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

Private Frederick Martin

Private Frederick Martin

Frederick Martin was born circa 1916. He was serving as a Private in the Army Catering Corps, service number 911620 and was attached to the Royal Artillery when he died, aged 29 years, on 3 Septemb...

Person, Armed Forces, Burma

War dead, WW2
1 memorial
Arthur Harris

Arthur Harris

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

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
Edward Arthur Martyn

Edward Arthur Martyn

Edward Arthur Martyn was born on 26 December 1888 in Linkfield Lane, Isleworth, Middlesex (now Greater London), the eldest of the six children of Arthur Edward Martyn (1863-1897) and Annie E. Marty...

Person, Armed Forces, Emergency Services

War dead non-military, WW2
1 memorial
Lance Corporal George Owen Moren

Lance Corporal George Owen Moren

George Owen Moren was born on 4 August 1896, the third of the seven children of Nathaniel William Moren (1867-1946) and Louisa Moren née Woodall (1868-1938). His birth was registered in the 3rd qua...

Person, Armed Forces, France

War dead, WW1
2 memorials
Sapper Maycock

Sapper Maycock

Royal Engineer killed by an exploding bomb while assisting in the attempt to disarm it. Andrew Behan has kindly carried out some research on this man: Somewhat difficult to trace this chap with an...

Person, Armed Forces, Tragedy

War dead, WW2
1 memorial

Previously viewed

Queen Victoria bust - SW3

Queen Victoria bust - SW3

SW3, Tryon Street, 27, Queen's Head pub

What Pub tells a sorry tale: "Built in 1840. ... pub closed on 7 Sept. 2016 ... Planning app dated 03 Aug 2018: Change of use of first an...

1 subject commemorated
Lady Mary Coke

Lady Mary Coke

Letter writer and noblewoman. Born Lady Mary Campbell at either Sudbrook, Surrey or 27 Bruton Street, London. After a strained courtship, she married Edward, Viscount Coke in 1747. He retaliated by...

Person, Gender Issues

1 memorial
Michael Bond (sculptor)

Michael Bond (sculptor)

We can't identify this sculptor.  

Person, Sculpture

3 memorials
W. Court

W. Court

Loco Carriage & Wagon

Person

War dead, WW1
1 memorial