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

Rifleman Joseph Seward Mahony

Rifleman Joseph Seward Mahony

Joseph Seward Mahony was born on 13 May 1891 in Marylebone, London, one of the nine children of Michael Joseph Mahony (1858-1940) and Hannah Mahony née Seward (1859-1910). His birth was registered ...

Person, Armed Forces, France

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
Lance Corporal Albert George Booth

Lance Corporal Albert George Booth

Albert George Booth was born on 6 September 1898 in Devonport, Devon, a son of Thomas and Agnes Elizabeth Booth. His birth was registered in the 4th quarter of 1898 in the Devonport registration di...

Person, Armed Forces, France

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
A. S. Ginger

A. S. Ginger

Resident of Willesden who volunteered and died in the Anglo Boer War, 1899-1900.

Person, Armed Forces, South Africa

War dead, Other war
1 memorial
Charles Vane, 3rd Marquess of Londonderry

Charles Vane, 3rd Marquess of Londonderry

Soldier. Born Dublin. 1843 became Colonel of the 2nd Regiment of Life Guards which, as part of the Household Cavalry, was based at Knightsbrige Barracks, now Hyde Park Barracks. Which explains why ...

Person, Armed Forces, Ireland

1 memorial
J. Giles

J. Giles

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

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW1
1 memorial

Previously viewed

Burgess Park

Burgess Park

Unusually, this park was created out of land which had previously been built on. It is one of the largest parks in south London, and is still unfinished. The area was developed in the 19th century ...

Place, Gardens / Agriculture

1 memorial
Richard Abadie
War dead, WW1
1 memorial
Professor Banister Fletcher

Professor Banister Fletcher

Architect and surveyor. Churchwarden of St Andrew-by-the-Wardrobe. He and his sons, Banister Flight Fletcher and Herbert Phillips Fletcher, formed the architectural practice: Banister Fletcher &amp...

Person, Architecture, Liveries & Guilds, Politics & Administration, Property

1 memorial
London County Council

London County Council

Prior to the LCC London matters were run by church parishes. The LCC was the first directly elected strategic local government body for London. Replaced by the Greater London Council, covering a la...

Group, Politics & Administration

283 memorials
Bromley old town hall - 1863

Bromley old town hall - 1863

Built in 1863 in the centre of Market Square, on the site of the Bromley Market House. This multi-purpose building was funded by Cole-Childs, who had recently bought the local Manor. He was a coal ...

Building, Politics & Administration

1 memorial