World War One

On the 4th of August in 1914 Britain announced war against Germany.

This all started because a Serbian assassinated Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the throne of Austria.

It was then known as 'The Great War'. This war was against two dominant groups of countries who were known as "The Triple Alliance", and "The Triple Entente". The Triple Alliance were Germany, Austria and Italy. The Triple Entente was Great Britain, France, and Russia. 

Every country that was involved in World War One organised troops and prepared to fight.
New Zealand had roughly 128,825 soldiers. Australia had about 412,954. Britain had about five million soldiers, and lost one million.
These countries were in the Triple Entente.

The Battle Of Somme was a very deadly battle during the first World War. About one million soldiers were killed during this battle.
420,000 from Britain, 200,000 from France and 500,000 from Germany.

Around about 65 million troops fought in World War One. 558,000 men fought from Scotland. 273,000 from Wales, and 143,000 from Ireland.

Animals played their part in World War One too.
Horses helped transport equipment, dogs helped find wounded soldiers, and they needed pigeons to transport messages. Many animals were also used as mascots.

The war ended at eleven a.m on the eleventh day of the eleventh month (November).
To celebrate the end of the war Jelly Babies were invented, but back then, they were known as Peace Babies.

Lest We Forget.