David Doughty

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

13 Nov 1916, after losing conscription referendum, Billy Hughes, #Australian Prime Minister, resigned. Formed government of his own followers supported by opposition Liberal Party. Led to creation of Nationalist Party. Easily won 1917 election. Stayed in office until 1923. #WW1

6 Nov 1918, recovering from wounds, Lt Alan McLeod, Canadian RAF pilot, died, aged 19, from flu. Buried Winnipeg (Old Kildonan) Presbyterian Cemetery. Awarded Victoria Cross. While plane on fire & wounded, climbed onto fuselage & landed aircraft, saving wounded observer. #WW1

7 Nov 1867, Marie Curie, first woman to win Nobel Prize, born. In #WW1, she was director of Red Cross Radiology Service developing mobile units, which were used to assist battlefield surgeons. It is estimated that over a million wounded soldiers were treated with her X-ray units.

8 Nov 1914, on way to New York, Italian liner Ancona torpedoed & sunk in Mediterranean off Tunisia by German U-38 under Austrian flag, as Germany & Italy not officially at war. 200+ lives lost, including 10 to 20 US citizens, causing Secretary of State Lansing to protest. #WW1

9 Nov 1914, in one of few single ship encounters of #WW1, German light cruiser Emden attacked by HMAS Sydney commanded by Cpt John Glossop RN in Battle of Cocos. Emden beached on North Keeling Island. Suffered 134 dead & 65 wounded & Sydney 4 dead & more than dozen wounded.

9 Nov 1915, en route from Salonica to Marseilles, SS Californian, troopship for #Gallipoli, torpedoed by German U-34. While under tow, torpedoed again & sank 60 miles SSW of Cape Matapan. 1 died, 2 injured. Famous for inaction during sinking of Titanic despite being closest ship.

9 Nov 1918, German Empire collapsed as Kaiser Wilhelm II handed supreme command of army to Paul von Hindenburg, Philipp Scheidemann, leader of SDP, proclaimed formation of German Republic & Maximilian of Baden resigned as Chancellor & was succeeded by Friedrich Ebert. #WW1

10 Nov 1918, RN minesweeper HMS Ascot torpedoed by UB-67, commanded by Hellmuth von Doemming, off Farne Islands. Last British ship to be sunk in #WW1. Two lifeboats launched & a steam tug went to help, even so, all 53 crew members died, including Vessel Cpt, Lt Donald MacDonald.