Western Front
British military band playing at La Neuville-les-Bray, France:
http://imgur.com/yDc8sPh
The Victoria Cross is awarded to Sergeant Thomas Mottershead of No.20 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps.
This is the only Victoria Cross to be won by a non-commissioned officer of the Royal Flying Corps during the First World War, for recovering his burning aircraft, a Royal Aircraft Factory F. E. 2d, from a fighting patrol in Ploegsteert Wood in France and for saving the life of his observer, Lieutenant W.E. Gower.
Eastern Front
Baltic Provinces: Battle of the Aa: In the snow, Russian troops, using white clothing to cover their uniforms, surprise German troops near Riga & capture 1000 yards of trenches.
Romania: Russian troops in Romania counterattack Central Power lines southwest of the Siret River on a 15-mile front and advance on a few points.
However, Russo-Romanian front broken north-west of Focsani.
Asiatic and Egyptian Theaters
Arabia: British Arab Bureau reports Baron Max von Oppenheim’s mission at Medina.
Mesopotamia: Maude’s feints begin with shelling of the Hai and Sannaiyat (7th Division trench raids).
Naval and Overseas Operations
East Africa: Action at Fort Kibala (until January 9): KAR (King’s African Rifles) capture 6 hills as Lettow raises siege.
Political, etc.
Germany: Pless Crown Council backs unlimited U-boat war. Kaiser’s civilian cabinet chief diary entry: ‘Finis Germaniae’.
France: French and Belgian officials meet in Paris to protest the forced deportations of French and Belgian civilians in German-occupied territory.
Canada: Gold worth $25 million is transported under armed guards from Halifax, Canada to New York City.
Italy: Allied conference in Rome ends today, with a declaration that the Allied nations are united in their war aims.
Romania: Michael the Brave War Order created (3 classes).
Greece: Former Greek Minister of Finance M. Diomede claims that Germany is controlling the Greek army.