Revd Nicholas Pye

25 July 1894, Gavrilo Princip, Bosnian-Serb assassin of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria & his wife, Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg, in Sarajevo on 28 June 1914, born. 1918, died from tuberculosis, weighing only 40 kgs, in Terezin, Austria-Hungary, after 3 years in prison. #WW1

25 July 1848, Arthur Balfour, British Prime Minister 1902-1905, born. 1st Lord of Admiralty 1915-1916 & Foreign Secretary 1916-1919. He wrote Balfour Declaration recognising the right to a Jewish state in Palestine. Endured big defeat in Jan 1906 election. Died in 1930. #WW1

25 July 1915, when flying alone in Bristol Scout C, Cpt Lanoe Hawker, RFC, attacked three German planes in succession. 3rd military pilot & 1st fighter pilot to be awarded Victoria Cross. 23 Nov 1916, died, aged 25, in dogfight with German flying ace Manfred von Richthofen. #WW1

24 July 1725, John Newton, author of "Amazing Grace" hymn, born. Converted to Christianity while working on slave ship. In 1764, became a @churchofengland minister. In 1780, became rector of St Mary Woolnoth. Supported William Wilberforce's campaign to end slave trade. Died 1807.

24 July 1874, Oswald Chambers, evangelist & teacher, born. Died 15 Nov 1917, after appendectomy, while #WW1 chaplain in Egypt. Widow, Biddy, compiled bestselling devotional My Utmost for His Highest from his lessons & sermons. Never been out of print. Available in 40+ languages.

24 July 1914, on reading Austro-Hungarian ultimatum to Serbia, Sir Edward Grey, British Foreign Secretary, said that he'd "never before seen one State address to another independent State a document of so formidable a character". He felt it seemed designed to be rejected. #WW1

24 July 1918, mass breakout of 29 men from Holzminden POW Camp, Lower Saxony, who escaped before tunnel they’d dug over 9 months collapsed. 10 managed to get safely home. Among them was Lt Col Charles Rathborne, RAF, the Senior British Officer. Greatest POW camp break of #WW1.

24 July 1917, Mata Hari, a Dutch-born, professional dancer & mistress who became a spy for France in #WW1, appeared on trial in Paris accused dubiously of spying for Germany with information passed on that caused death of 50,000 French troops. Executed, aged 41, on 15 Oct 1917.

24 July 1927, Field Marshal Plumer (1857-1932) conducted inauguration ceremony for the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial which commemorates 54,588 servicemen of every Commonwealth nationality, except New Zealand, who died in & around Ypres Salient, Belgium, & have no known grave. #WW1

24 July 1915, German U-36 sunk in Outer Hebrides by British Q-ship (armed merchant vessel) HMS Prince Charles, skippered by Lt William Mark-Wardlaw, who won DSO for this action. 18 of 34 crew died. First time armed merchant ship sunk enemy vessel without help of submarine. #WW1

23 July 1883, Field Marshal Sir Alan Brooke born France. Dec 1941, became Chief of Imperial General Staff, head of British Army & so represented Army on Chiefs of Staff Committee (CSC). In March 1942, became chair of CSC & Churchill’s foremost military advisor. Died 1963. #WW2

23 July 1951, Marshal Philippe Petain, Lion of Verdun, #WW1 hero, Chief of State of Vichy France, an authoritarian regime that collaborated with the Axis, died, aged 95. After #WW2, tried & convicted for treason. Due to age & #WW1 service, sentence was commuted to life in prison.

22 July 1918, Lt Indra Lal Roy, RAF, died, aged 19. Sole Indian #WW1 flying ace with 10 aerial victories in just 13 days! Buried Estevelles Communal Cemetery. Personal inscription, ‘he died for the ideals he loved’. Born Calcutta. Educated @StPaulsSchool. First Indian to get DFC.

21 July 1915, Pte Herbert Burden, Northumberland Fusiliers, executed for desertion, aged 17, when in all likelihood was absent without leave. Youngest person to be executed by British Army. Pardoned posthumously in 2006 along with 300 other executed soldiers. #WW1

20 July 1944, in Operation Valkyrie, Claus von Stauffenberg, a practising Christian, and others attempted to assassinate Adolf Hitler, inside his Wolf's Lair field HQ near Rastenburg. As a result, the Gestapo arrested more than 7,000 people, 4,980 of whom were executed. #WW2

20 July 1893, George Davies, born. Along with his 4 brothers, he was the inspiration for J. M. Barrie's characters of Peter Pan & the Lost Boys. Character of Mr George Darling named after him. 2nd Lt in King's Royal Rifle Corps. 15 March 1915, killed by sniper in Belgium.#WW1

19 July 1918, 7 Sopwith Camels from HMS Furious attacked airship base at Tondern. For loss of one man & several aircraft, they destroyed two Zeppelins & a captive balloon. First air attack using planes from aircraft carrier. Most successful attack by shipboard aircraft of #WW1.

19 July 1917, British troopship SS Eloby, torpedoed & sunk by U-38 (photo), 3rd most successful U-boat in #WW1, 75 miles s-east of Malta, killing 156 people. Used as transport between UK-France & UK-Alexandria. In 1917, Wilhelm Canaris, head Abwehr 1935–1944, became U-38 captain.

19 July 1915, Albert Jacka became first Australian to win Victoria Cross in #WW1 for actions at Gallipoli. Soon became famous. His image used on recruiting posters. Served Western Front, being seriously injured in 1917 & 1918. Died 1932, aged 39. Coffin carried by 8 VC winners.

18 July 1918, Pte George Dilboy, U.S. Army 103rd Infantry Regt, died, aged 22. Buried Arlington National Cemetery. 1st Greek-American to receive Medal of Honour in #WW1. General Pershing listed him as "one of 10 great heroes" who "died in France with super-human heroism & valor."