The first world war, or as it became known, the Great War, spanned four years and three months from 1914 to 1918. Britain, supported by her commonwealth and empire which included Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and her allies consisting of France and Russia, fought against Germany, Austro-Hungary and Turkey. Towards the end of the war many other countries were involved, including the USA, Japan and Italy.

The Great War had resulted over the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand - heir to the Austro-Hungarian empire - in the Bosnian capital of Sarajevo on 28th June 1914. The result of one man's death was to conclude, 4 years later, with the death of millions of soldiers and civilians. Germany used the Duke's death as a reason to implement the Schlieffen plan and attack France. Britain mobilised to help defend France.