Summary

  • Monday 4 August 2014 marked the 100th anniversary of the start of Britain's involvement in WW1

  • About 17m soldiers and civilians worldwide were killed between 1914 and 1918

  • Royal Family members and world leaders attended commemorative events in the UK and elsewhere

  • An international ceremony of reconciliation was held outside the Belgian city of Mons

  • The day's events ended with a candle-lit vigil at Westminster Abbey and "lights out" events around the UK

Live Reporting

Tom Moseley, Patrick Evans, Dhruti Shah, Anna Jones, Claire Bates, Nick Eardley, Kerry Alexandra, Kate McGeown and Gerry Holt

  1. In Liege, the King of Belgium is speaking to those gathered.

  2. Choral singing echoes around the historic cathedral.

  3. Members of the military are now reading extracts from war diaries, highlighting how real and immediate death was.

  4. News from 1914
    The world on the brink of war

    Historian David Olusoga at The Chattri, a war memorial near Brighton

    Historian David Olusoga at The Chattri, a war memorial near Brighton

    War of the world

    During WW1 the Western Front became the most culturally diverse place on Earth. Historian David Olusoga explores this truly global conflict.

  6. Sir Trevor McDonald

    Veteran broadcaster Sir Trevor McDonald speaks of the "disproportionate losses" some communities suffered, highlighting deaths of players and staff of Edinburgh football side Hearts during the conflict.

  7. David Cameron, Alex Salmond and Nick Clegg

    David Cameron, First Minister Alex Salmond and deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg (far right) are all paying their respects inside Glasgow Cathedral

  8. Gordon Campbell, the High Commissioner for Canada, reads a poem reflecting on Canadian sacrifice during the conflict.

  9. "Those who did their duty from all around the Commonwealth" will be remembered in today's service, Rev Laurence Whitley tells Glasgow Cathedral.

  10. She is the first of a series of speakers, among them journalist Sir Trevor McDonald, who are taking part in the service.

  11. Glasgow's Lord Provost Sadie Docherty is delivering the first reading at the cathedral.

  12. Glasgow Cathedral
    Glasgow Cathedral

    Some 1,400 people are attending the service at Glasgow Cathedral.

  13. "We meet because on a summer's day like this one 100 years ago the world changed," the congregation is told, as the Glasgow service begins.

  14. A range of political and military leaders from across the Commonwealth are at the service in Glasgow.

  15. The service in Glasgow is beginning with a rendition of God Save the Queen.

  16. Prince Charles arrives at Glasgow Cathedral

    Prince Charles is among those attending the Glasgow service, which has just got under way.

  17. Trumpets sound at Glasgow Cathedral, signalling the start of the service.

  18. French President Francois Hollande at the service in Liege

    French President Francois Hollande at the service in Liege. He will present the city with the Legion D'honneur, the highest decoration in France.

  19. Prime Minister David Cameron inside Glasgow Cathedral

    Prime Minister David Cameron inside Glasgow Cathedral ready for the service.

  20. Get involved

    B Graham in Sydney, Australia, emails: It is long overdue that the appropriate credit be paid to "The Colonies" for the massive contribution made to the war effort to save Mother England, democracy and decency. The Colonies as a group are mighty tired of hearing history describe the British War Effort, in both WW1 and WW2 as if it was The Shaky Isles alone that stopped the marauding Germans. I can only speak for Australia but at a time when our population (WW1) was barely 4 million we had 413,000 volunteers, 62,000 dead and 152,000 casualties (52% percentage of our able bodied men) as our contribution to "The British War Effort". The impact these casualties had on our future and national development was staggering and I dare say the same existed for Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, India and Newfoundland amongst others.