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. Gillham

W. Gillham

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
Charles Lightoller

Charles Lightoller

Born Charles Herbert Lightoller in Chorley, Lancashire. He joined the White Star Line in 1900 and served on several ships before being appointed second officer on the Titanic. As the ship was aband...

Person, Armed Forces, Tragedy, Transport

1 memorial
Sir George Stuart White

Sir George Stuart White

British field marshal, who conducted the defence of Ladysmith during its siege from 2 November 1899 to 28 February 1900. Born in County Antrim, Buried at First Broughshane Presbyterian Church, Ulst...

Person, Armed Forces, Africa, Ireland

1 memorial
Eric Archibald McNair, VC

Eric Archibald McNair, VC

Awarded the VC for his heroism on 14 February 1916, age 21, while serving in the Royal Sussex Regiment. "When the enemy exploded a bomb under his position, he reacted instantly driving the enemy ba...

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
Thomas Darcy, Lord Darcey of Templehurst

Thomas Darcy, Lord Darcey of Templehurst

Known as Lord Darcy de Darcy or Darcy of Templehurst or Temple Hirst.  Early success as a soldier, and then at court but his involvement in Aske's rebellion, known as the 'Pilgrimage of Grace', led...

Person, Armed Forces, Execution, Politics & Administration

1 memorial

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Heal's furniture store

Heal's furniture store

John Harris Heal established a feather dressing business at 33 Rathbone Place, moving to Tottenham Court Road in 1818. This became a family business selling beds and moved to larger premises in the...

Group, Craft / Design, Politics & Administration

2 memorials
Henry Bursill

Henry Bursill

Bursill also sculpted the allegorical statues on Holborn bridge and seems to be the same man who produced a book on hand shadows in 1851. See Speel for some more info on Bursill.

Person, Sculpture

3 memorials
Elizabeth Blackwell

Elizabeth Blackwell

The first woman to be accepted by the register of the General Medical Council, and also the first woman to receive a medical degree in the United States. Born in Bristol, her family emigrated to th...

Person, Medicine, France, USA

1 memorial