Plan-Haig-Nivelle
Lloyd George & the French War Committee agree the Haig-Nivelle plan
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1917 in Great Britain — Page 2
Explore 328 historical events and records for Great Britain in 1917.
Historical records for Great Britain in 1917
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 40 of 328 unique records.
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February
Fleet Initiative Emphasised after Jutland
Beatty promotes greater tactical initiative among senior officers while retaining coordinated fleet control.
Grand Fleet Battle Instructions Revised
Beatty revises tactical instructions to encourage subordinate commanders to exploit fleeting opportunities more aggressively.
Shipping Conservation Programme Ordered
Directs departments to reduce unnecessary use of merchant tonnage and protect essential imports.
March
Irish Conference Proposal Advanced
Suggests a conference of Irish representatives as a route toward wartime political settlement.
Irish Settlement Initiative Presented
Presents proposals intended to reopen negotiations over Irish self-government during the war.
Ulster Exclusion Principle Reaffirmed
States that Home Rule cannot be imposed on areas of Ulster that reject it.
Baghdad Victory Welcomed
Welcomes the capture of Baghdad as an important success in the Mesopotamian campaign.
Operations on the Ancre
British operations on the Ancre close as the German withdrawal changes the front line.
Hindenburg Line
The main German retreat to the Hindenburg line begins
German Retreat to the Hindenburg Line
British troops occupy St Pierre Vaast Wood during the German withdrawal toward the Hindenburg Line.
German Retreat to the Hindenburg Line
British Fifth Army follows the German retreat and occupies Bapaume after German forces abandon the town.
Birth of James Callaghan
Birth of James Callaghan
Agricultural Expansion Given War Priority
Backs cultivation measures intended to increase grain production and reduce import dependence.
Kite Balloon Observation Expanded
The Grand Fleet increases kite-balloon use for spotting and reconnaissance under Beatty's command.
Merchant Shipping Loss Reporting Restricted
Supports limiting publication of detailed shipping losses to deny useful information to Germany.
Naval Aircraft Reconnaissance Encouraged
Beatty supports wider use of aircraft to extend the Grand Fleet's scouting and observation capabilities.
Russian Provisional Government Welcomed
Supports Allied relations with the new Russian authorities after the fall of the Tsar.
War Credit Requirements Reviewed
Reviews the growing financial requirements of the war with senior ministers.
April
Arras Preparatory Bombardment Opened
Haig's armies begin intensive artillery preparation before the planned Arras offensive.
Pursuit to the Hindenburg Line
Allied troops face the outer defences of the Hindenburg Line after the German withdrawal.
United States Entry Welcomed
Welcomes American entry into the war as a major reinforcement of the Allied coalition.
Arras Initial Breakthrough
Third Army achieves an important initial breakthrough during the Battle of Arras.
Arras Offensive Command
Commands Third Army in the Arras offensive.
Battle of Arras
Commands British Third Army in the main assault east of Arras.
Battle of Arras
The British 1st & 3rd Armies attack the German 6th Army, British tactical victory. Leads the 3rd Army into battle, the battle results in a stalemate. 9-15 April, preliminary to the Nivelle offensive
Battle of Arras
Launches the Arras offensive to support wider Allied operations on the Western Front.
Battle of Arras
Attacks the German 6th Army under von Falkenhausen, wins a tactical victory
Battle of Arras
Commands British First Army as Canadian Corps attacks and captures Vimy Ridge.
Capture of Vimy Ridge
Leads the Canadian Corps in capturing Vimy Ridge, 1st day of the Arras Offensive
First Scarpe Offensive Opened
Haig directs the opening First Army attack along the Scarpe during the Arras offensive.
Hindenburg Defences Breached
Third Army breaches German defensive positions associated with the Hindenburg Line.
Hindenburg Line
Breaks through the Hindenburg Line. Breaches the Hindenburg Line
Offensive
Leads the Canadian Corps in capturing Vimy Ridge, 1st day of the Arras Offensive
Offensive
9-15 April, the British begin the Nivelle Offensive under Generals Horne & Allenby
Sixth Army
The British 1st & 3rd Armies attack the German 6th Army, British tactical victory
Sixth Army
Attacks the German 6th Army under von Falkenhausen, wins a tactical victory
Third Army
Leads the 3rd Army into battle, the battle results in a stalemate
Vimy Ridge Assault Supported
Haig supports the Canadian Corps assault that captures most of Vimy Ridge.
First Bullecourt Failure Reviewed
Haig reviews the failed British-Australian attack against the Hindenburg Line at Bullecourt.
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.