack.
Nov. 5 British, French and Italian representatives meet at Rappalo (Italian-French frontier) to discuss further aid to Italy. "Supreme War Council" voted into existence (with subsequent meetins at Versailles).
Nov. 7 Bolshevik Revolution - Lenin publishes secret treaties.
Nov. 21 Inter Allied Conference in Paris for coalition diplomacy of 18 nations.

Dec. 3 Capture of Jerusalem by Egyptian Expeditionary Force under British Field Marshall Allenby.
Dec. 4 Last German colony, East Africa, conquered.
Dec. 7 United States declares war on Austria-Hungary.
Dec. 7 Rumania agrees to armistice.
Dec. 8 Trotsky announces suspension of hostilities.
Dec. 10 British take Jerusalem.
Dec. 14 Germans and Bolsheviki agree to armistice.
Dec. 17 Armistice between Central Powers and Russia. Singed with Germany at Brest-Litovsk on 18th.
Dec. 19-21 Battle of Monte Asolone.
Dec. 22 Russia opens separate peace negotiations with Germany.
Dec. 23 Allied Supreme War Council recommended that all national troops in Russia who were determined to continue the war should be fully supported.
Dec. 28 Provisional peace agreement between Bolsheviki and Germans.

Dec. 1 Canadian polls open overseas and remain open to 17th.
Dec. 6 French munitions ship collides with Norwegian freighter in Halifax Harbour. Large areas of Halifax and Dartmouth razed and 1630 lives lost.
Dec. 17 Canadian Election sustains Government with an overwhelming majority, supporting the Union Government and Conscription.