On June 5 H.M.S. _Hampshire_, conveying Field-Marshal Earl Kitchener on a special mission to Russia, was sunk off the Orkney Islands by a mine, and all but twelve men were drowned. On June 12 General Smuts captured Wilhelmstal, the capital of German East Africa. [Sidenote: July, Aug., Sept.] The battle of the Somme commenced at the beginning of July and lasted until November. Both the British and French Armies were engaged during these months in systematically capturing the German positions on the north and south of the River Somme. This was the first battle in which Tanks were used. Salonika had now become an important place in the war, and a mixed force under General Sarrail attempted an offensive movement, which, however, came to nothing. The Russians continued their successful operations against Austria, and captured vast numbers of prisoners. On August 27 Roumania declared war on Austria, and advanced into Transylvania, in spite of warnings from the Allies that they had better hold their frontier and join hands with the Russians. At the end of August Field-Marshal von Hindenburg was appointed Chief of the German General Staff. The 1st Battalion [Sidenote: 1st Batt. Jan.] The beginning of 1916 found the 1st Battalion in Brigade Reserve at La Gorgue, where it had retired after a strenuous time in the trenches, and where it settled down to steady drill and instruction in bombing. The list of officers was as follows: Lieut.-Colonel G. F. Trotter, M.V.O., D.S.O., Commanding Officer. Major C. R. C. de Crespigny, Second in Command. Lieut. E. H. J. Duberly, Adjutant. Lieut. F. E. H. Paget, Lewis Gun Officer. Lieut. the Earl of Dalkeith, Bombing Officer. Capt. Lord Stanley, Transport Officer. Lieut. J. Teece, Quartermaster. Capt. W. S. Pilcher, King's Company. Lieut. L. G. Fisher-Rowe, King's Company. 2nd Lieut. R. F. W. Echlin, King's Company. Capt. F. L. V. Swaine, No. 2 Company. Lieut. C. D. Baker, No. 2 Company. 2nd Lieut. C. Wilkinson, No. 2 Company. Capt. Viscount Lascelles, No. 3 Company. Lieut. G. Inglis, No. 3 Company. Lieut. A. A. Moller, No. 3 Company. 2nd Lieut. H. V. Cholmeley, No. 3 Company. Capt. G. B. Wilson, No. 4 Company. Lieut. the Hon. P. P. Cary, No. 4 Company. Lieut. R. D. Lawford, No. 4 Company. 2nd Lieut. C. R. Turner, No. 4 Company. Capt. J. C. B. Grant, R.A.M.C., Medical Officer. On the 12th it moved to Laventie, and from there went into the trenches at Picantin every alternate forty-eight hours, taking turns with the 4th Battalion and the 2nd Battalion Irish Guards. On January 14 Second Lieutenant C. T. Swift joined, and on the 29th Major de Crespigny left to take command of the 2nd Battalion.