- The first Australian casualties of the Western Front occur when German shells hit the farmhouse where members of the 9th Battalion, C Company are billeted at Rouge de Bois. 25 men are killed and 50 wounded. Among the wounded is Basil Nicholls of Millthorpe. 9th Battalion diary 20 April 1916
- French forces regain ground near Mort Homme and south of Douaumont in the Battle of Verdun
- Russian troops arrive at Marseilles
- The German cargo ship SS Libau is intercepted by British ships while attempting to deliver a shipment of arms and ammunition for the Easter Rising. Masquerading as the Norwegian vessel SS Aud, the Libau is escorted towards Cork Harbour, where she is scuttled by her captain. The captain and crew are taken prisoner of war. The Libau was originally the British vessel SS Castro, captured by the Imperial German Navy in 1914. Underwater tour of SS Aud
- Russian forces take positions in the Bitlis region of eastern Turkey. Bitlis is the last chance for the Ottoman Army to prevent the Russians from moving into central Anatolia and Mesopotamia
Turkish forces at the Bitlis front, March 1916. Image courtesy Republic of Turkey Government.
