1914

28 June	Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria is assassinated in Sarajevo by Gavrilo Princip from Serbia.
28 July	Austria-Hungary declares war on Serbia.
1 August	Germany declares war on Russia.
4 August	Germany marches its army through Belgium to attack France. Britain goes to Belgium’s aid and declares war on Germany.
Early August	Polytechnic members are asked to enlist and The Rangers company is mobilised.
6 August	Ambulance training classes begin at the Polytechnic.
7 August	First members of the British Expeditionary Force land in France.
13 August	First squadrons of the Royal Flying Corps arrive in France.
September	Polytechnic establishes its War Fund to help men fighting in Europe.
2 September	Lt-Col Ian Hogg, son of Quintin Hogg, dies fighting in Northern France.

1915

19 January	First Zeppelin air raid on Britain kills 7 people.
14–15 February	Captain Lionel Studd, son of JEK Studd and Major Vincent Hoare, son-in-law of Quintin Hogg are killed fighting near Ypres, Belgium.
March	British Government asks women to sign up for war work.
	Over 1,600 Polytechnic men are on active service.
22 April	Chemical warfare begins with the first use of gas in the trenches.
23 May	Italy declares war on Germany and Austria.

1916

25 January	British Government passes the Military Service Act – Conscription is introduced in Britain.
21 February	Battle of Verdun begins – the longest and costliest battle of the war.
1 July	Battle of the Somme begins – the British outnumber the Germans but 7 British die to every 1 German. The total number of British casualties on the first day is 60,000.
18 November	Battle of the Somme ends with a total of over 1 million casualties sustained during the battle.
20 December	Battle of Verdun ends with a total of over 700,000 casualties sustained during the battle.

1917

Training courses begin at the Poly for the rehabilitation of soldiers.
6 April	America declares war on Germany.
6 December	German bombers attack London killing 162 people.

1918

1 April	The RAF is formed.
July	At the Battle of the Marne the Allies start driving the Germans back.
9 November	Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicates and flees Germany.
11 November	Armistice Day – peace is agreed. The Poly holds a service of thanksgiving

1919

January	Approximately 1,000 men and women have now been trained at the Polytechnic.
28 June	Treaty of Versailles is signed.
July	Memorial service held at the Poly for fallen members of The Rangers.

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