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

8th (City of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (Post Office Rifles)

8th (City of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (Post Office Rifles)

8th (City of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (Post Office Rifles), was formed on 1 April 1908 by the amalgamation of regiments under the Territorial and Reserve Forces Act 1907. Their Wikipe...

Group, Armed Forces

1 memorial
Second Lieutenant Frederick Johnson, VC

Second Lieutenant Frederick Johnson, VC

Soldier. Born Frederick Henry Johnson in Streatham. In an attack on Hill 70 in the Battle of Loos on 25th September, 1915, he was with a section of his company of the Royal Engineers. Although woun...

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW1
2 memorials
Major General, Lord Cheylesmore

Major General, Lord Cheylesmore

Herbert Francis Eaton, 3rd Baron Cheylesmore.  Born London.  Chairman of the London County Council, 1912-13. Soldier in WW1, specialising in court-martials. Died in hospital at Englefield Green, fr...

Person, Armed Forces, Politics & Administration

3 memorials
W. J. S. J. Heap

W. J. S. J. Heap

Resident of Hendon who served and died in WW2.

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW2
1 memorial
C. Greenfield

C. Greenfield

Co-partner or employee of the South Suburban Gas Company. Served but did not die in WW1.

Person, Armed Forces

War served, WW1
1 memorial

Previously viewed

Tower Hamlets Community Housing Ltd

Tower Hamlets Community Housing Ltd

THCH is a charitable housing provider managing over 3,000 homes exclusively in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. Established in 2000 as part of a Government programme to transfer housing from lo...

Group, Social Welfare

24 memorials
National Portrait Gallery - Faithorne

National Portrait Gallery - Faithorne

WC2, Charing Cross Road

This building, 1896, designed by Ewan Christian, has 18 busts contained in medallions around the top of the facades. Starting at the east...

1 subject commemorated
Abzal Khan

Abzal Khan

Student. Participant in the creation of the Will Crooks mural.

Person, Art

1 memorial
King George VI

King George VI

Became king when his brother, Edward VIII, abdicated. Like his father George V, he was born a second son and rather unexpectedly ascended to the throne. Like his grandfather, Edward VII, he was bor...

Person, Royalty, Seriously Famous

26 memorials
JPMorgan
1 memorial