100 Years Ago Today

[Jimbuna]

23rd December 1918

Wounded German veterans demonstrate in Berlin as political instability in the German Republic worsens.


Men of the New Zealand Canterbury Mounted Rifles return to the Lone Pine Memorial at Gallipoli three years after the battle.


Refugees return to their homes riding the top of boxcars near Strumica (Macedonia).

[Sailor Steve]

December 23 1918

Serbian militia put down a small uprising in Rijeka Crnojevića and Nikšić, Montenegro.

Colonel Johan Laidoner is appointed Commander in chief of the Estonian armed forces, comprised of 600 officers and 11,000 volunteers.

The Kuperjanov Infantry Battalion is established under command of Estonian war hero Julius Kuperjanov during the Estonian War of Independence.

The Belarusian Telegraph Agency is established as the official news agency of Belarus.

The association football club Hercílio Luz is established in Tubarão, Brazil.

Born Today:

Helmut Schmidt, German state leader, 5th Chancellor of Germany, in Hamburg (died 2015).

Henry W. Sawyer, American lawyer and activist, best known for his civil liberties cases Abington School District v. Schempp and Lemon v. Kurtzman, in Philadelphia (died 1999).

Died Today:

Thérèse Schwartze, Dutch painter, known for her portrait work including Queen Wilhelmina (born 1851).

[Jimbuna]

24th December 1918

Eastern Front

Russian White Forces and the Czechoslovak Legion capture the city of Perm, Russia from the Bolsheviks. Men of the Czechoslovak Legion in Russia.


Political, etc.

Fighting in Berlin between discontented sailors and Government troops ends in success of latter.

Fighting breaks out between the German Army and the revolutionary Volksmarinedivision (People’s Navy Division) at the Berlin City Palace, resulting in over 60 deaths. Soldiers of the Volksmarinedivision.

[Sailor Steve]

December 24 1918



The Siberian Army captures Perm, Russia, with the Red Army losing 18,000 casualties.

The Latvian Riflemen captured Tartu and Tapa, Estonia.

A force of 250 Serbian troops and local Montenegrin volunteer militia fight an estimated 1,5000 to 2,000 Green rebels at Cetinje, Montenegro.

The first Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols is held at King's College in Cambridge.

Born Today:

Dave Bartholomew, American R&B composer, best known for his collaborations with Fats Domino including 'Ain't That a Shame', in Edgard, Louisiana. He is 100 years old today, December 24, 2018.

Died Today:

B. O. Flower, American journalist, editor of news magazine The Arena (born 1858).

[Sailor Steve]

December 25 1918


The Congress of Durrës is held in the capital of the Principality of Albania with Mehmet Konica as chairman. The goal of congress is to establish an Albanian government the following year with ties to Italy.

The Norwegian airline Det Norske Luftfartsrederi was established.

Born Today:

Anwar Sadat, Egyptian state leader, third President of Egypt, recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize for brokering a peace treaty with Israel, in Monufia Governorate, Egypt (assassinated 1981).

Henry Hillman, American business leader and philanthropist, chairman of The Hillman Company and the Hillman Family Foundations, in Pittsburgh (died 2017).

Born: Bertie Mee, English association football player and manager, winger for the Derby County F.C. and Mansfield Town F.C. from 1938 to 1939, manager of the Arsenal F.C. from 1966 to 1976, in Bulwell, England (died 2001).

Died Today:

Daniel Webster Jones, American politician, 19th Governor of Arkansas (born 1839).

[Jimbuna]

25th December 1918

President Wilson makes a Christmas Day address to soldiers of the American Expeditionary Force at Langres, France.


French wounded veterans celebrate Christmas at the studio of Anna Coleman Ladd who makes face masks to cover up the wounds of the men.


A Santa Claus from the Salvation Army distributes smokes and sweets to American occupation soldiers at Montabaur, Germany.


Australian troops celebrating their first Christmas after the war in Belgium.

[Jimbuna]

26th December 1918

Eastern Front

Continued advance of Bolsheviks in Estonia reported.

Political, etc.

Arrival of President Wilson in London.

