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

H. G. Hartwell

H. G. Hartwell

Member of the staff of A. W. Gamage Ltd and/or Benetfink & Co. Ltd. Killed in WW1.

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
R. A. Griffiths

R. A. Griffiths

Resident of Hendon who served and died in WW2.

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW2
1 memorial
T. Croft

T. Croft

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

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
W. G. J. Tomkins

W. G. J. Tomkins

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

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
C. C. Barnfather

C. C. Barnfather

J. Lyons & Co. Ltd. staff member who died in WW2.

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW2
1 memorial

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Willie Rushton

Willie Rushton

Satirical cartoonist, comedian and author. Born 3 Wilbraham Place, Chelsea. Worked on 'That was the week that was', 'Not only...But also', 'I'm sorry I haven't a clue' (where he revelled in the arc...

Person, Humour, TV & Radio

2 memorials
Kew Gardens

Kew Gardens

Officially, The Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew. They originated in the garden of Kew Park formed by Lord Capel John of Tewkesbury. They were extended by Augusta, Dowager Princess of Wales and further...

Place, Gardens / Agriculture

4 memorials
Dulwich Village stocks

Dulwich Village stocks

SE21, Calton Avenue

From East Dulwich Forum we learn that: the stone was originally attached to a now lost village lock-up: the original site was actually ne...

1 subject commemorated
Surrey Yeomanry

Surrey Yeomanry

Unit of the British army. First formed as volunteer cavalry and reformed in 1901. It saw action in both world wars. It is maintained today by 2 (Surrey Yeomanry) Field Troop, 579 Field Squadron (EO...

Group, Armed Forces

1 memorial
British-German Association

British-German Association

The Association came into being in the House of Commons.  Those involved in setting it up include:  Sir George Catlin, Dr Thomas Mann, Dr Adolf Grimme - Minister of Education for Lower Saxony, Sir ...

Group, Community / Clubs, Germany

1 memorial