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

W. A. J. Morgan

W. A. J. Morgan

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
WW2 service men and women who trained in Walthamstow college

WW2 service men and women who trained in Walthamstow college

Thousands of service men and women trained at the Walthamstow college: 1940 RAF; 1941 army; 1942 navy.

Group, Armed Forces, Education

1 memorial
A. E. Prior

A. E. Prior

J. Lyons & Co. Ltd. staff member who died in WW1.

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
Royal Air Force

Royal Air Force

Formed 1st April 1918 at Hotel Cecil, 80 the Strand where it had its first headquarters. Motto: Per Ardua Ad Astra, Latin for "Through Struggles to the Stars".

Group, Armed Forces, Aviation

8 memorials
B. G. Wiseman

B. G. Wiseman

Resident of Hendon who served and died in WW2.

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW2
1 memorial

Previously viewed

Rhymers' Club

Rhymers' Club

The Rhymers' Club met at Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese where they read their poems aloud, criticised each other's work and published together. Members included: Yeats, Arthur Symons, Richard Le Gallien...

Group, Poetry

1 memorial
River Effra

River Effra

At the Brockwell Lido plaque there is an information board which begins by explaining the function of stink pipes: "What is a stink pipe? The lofty green pipe behind you is a Victorian stink pipe, ...

Place, Gardens / Agriculture

17 memorials
Sidney Leader Cramer

Sidney Leader Cramer

For many years Chairman of the Fitzroy Park Association. Our colleague Andrew Behan has kindly carried our some research on this man: Sidney Leadercramer was born on 10 May 1912, the son of Israel...

Person, Politics & Administration

1 memorial
The Friends of Greenwich Park

The Friends of Greenwich Park

A charity dedicated to the conservation, improvement and enjoyment of Greenwich Park.

Group, Community / Clubs, Gardens / Agriculture

1 memorial
Freeform Arts Trust

Freeform Arts Trust

Free Form is unique in providing the full range of arts and creative services for the built environment to place art at the heart of urban regeneration.

Group, Art, Craft / Design

5 memorials