President Wilson arrives in Britain as part of his tour of Europe before the Paris Peace Conference. Wilson and King George V inspects the Military Guard of Honour at Buckingham Palace.


Ship Losses:

Spartak (Soviet Navy) British campaign in the Baltic: Battle of Revel: The Kapitan Izylmetyev-class destroyer ran aground on the Develsej Bank on the approaches to Tallinn while under pursuit by HMS Calypso and HMS Caradoc (both Royal Navy) and was captured. Refloated and transferred to Estonia as Wambola ( Estonian Navy).

[Sailor Steve]

December 26 1918


Georgian forces begin a counter offensive against the Armenians at Shulaveri, Georgia.

[Jimbuna]

27th December 1918

Eastern Front

Batum occupied by British.

Naval and Overseas Operations

Announced that H.M.S. Calypso has captured two Bolshevist destroyers near Reval.

Political, etc.

President Wilson in conference with Mr. Lloyd George and Mr. Balfour, and entertained by King at State banquet.

Ship Losses:

USS Teaser (United States Navy) The patrol vessel was destroyed by fire in Hampton Roads, Virginia.

[Sailor Steve]

December 27, 1918


The Greater Poland Uprising begins when the people of Greater Poland (the former Grand Duchy of Posen) rise up against the Germans, prompted by a patriotic speech made in Poznań by well-known pianist and future Prime Minister Ignacy Jan Paderewski. The fighting begins with a shooting with gunfire in front of the police headquarters in Poznań. It quickly spreads to Buk, Gniezno, Opalenica, Pniewy, Środa, Szamotuły, Trzemeszno, Wielkopolska and Września, all of which are captured by the Polish insurgents. Poles in Poznań capture the main Train Station, main Post Office and part of the city fortifications.

[Jimbuna]

28th December 1918

Eastern Front

Fighting between Germans and Poles and Posen, following arrival of M. Paderewski.

Reported that British squadron has landed Estonian troops in rear of invading Bolsheviks.

Political, etc.

Results of British General Election announced.

President Wilson receives address of welcome from City of London at Guildhall.

Resignation of Signor Bissolati, Italian socialist minister, owing to disagreement with Government's peace policy.

Ship Losses:

USS Tenadores (United States Navy) The cargo ship ran aground on the Île d'Yeu, Vendée, France. Salvage efforts were abandoned on 2 January 1919.

[Sailor Steve]

December 28, 1914

United Kingdom General Election:
Lloyd Georges' wartime coalition is re-elected.
Sinn Féin wins 73 of the 105 seats in Ireland. Most of the rest were won by Unionists in the north eastern counties. Sinn Féin members take their seats in the Palace of Westminster but also form the First Dáil in Dublin.
Countess Constance Markievicz becomes the first woman elected to the British House of Commons, but refuses to take her seat. She is also in prison for her part in the Easter Rising of 1916, for which she was sentenced to death but this was commuted to life, and she was later released.

Georgian–Armenian War: Georgian forces recapture Shulaveri, Georgia from the Armenians.

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada is established in Saskatoon.

Emperor Khải Định of Vietnam abolishes the traditional Chữ nôm script for writing the Vietnamese language in favor of the Latin script.

[Jimbuna]

29th December 1918

Eastern Front

British troops landed at Riga.

Political, etc.

Important speeches by MM. Clemenceau and Pichon in French Chamber of Deputies regarding peace terms and international relations after war.

President Wilson and King George V outside of Buckingham Palace during the President’s visit to the United Kingdom before the start of the peace conference.


Ship Losses:

Merida (United Kingdom) The cargo ship was wrecked in the English Channel off Le Touquet, Pas-de-Calais, France.

[Sailor Steve]

December 29, 1918


Noted gossip newspaper The Daily Express launches their weekend offshoot The Sunday Express. Both are still in print today.

[Jimbuna]

30th December 1918

Eastern Front

Kadish (northern Russia) taken by Entente forces.

Birsk (eastern Russia) taken by Russo-Czechs.

Political, etc.

President Wilson receives freedom of Manchester, and makes important speeches.

Crowds cheer the arrival of President Wilson in Manchester, England.