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Archduke Ferdinand assassinated
Archduke Ferdinand of Austria and his wife Sopie were shot to death by a Bosnian Serb nationalist. -
A chain reaction
Austria-Hungary and Germany declared war on Serbia.Russia Mobilises to support its Serbian ally resulting in a chain reaction among European military alliances. -
Australia prepares to join the war
Labor leader Andrew Fisher declares Australians will defend Britain. " To our last man and our last shilling'. -
Germany declares war
Germany declares war on Russia on 1 August, France on 3 August and invates neutral Belgium on 4 August. -
Aussies and Kiwis become Anzacs
The ANZAC ( Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) is formed in Egypt. -
The Gallipoli Campaign
April, 1915 – The ANZAC (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) formed part of the British allied expedition and went out to capture the Gallipoli peninsula, Constantinople (now Istanbul in Turkey) -
The Gallipoli Campaign
The Gallipoli Campaign started for the British to be able to capture the Ottoman Empire Capital and because they wanted to secure their trading route with Russia. With this route, British forces would be able to supply Russia with ammunition, resources and reinforcements. This would then hopefully win the war for the allied nations and stop the German and Austria-Hungary forces on the Western front. -
The Gallipoli Campaign
The Battle of Gallipoli is a hugely significant event in Australia's history as it marks Australia's first real input into the war. We commemerate Anzac Day every year, with cermonies all around Australia. A service takes place at the Australian War Memorial at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. -
The Gallipoli Campaign
Victoria Cross recipient Lance Corporal Albert Jacka, becomes first Australian that took part in WW1 to win the Victoria Cross for his actions at Gallipoli -
The Gallipoli Campaigne
A combined British, Anzac and Gurkha force failed to take Hill 60 at Suvla. -
The Gallipoli Campaigne
All of the remaining 20,000 Australians and New Zealanders were withdrawn from the Anzac area of Gallipoli. -
The Gallipoli Campaigne
The last Anzac and British troops were evacuated from Suvla. -
The Gallipoli Campaign
The Gallipoli operation was unsuccessful and cost 26,111 Australian casualties, including 8,141 deaths -
Battle of Verdun
Battle of Verdun begun. -
Troops gather at Rmentieres
Australian soldiers take up positions on the Western front at Armentieres, France. -
First Anzac Day commemoration
Anzac day is offically named the 25th of Afril in 1916 -
The battle of the somme begins
The first day of the battle of the somme is the single most costly 24hours in the history of the British army. -
The somme campaign ends
Amid the harshest winter in 40 years, Australian troops attack positions around flers and Guedecourt as part of the final somme campaign. -
United States enters the war
US president Woodrow Wilson declares war on Germany after Germany breaks the agreement on halting submarine attacks on civilian ships in the English Channel -
Russian-German peace treaty
Soviet Russia signs a treaty with Germany formally ending its participation in the war. -
Battle of Hamel
Lieutenant-General John Monash leads the Australian Corps with some American units to victory at Le Hamel just 93 minutes after the start of battle. -
Last German offensive
Germans launch the Marne-Reims Offensive, their last of the war. -
Battle of Amiens and the 'Black Day' for Germany
The Australian Corps spearheads the Allied victory at Amiens. This begins the Hundred Days Offensive leading to final victory. -
Kaiser abdicates
Kaiser Wilhelm was the Commander-in-Chief of the German armed forces. When it became clear that Germany would lose, Wilhelm was forced to retire his throne and flee Germany. -
Guns fall silent
Germany signs an agreement to stop fighting which takes effect at 11:00am bringing the First World War to an end. More than 60,000 Australian men were killed and 156,000 wounded, gassed or taken prisoner.
