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

Admiral Adam Duncan

Admiral Adam Duncan

Admiral.  Born Dundee.  Defeated the Dutch fleet at Camperdown in 1797.  This was a major and important victory in the war with France and Duncan was much honoured with titles and lands.  Died at T...

Person, Armed Forces, Scotland

1 memorial
Henry, Earl of Romney

Henry, Earl of Romney

Politician and army officer. Born Henry Sidney (or Sydney) in Paris. Entered parliament in 1679 and was one of the group known as 'The Immortal Seven', who invited William of Orange to take the thr...

Person, Armed Forces, Politics & Administration, France, Ireland, Netherlands

1 memorial
W. G. Ross

W. G. Ross

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

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
Richard Savage, fourth Earl Rivers

Richard Savage, fourth Earl Rivers

Governor of the Tower of London, soldier who fought in Ireland for William III and notorious womanizer. Birth date uncertain. Died at home at Ealing Grove, Middlesex.

Person, Armed Forces, Politics & Administration

1 memorial

Previously viewed

St Georges Burial Ground

St Georges Burial Ground

St. Georges Burial Ground was so used from 1731 to 1857.

Place, Gardens / Agriculture, Religion

1 memorial
National Heritage Memorial Fund

National Heritage Memorial Fund

From their website: "The National Heritage Memorial Fund (NHMF) was set-up in 1980 to save the most outstanding parts of our heritage at risk of loss to the nation, as a memorial to those who have ...

Group, History, Philanthropy

1 memorial
Jack Pritchard

Jack Pritchard

Furniture designer. In 1929 he founded the firm of Wells Coates and Partners, with the name changing to Isokon in 1931. The name was derived from Isometric Unit Construction.

Person, Craft / Design

1 memorial
Metropolitan Asylums Board

Metropolitan Asylums Board

A campaign by Florence Nightingale and Edwin Chadwick led to the establishment of this board.   It dealt with London's sick poor (but excluding those in Penge, for some reason), those with infectio...

Group, Social Welfare

1 memorial
Charles Francis Annesley Voysey

Charles Francis Annesley Voysey

Architect and designer. Born near Hull, Yorkshire. Influenced by William Morris, his early work included the design of wallpaper and textiles.  His designs for houses became very influential on dom...

Person, Architecture

4 memorials