Following an ultimatum to withdraw German troops from Belgium, Britain declared war on Germany on 4 August 1914. Monday 4 August 2014 will mark the 100th anniversary of the start of Britain’s involvement in World War One.Front pages from the start of World War OneThe news that Britain had joined World War One featured prominently in many of the newspapers printed the following day.Search newspapers from World War OneHere’s a selection of the newspaper headlines announcing Britain’s involvement in WW1.…

World War One officially started on 28 July 1914 when Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia.There are currently 25 newspapers from 28 July 1914 available to view online at The British Newspaper Archive. You’ll find clippings from some of these newspapers below, showing how the start of the war was reported.Explore newspapers from 1914 Austria-Hungary’s declaration of war starts WW1The Serbian Prime Minister received a telegram at 12.30pm on 28 July 1914. It stated that ‘Austria-Hungary… considers herself henceforward in state of war with Serbia’.While…

Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated 100 years ago on Sunday 28 June 1914, starting the chain of events that lead to World War One.The first reports about the assassination were printed in British newspapers the following day. You can read many of them online at The British Newspaper Archive.Read reports about Franz FerdinandManchester Evening News: ‘What the tragedy will mean’The article published in the Manchester Evening News included a report about what the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand could…

The WW1 Gallipoli Campaign began on 25 April 1915, resulting in the loss of approximately 50,000 men from Australia, Britain, France and New Zealand.A poignant letter from an attending nurse was sent to an Australian woman living in London and printed in the Tamworth Herald.‘It breaks my heart to see them’The letter describes the nurse’s work at the Dardanelles during World War One and includes this incredibly moving comment:‘It’s a sad time for us all, but you can be…

WW1 editions of the Evening Despatch now onlineThe Evening Despatch was published in Birmingham throughout World War One. Over 4,000 pages from newspapers published in 1915, 1917 and 1918 have just been made available to search online.Search the Evening Despatch  Newspaper pages added every weekThousands of extra pages are added to The British Newspaper Archive each week. We’ll be adding more from the Evening Despatch soon, so be sure to check the recent additions regularly.See what’s been added in the…

The Somme Offensive commenced on 1 July 1916, as Allied forces attacked German positions by the River Somme on the Western Front in France.On the opening day of the battle, the British suffered 60,000 casualties – making it the worst day in the history of the British army.Here is an upbeat newspaper report of the battle, which was published on the first day of the battle – also included is a map of the area where the battle took place.Image © Northcliffe Media…

To mark the hundred years since the signing of the Armistice on Monday 11 November 1918, which ended the First World War, we take a look at the poignant images published that historic day across our various publications.A significant theme running throughout, of course, is that of peace, and freedom, at last, as featured in the Nottingham Evening Post and the Liverpool Echo.Nottingham Evening Post | 11 November 1918Liverpool Echo | 11 November 1918Other newspapers, such as the Evening Despatch and the Sheffield Independent…