Vote of Confidence
A motion by Edward Carson on ownership of property in Nigeria creates a crisis
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1916 in Great Britain — Page 6
Explore 319 historical events and records for Great Britain in 1916.
Historical records for Great Britain in 1916
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 40 of 319 unique records.
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November
Vote of Confidence
A motion forwarded by Carson on ownership of property in Nigeria creates a crisis
Battle of the Somme, 1st
Commands Fifth Army during the Battle of the Ancre, the final major phase of the Somme offensive.
Final Ancre Attack Approved
Haig approves the final major British attack of the Somme campaign along the Ancre.
Agreement of Calais
As the Battle of the Somme comes to a bitterly cold end, a meeting is held between the Allied generals at Chantilly just outside Paris, a decision is reached by Generals Haig and Joffre that on the Western Front things would recommence in February
Western Front
As the Battle of the Somme comes to a bitterly cold end, a meeting is held between the Allied generals at Chantilly just outside Paris, a decision is reached by Generals Haig and Joffre that on the Western Front things would recommence in February
Somme Offensive Formally Ended
Haig ends major Somme operations after months of attritional fighting and limited territorial gains.
Battle of Cambrai
In Britain news of the initial spectacular breakthrough served to greatly enhance Byngs reputation; and it resulted in the ringing of church bells in Britain for the first time during the war. During the battle casualties were high, the Germans suffered losses of approximately 50,000 and the British 45,000
Battle of Cambrai, 1st
Leads 380 tanks in the 1st large scale mobilization of the tank
Commission
The findings are published but Churchills evidence is not. Churchill has his account of the Antwerp expedition published in the Sunday Pictoral
Beatty Appointed Commander in Chief Grand Fleet
Beatty succeeds Jellicoe as Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Fleet after Jellicoe becomes First Sea Lord.
Acting Admiral Rank Accompanies Grand Fleet Command
Beatty receives acting admiral rank as he assumes command of the Grand Fleet.
Battle of Passchendaele
At a conference in Chantilly in November 1916, and a series of subsequent meetings, the Entente agreed on an offensive strategy where they would overwhelm the Central Powers by means of attacks on the Western, Eastern and Italian Fronts
Conference of Chantilly
Haig was ordered to co-operate with Nivelles planned attack, but secured Nivelles agreement that in the event the French offensive failed, the British would attack in the area of Flanders. At a conference in Chantilly in November 1916, and a series of subsequent meetings, the Entente agreed on an offensive strategy where they would overwhelm the Central Powers by means of attacks on the Western, Eastern and Italian Fronts
Conference of Chantilly
At a conference in Chantilly in November 1916, and a series of subsequent meetings, the Entente agreed on an offensive strategy where they would overwhelm the Central Powers by means of attacks on the Western, Eastern and Italian Fronts
Conference of Chantilly
Lloyd George sought to find ways of avoiding a repeat of the British casualties involved in the Battle of the Somme, and proposed an alternative strategy at a conference in Rome, which would involve the offensive being focused on the Italian front.
Conference of Chantilly
The new French Commander in Chief, Robert Nivelle, believed that a concentrated attack by French forces on the Western Front in Spring 1917 could break the German front and lead to a quick victory.
Somme Tactical Lessons Reviewed
Haig reviews artillery, infantry, tank and communications lessons from the completed Somme campaign.
Western Front
The new French Commander in Chief, Robert Nivelle, believed that a concentrated attack by French forces on the Western Front in Spring 1917 could break the German front and lead to a quick victory
December
Asquith Resigns Premiership
Resigns as Prime Minister after the coalition crisis over the proposed reorganisation of central war direction.
Premiership Resignation
Resigns as Prime Minister in December 1916.
Resignation of Andrew Bonar Law
Resigns from Asquiths Coalition Government
Resignation of Curzon
Resigns from Asquiths Coalition Government
Resignation of David Lloyd George
Resigns from Asquiths Coalition Government
Resignation of Henry Herbert Asquith
Resigns as Prime Minister of Great Britain
Government
Requested by the King to form a new Government. Asquith refuses to serve under Law him so he is unable to form a new Government
Prime Minister of Great Britain
Appointed Prime Minister of Great Britain, 1st term
Agreement of Calais
Nivelle proposes that the system of attack he had used at Verdun could be scaled upwards and used on a weaker part of the German line, the enemy lines could be ruptured within 48 hours
Appointment as Wartime Prime Minister
Accepts the premiership after Asquith resigns and begins forming a new coalition government.
First Lord of Admiralty
When Asquith resigned, he returns to office as First Lord of the Admiralty
Five-Member War Cabinet Formed
Creates a small War Cabinet intended to accelerate strategic and administrative decisions.
Foreign Secretary of Great Britain
Appointed Foreign Minister, 2nd term
Order of the Garter
Awarded the Order of the Garter on his 21st birthday
War Cabinet Membership Announced
Confirms Curzon, Bonar Law, Milner and Henderson as colleagues in the new War Cabinet.
Centralised War Direction Announced
Promises more concentrated control of manpower, shipping, food and strategy under the new administration.
First Commons War Policy Statement
Addresses the Commons on the new government's policy and the scale of the national war effort.
Battle of Passchendaele
In December 1916, at the conclusion of the Battle of the Somme, Haig identified Flanders as the most promising theatre for a British offensive of 1917 and by January 1917 the idea of a Flanders offensive had met with the approval of the British Cabinet
BEF Army Reorganisation after Somme
Haig reorganises formations and command arrangements after the heavy losses of the Somme.
BEF Artillery Expansion for 1917 Planned
Haig directs further artillery and ammunition preparation for the next year's major operations.
Cabinet Secretariat Established
Creates a permanent secretariat to record War Cabinet conclusions and circulate papers systematically.
How these records were prepared
Generated from the World History Database historical_events table. Identical display records are collapsed; descriptions otherwise retain the stored text. Coverage and source quality vary. Check primary and specialist sources before citing individual historical claims.