Event    From 4/8/1914  To 11/11/1918

World War 1

Categories: Armed Forces, Tragedy

We'd always assumed that this war was known as the Great War until WW2 came along at which point it was renamed as World War One or the First World War. But the term was first used in print in 1920 as the title of a book, 'The First World War' by Charles à Court Repington. He was using it to emphasize the global nature of the war rather than its sequential nature.

Different memorials give different years for the end of WW1. The Armistice came into force at 11am on 11 November 1918 and fighting ceased on the western front but hostilities continued elsewhere. The Treaty of Versailles, signed by Germany and some of the allied powers following the Paris Peace Conference, was not until 28 June 1919.

The war did not officially end in the UK until 31 August 1921, as explained at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission: "When the Termination of the Present War (Definition) Act 1918 was passed by Parliament, it gave discretion to His Majesty in Council to declare the date of the termination of the war. Consequently, war with each of the Central Powers ended close to the date of the ratification of the various peace treaties. Although a treaty with Turkey had yet to be ratified, it was decided that 31 August 1921 ‘should be treated as the date of the termination of the present War’. As the Imperial War Graves Commission (IWGC) was charged with responsibility for the graves of service personnel who died between the outbreak and end of the War, this meant that those casualties of the First World War who died after 31 August 1921 fell outside the remit of the Commission."

Note - it seems to be just a lucky poetic chance that the Armistice coincides with "the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month". Kaiser Wilhelm abdicated on November 9th, presumably not thinking "just in time for a poetically-timed Armistice".

For some signs of WW1 on buildings in London see Spitalfields Life.

2024: We've just come across the London World War 1 Memorial - looks like it could be a great resource.

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This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
World War 1

Commemorated ati

24th London Division - memorial

These 3 figures are said to be modelled on the soldier poets: Robert Graves, ...

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8th London Howitzers

The way this monument meets the sloping ground has been well thought out: a s...

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Abney Park - CWGC war memorial

The screen wall at the back, south, of the memorial carries a number of bronz...

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African and Caribbean Armed Forces

Unveiled on Windrush Day. A very simple design, we think the horizontal obeli...

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Air raid

Very small plaque on the doorframe.

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Other Subjects

Robert William Johnson

Robert William Johnson

Robert William Johnson was born on 9 February 1882 in Dalton-le-Dale, Easington, County Durham, the son and the second child of Robert Johnson and Rachel Johnson née Carr. His father was a brick-ma...

Person, Armed Forces

War served, WW1
1 memorial
Geo. S. Robjant

Geo. S. Robjant

Resident of the Central Ward, Hendon who served and died in WW1.

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
Albt. Hawkins

Albt. Hawkins

Resident of the Central Ward, Hendon who served and died in WW1.

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
Second Lieutenant Reginald Blencowe Bayliss

Second Lieutenant Reginald Blencowe Bayliss

Reginald Blencowe Bayliss was born on 9 June 1894 in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, one of the four children of Archibald Bayliss (1854-1942) and Mary James Bayliss née Shrimpton (1860-1930). His b...

Person, Armed Forces, France

War dead, WW1
1 memorial

Previously viewed

Charlton House

Charlton House

Regarded as the best-preserved Jacobean house in Greater London. It was built by the crown to house Sir Adam Newton and his royal charge, Prince Henry, the son of King James I. The interior feature...

Building, Property, Royalty

1 memorial
Leysian Mission

Leysian Mission

From Wesley's Chapel and from Kay: The Leys School was opened in Cambridge in 1875; just two years after non-Anglicans were admitted to the universities of Oxford and Cambridge. It was intended to...

Group, Religion, Social Welfare

8 memorials
Fountain Court

Fountain Court

Named after the Fountain Tavern which it contained, Fountain Court was built over by Savoy Buildings in 1883.  In 1827 William Blake died at 3 Fountain Court, now part of the Savoy Hotel.   Lawrenc...

Place, Other

1 memorial
Princess Alice disaster

Princess Alice disaster

London's worst peacetime disaster. The Princess Alice was a passenger paddle steamer, making what was called a 'moonlight trip', from Swan Pier near London Bridge to the former Rosherville Pleasure...

Event, Tragedy, Transport

3 memorials
Muzio Clementi

Muzio Clementi

Composer, musician, music publisher, piano manufacturer.  Born Italy.  Moved to London at the end of 1774 from where he went on tours of Europe.  Moved out towards the end of his life and died in W...

Person, Music / songs

1 memorial