The First World War, dubbed 'The War to end all Wars' , was a global military conflict which involved the majority of the world's great powers, which were organized into two opposing military alliances - the Entente Powers and the Central Powers. Over 70 million military personnel were mobilized in the largest war in history.
In a state of total war, the major combatants placed their scientific and industrial capabilities at the service of the war effort. Over 15 million people were killed, making it one of the deadliest and bloodiest conflicts in human history.
From originally being told that it would all be over by Christmas 1914, our troops found themselves fighting long and hard after this time. The armistice was eventually signed on 11th November 1918 and, at 11 a.m. on 11 November 1918 " the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month", a ceasefire came into effect.
They shall grow not old,
As we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them,
Nor the years condemn,
At the going down of the sun
And in the morning
We will remember them.
-- Laurence Binyon (1869-1943)
On these pages you'll find details of my relatives who fought during World War 1. Most of them survived but sadly one didn't. A lot of the pages may currently be incomplete as I am waiting for information on their service history to become available.
Through this section I am not only hoping to create rememberence for those members of my family who fought, but also for all the service men and women who engaged in this bloody war, thousands of whom lost their lives.
