Balloon release at the Reims War Memorial in the Place de la République.
Date
28 July – 4 August 2014 (2014-07-28 – 2014-08-04)
The centenary of the outbreak of World War I occurred in the summer of 2014, with events in several European and Commonwealth countries. It marked the beginning of a wider four year centenary period commemorating the war.
On 3 August 2014, the centenary of Germany's declaration of war on France was marked by French PresidentFrançois Hollande and German PresidentJoachim Gauck, who together laid the first stone of a new joint memorial at Hartmannswillerkopf for French and German soldiers killed in the war. Over 30,000 soldiers from both sides died in the fighting here at the Battle of Hartmannswillerkopf. The site, in the Vosges mountains of Alsace in France, is the location of a cemetery and a crypt containing the ashes of 12,000 unknown soldiers. The presidents observed a minute's silence in the crypt.[1]
Other tributes were also held in Halifax, where lights were shut off at major landmarks, and an ecumenical service at the Basilica of St. John the Baptist in St. John's.[2] The event was also commemorated in Toronto in an event organised by the tourism office for Flanders, where a group of men in newsboy costumes distributed fictitious historical newspaper describing the major events of the war.[3] The centenary of the war was also the theme of the 93rd annual Warrior's Day Parade, held on 10 August at Toronto's Canadian National Exhibition.[4]
Allied memorial at Liège
On the morning of 4 August 2014, leaders and representatives of 83 countries gathered at the Interallied Memorial of Cointe on the outskirts of Liège to commemorate the invasion of Belgium by Germany and the Battle of Liège.[5] Representing Belgium were Philippe, King of the Belgians and Queen Mathilde, together with the Presidents of France and Germany, François Hollande and Joachim Gauck. Representatives were present from the United Kingdom, the United States, Spain, Italy, Ireland, Serbia, Romania and the European Commission. Speeches were given by King Philippe, Hollande, Gauck, and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge. The commemoration culminated in the laying of a wreath of white roses at the memorial by King Philippe.[5]
Saint Symphorien cemetery
On the evening of 4 August 2014, a commemorative event was held at St Symphorien cemetery in Belgium.[6] Originally built by the Germans during the war, and containing both German and British graves, this cemetery is now maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. The commemorative event here marked the losses at the Battle of Mons. Those attending the event and ceremony included King Philippe and Queen Mathilde representing Belgium. Representing the United Kingdom were Prince William, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry. Politicians present included German President Joachim Gauck, Belgian Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo, and British Prime Minister David Cameron. Also present was Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury. The event was broadcast on television by the British Broadcasting Corporation, with narration by historian Dan Snow, accompanied with readings, music and poetry about the history of the war.[6] Wreath-laying and a silence was followed by the playing of The Last Post.
Between 5 August (the centenary of the first full day of the war) and 11 November (Remembrance Day) 2014 at the Tower of London, a ceramic poppy was planted for each British and Commonwealth soldier who died, making up the artwork titled Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red.[9]
