UK History Timeline

World War I began in 1914 after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria. His murder catapulted into a war across Europe that lasted until 1918. In Britain, many men enlisted, even some that were too young but lied about their age, so they could take part. Many towns and businesses formed their own groups to enlist and you can see memorials to the soldiers who died in most towns. Thanks to new military technologies and the horrors of trench warfare, World War I saw unprecedented levels of carnage and destruction. By the time the war was over and the Allied Powers claimed victory, more than 16 million people—soldiers and civilians alike—were dead. Places to visit: Imperial War Museum London