Western Front
BEF at peak establishment strength of 2,044,627 (1,721,056 British) soldiers.
Third Battle of Ypres (aka the
Battle of Passchendaele): Germans recapture St Julien (British recapture on August 3) and make gains near Ypres-Roulers rail line (British recapture on August 2). French gains on West bank of Yser Canal, taking 12 villages and 5000 German prisoners.
Francis Ledwidge, Irish war poet, is killed in action at Passchendaele:
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Guynemer, with Esc SPA 3, makes 3 kills during August.
France: In August first flight of Spad S13 fighter (220hp Hispano-Suiza engine).
Lorraine: In August US racing driver Rickenbacker transfers to AEF Aviation Section from being General Pershing’s chauffeur.
A downed German DFW C.V reconnaissance biplane at Pilckem, Belgium: © IWM (Q 11853 ):
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A damaged British tank after it was hit by enemy fire:
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A British soldier giving a wounded German soldier a cigarette at Pilckem, Belgium: © IWM (Q 2629):
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Eastern Front
Battle of Marasesti: End of first phase of Battle of Marasesti (see July 22nd). Austro-German advance on Czernowitz; occupy positions near Bessarabian frontier.
Galicia: Russian renews a “partial offensive” against the Central Powers in Galicia, but are forced to retreat along the Dniester. Specifically, the Russians drive German Südarmee back across river Zbruch at Gusiatyn. Combined Austro-German armies now hold 50 miles on west bank Zbrucz.
Southern Front
Mediterranean: In August the spy Compton Mackenzie is recalled from Aegean.
Naval and Overseas Operations
British hostpital ship HMHS
Letitia runs aground in Halifax Harbour, causing one death:
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Political, etc
Russia: General Lavr Kornilov succeeds General Aleksei Brusilov as Russian Commander-in-Chief (see June 4th and September 8th). His order of the day condemns treachery of ‘certain units’.
Russian Provisional Government again states it has no aims of annexation and conquest.
Italy: The Pope sends Note to belligerent Governments appealing for peace (see July 30th, 1915; sent August 9, published August 14): Kaiser supports on August 17, but Allies very critical. Britain replies on August 23 and Wilson rejects on August 27, new German Government required. Benedict XV ascend the Holy throne in 1914 after the death of Pius X. He tried to mediate until the end in the First World War:
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