In the second year of World War One, many significant events took place that would shape the modern world as we know it.

The first air bombing of the UK takes place with attacks from German Zeppelins.

In response to the catastrophic Dardenelles campaign, Winston Churchill resigns as First Admiral of the Fleet.

A German U-Boat torpedoes and sinks the transatlantic passenger ship The Lusitania, killing 1,195 people including 123 Americans and eventually forcing the United States into World War One.

Perhaps the most tragic event that took place in 1915 was the second battle of Ypres, the only major attack launched by Germany that year. Remembered for the first use of chemical weapons with the Germans using gas in contradiction to the Hague Convention. In the first attack, 10,000 troops were affected, half of them dying from their injuries. Total British losses from the battle are estimated at 59,000.

1,637,839 Sovereigns were struck in Melbourne in 1915 in comparison to 20,295,280 struck in London