5 Aug 1917, Richard von Kühlmann (1873-1948) appointed German foreign minister. Led German delegation that concluded Treaties of Brest-Litovsk & Bucharest. As a moderate, was despised by Ludendorff. Sacked for saying that purely military decision was beyond Germany's reach. #WW1

4 Aug 1917, Cpt Noel Chavasse, died of wounds, aged 32. British doctor, Olympic athlete & Army officer. One of only 3 people to be awarded VC x 2. Educated @MCSOxford & @TrinityOxford. Dad Bishop of Liverpool & his twin became Bishop of Rochester. Had deep Christian faith. #WW1

On 4 Aug 1914, the day Britain entered #WW1, First Lord of the Admiralty, Winston Churchill, removed Admiral George Callaghan (1852-1920), C-in-Chief of Home Fleet, & appointed Admiral Sir John Jellicoe (1859-1935) C-in-Chief of newly designated Grand Fleet, based at Scapa Flow.

4 Aug 1887, Gunner's Mate 1st Class Osmond Ingram (d.1917) born Alabama. Posthumously awarded Medal of Honor for heroism on board destroyer Cassin on 15 Oct 1917. First US Navy enlisted man killed in action. On Wall of Missing in American Cemetery Chapel, Brookwood, Surrey. #WW1

3 Aug 1914, Sir Edward Grey (1862-1933), Liberal MP, as he was looking out from his window at the Foreign Office, with first of gas lights along the Mall being lit, said to a friend, ‘the lamps are going out all over Europe, we shall not see them lit again in our lifetime’. #WW1

3 Aug 1916, Sir Roger Casement (b.1864) executed, having been found guilty of high treason & sentenced to death. Irish nationalist & Easter Rising leader in #WW1. 1895-1911, served as British diplomat in Mozambique, Angola, Congo Free State & Brazil. Famous for human rights work.

3 Aug 1918, Australian hospital ship HMAT Warilda torpedoed & sunk in English Channel by German UC-49. Remained afloat for almost 2 hours before sinking. 123 of 801 people on board died, including Violet Long OBE, Deputy Chief Controller of Queen Mary’s Army Auxiliary Corp. #WW1

3 Aug 1918, Australia House, a major landmark on the Strand, London, officially opened by King George V in ceremony attended by the Australian Prime Minister William Hughes & High Commissioner & former Prime Minister, Andrew Fisher. It is the oldest Australian diplomatic mission.

2 Aug 1917, SCO Edwin Dunning, DSC, Royal Naval Air Service, became first pilot to land an aircraft on moving ship, putting a Sopwith Pup on HMS Furious at Scapa Flow. Sadly, 5 days later, he drowned trying to land on ship, aged 25. Educated Osborne College & @DartmouthBRNC. #WW1

2 Aug 1934, Paul von Hindenburg, German field marshal in #WW1 & 2nd president Weimar Republic (1925–34) died, aged 86. Retired 1911, recalled Aug 1914. Victory at Tannenberg led to his appointment as CiC of German armies in East. Army Chief of Staff from Aug 1916 to June 1919.

1 Aug 1914, after Russia's full military mobilization in support of Serbia, Germany declared war on Russia & begin mobilization. As a result, network of treaties & alliances that linked European powers began to come into effect. (Photo is mobilization order being read in Berlin.)

1 Aug 1917, HMHS Letitia, British hospital ship, ran aground in fog in Halifax Harbour, Canada. Was carrying 546 wounded Canadian soldiers as well as 137 crew & 74 hospital staff from Liverpool, UK, to Halifax. All passengers safely evacuated, only one crew member died. #WW1

1 Aug 1917, Rev Simon Knapp, ODC, DSO, MC, highly respected Roman Catholic padre in Boer War & #WW1, died of wounds received while helping wounded under heavy shell fire, aged 59. Attached 2nd Battalion Irish Guards. Buried Dozinghem Military Cemetery. @ArmyChaplainMus

31 July 1918, Cpt George McElroy MC & Two Bars, DFC & Bar, died, aged 25. One of Britain’s top-scoring #WW1 fighter pilots (Ireland’s highest) with 47 victories in just 40 weeks. Served Royal Engineers & Royal Irish Rgt. Lost (probably to anti-aircraft fire) while flying S.E.5a.

31 July 1915, 2nd Lt William (‘Billy’) Geen, King's Royal Rifle Corps, killed in action, at Hooge, aged 24. Listed on Menin Gate. Pupil @HaileyburyUK. Welsh rugby player, member of Oxford University & Wales national rugby union team from 1910 to 1913. #WW1 @OURFCblues

30 July 1914, Sir John French, 1st Earl of Ypres (1852-1925), appointed commander of the British Expeditionary Force. Was a successful cavalry leader during Boer War. In 1899, saved from bankruptcy by Douglas Haig, who succeeded him in Dec 1915. 1916-18, C-in-C Home Forces. #WW1

30 July 1915, flamethrower was first used against British at Hooge, Belgium, to flush out soldiers from trenches, who were then shot. Germans achieved total surprise & caused chaos. After 2 days of fighting British had suffered casualties of 31 officers & 751 other ranks. #WW1

30 July 1916, 2 million pounds of war materials in train cars blew up on Black Tom island, New York. Act of sabotage by German agents to destroy munitions due to be sent to Allies. Three men & baby killed. Explosion equal to earthquake of between 5.0 & 5.5 on Richter Scale. #WW1

29 July 1833, William Wilberforce, died. Born Hull, evangelical Christian, Clapham Sect member, served as MP for 45 years, a founder of @cmsmission & @biblesociety, leading abolitionist (persuading in 1807 House of Commons to abolish slave trade), moral reformer & philanthropist.

On night of 29–30 July 1914, First Lord of Admiralty, Winston Churchill, received approval from Prime Minister Asquith to send Grand Fleet from Portland through English Channel & Straits of Dover to safety of Scapa Flow. Royal Navy was ready for action when war declared on 4 Aug.