HMS Primula. Image courtesy Imperial War Museum © IWM (FL 2998).
- Arthur Edward Neal enlists. Arthur is commemorated on the Centenary of WWI in Orange Honour Roll; he would be killed in action in France on 15 May 1917.
- The German U-boat SM U-35 torpedoes and sinks the British sloop HMS Primula in the Mediterranean Sea near the Greek island of Cerigo. U-35 fires four torpedoes; the first hits the bow collapsing the foremast. The captain of the Primula put the vessel into reverse in an attempt to ram the U-boat. The Primula manages to avoid the second and third torpedo, but not the fourth, which sinks her. Four crewmembers perish.
- During March the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) is expanded from two to five infantry divisions which progressively sail to France. The cavalry units remain in Egypt and engage with Turkish troops and Senussi Arab tribes threatening British control of Egypt.
- Germany resumes unrestricted submarine warfare against merchant and passenger vessels approaching Britain; a situation which continues until April
- Russian forces advance west of Kermanshah in Persia
- Hostilities begin between the Sudan Government and Sultan Ali Dinar of Darfur
