World War One centenary: As it happened

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

Get involvedpublished at 08:04 British Summer Time 4 August 2014
Image source, Monica Wilde
Monika Wilde in West Lothian, Scotland emails: Attached is a picture of the identity card of my amazing, inspirational grandmother Enid Grove. As a young woman of 23, she joined the French Red Cross as a nurse, and nursed the wounded for the rest of the First World War and beyond, going on to nurse in Cologne, Macedonia and Algiers.
Get involvedpublished at 08:03 British Summer Time 4 August 2014
Robert Carver in Brentwood, Essex, England emails: When my grandfather Andrew Kervin, was 16, he lied about his age to join the army because he wanted to be with his dad Peter and his older brothers. When he got to France, he did meet up with his dad, however his dad told the authorities his son was underage and he was sent home. Peter was subsequently badly injured by a bomb and sent home, however he died soon afterwards because of his injuries. Thereafter Andrew told his mother he was ''popping out to buy a newspaper'' and went to join the Seaforth Highlanders regiment.
Postpublished at 07:58 British Summer Time 4 August 2014
Image source, Getty Images
Wild poppies grow on the verge of a Flanders field near Tyne Cot Military Cemetery, as dawn breaks on the centenary of World War One.
Postpublished at 07:58 British Summer Time 4 August 2014
As part of the commemorations, we want to share your memories, pictures and stories about WW1 across the BBC. Did you have family who were involved? Will you be visiting a place of remembrance? Get in touch by emailing us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using the subject line "WW1". You can also contribute via Twitter @bbcww1, external and Facebook, external. Post images, videos and tweets using #Remember
Postpublished at 07:56 British Summer Time 4 August 2014
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
Poppies outside Tower of London
At the Tower of London, 888,246 ceramic poppies are being placed in the dry moat, one for each soldier who died fighting for Britain and its colonies in WW1., external The installation is by artist Paul Cummins and is entitled Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red.
Postpublished at 07:50 British Summer Time 4 August 2014
News from 1914
The world on the brink of war
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
The centre of Glasgow a hundred years ago
Glasgow in WW1
In World War One Glasgow's Clydeside shipyards were the largest provider of ships to the Royal Navy. 481 boats were built in Clydeside. The shipyard also produced vast amounts of armaments and provided 90% of the armour plating for army tanks and vehicles.
The Clydeside workforce joined the armed forces in high numbers. In the first week of the war alone, the city of Glasgow recruited 22,000 men for the army. In all 200,000 men from the city went to war.
Postpublished at 07:50 British Summer Time 4 August 2014
Political leaders and members of European royal families will shortly gather in the city of Liege, which is the focus of one of the main commemoration events. The King and Queen of Belgium are due to arrive in around an hour.
Postpublished at 07:46 British Summer Time 4 August 2014
Peter Hunt
Royal correspondent, BBC News
says the royals, more used to marking the end of a conflict rather than the start, will attend many of the events. The Prince of Wales and prime minister will be in Glasgow for a national service of commemoration, while the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will join world leaders for events in Belgium.
Postpublished at 07:35 British Summer Time 4 August 2014
Image source, The Sun
The conflict is covered in detail in this morning's UK newspapers. The Sun's front page quotes Laurence Binyon's famous poem The Fallen: "At the going down of the sun, we will remember them."
Postpublished at 07:31 British Summer Time 4 August 2014
News from 1914
The world on the brink of war
"The position in Europe is one of breathless anticipation of the beginning of hostilities on a large scale. France and Russia await with evident anxiety the decision of Great Britain as to her attitude towards the crisis." The Times, 4 August 1914
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
Crowds gather outside the House of Commons
Britain on the brink of war
Europe was at war. As German troops advanced into Belgium, Britain decided to send an ultimatum to Berlin. Germany must stand down their troops or face war. The deadline was 11pm GMT.
As Britain held its breath, a crowd gathered outside 10 Downing Street. If Germany refused Britain's terms this European war would turn into a global conflict.
Postpublished at 07:29 British Summer Time 4 August 2014
Throughout the day we'll be reminding you of the events of 100 years ago. These entries will be tagged with News from 1914.
Postpublished at 07:27 British Summer Time 4 August 2014
Peter Hunt
Royal correspondent, BBC News
Image source, PA
in his analysis for the BBC News Website, says WW1 was the "most destructive war that had ever been fought". "One hundred years on, a consensus among historians and politicians as to why it broke out remains elusive," says our correspondent.
Postpublished at 07:19 British Summer Time 4 August 2014
Mr Cameron went on: "It is right to remember the extraordinary sacrifice of a generation and we are all indebted to them because their most enduring legacy is our liberty."
Postpublished at 07:18 British Summer Time 4 August 2014
UK Prime Minister David Cameron said today's events were to "honour those who served, to remember those who died, and to ensure that the lessons learnt live with us forever".
Postpublished at 07:17 British Summer Time 4 August 2014
Image source, Getty Images
Between 22:00 and 23:00, people across the UK are being encouraged to turn their lights out, apart from a single candle or light. The event is inspired by the words of wartime Foreign Secretary Sir Edward Grey, who said on the eve of war: "The lamps are going out all over Europe; we shall not see them lit again in our life-time."
Postpublished at 07:08 British Summer Time 4 August 2014
Later, a reconciliation ceremony will take place in Mons in Belgium and Prince Harry will unveil a memorial arch in Folkestone.
Postpublished at 07:06 British Summer Time 4 August 2014
Image source, EPA
Events were also held over the weekend. On Sunday, French President Francois Hollande and his German counterpart Joachim Gauck paid tribute to troops who fell during the conflict. Germany declared war on France on 3 August 1914.
Postpublished at 07:03 British Summer Time 4 August 2014
From 10:00, Commonwealth leaders, including UK Prime Minister David Cameron and the Prince of Wales, will attend a service at Glasgow Cathedral.
Postpublished at 07:02 British Summer Time 4 August 2014
The day's events begin in Liege, Belgium, where 50 heads of state will gather shortly for a service to mark the invasion of Belgium. The Duke of Cambridge will deliver a speech on behalf of the British Royal Family.
Postpublished at 07:01 British Summer Time 4 August 2014
It was at 23:00 on 4 August 1914 that Britain entered into one of the costliest conflicts in history, and the fighting continued until 11 November 1918.