1914 Timeline of the United Kingdom home front during the First World War

an artist s impression of fleet review on 18 july 1914.

27 july 1914

winston churchill orders test mobilisation royal navy s home fleet, @ portland harbour following fleet review king george v

28 july 1914

austria-hungary declares war on serbia. russia mobilizes.

29 july 1914

the home fleet ordered wartime anchorage @ scapa flow in orkney islands.

1 august 1914

germany declares war on russia.

2 august 1914

germany invades luxembourg.

3 august 1914

germany declares war on france. belgium denies permission german forces pass through french border.


foreign secretary sir edward grey makes speech house of commons, asking parliament approve use of armed force should german navy attack coasts of france, or if germany violates belgian neutrality.


crowds outside buckingham palace cheer king george, queen mary , prince of wales (who can seen on balcony) following declaration of war on 4 august 1914.

4 august 1914

germany invades belgium outflank french army.


british government protests violation of belgian neutrality, guaranteed treaty of london; german chancellor replies treaty chiffon de papier (a scrap of paper).


the united kingdom declares war on germany.


british mobilisation: army , navy reserves called out , territorial force embodied royal proclamation.

5 august 1914

the aliens registration act 1914 introduced, compelling german immigrants in united kingdom register police , making provision deportation or internment of deemed particular risk.


a poster supporting lord kitchener s call arms , august 1914.



king , country need you: call arms published lord kitchener, new secretary of state war, calling 100,000 men enlist in army. figure achieved within 2 weeks allowing 6 new divisions formed these volunteers, called kitchener s army. december 1914, battalions can recruited specific locality, known pals battalions . march 1915, total of 41 new divisions have been raised.

6 august 1914

currency , bank notes act 1914 authorises issue of paper £1 , 10 shilling notes.

7 august 1914

the british expeditionary force arrives in france.

8 august 1914

the defence of realm act 1914 (widely known dora ) passed, imposing, censorship , security controls on civil population.

12 august 1914

the united kingdom declares war on austria-hungary.

september 1914

german businesses in britain shutting down, example münchener löwenbräu london depot.


a reference employee of german-owned business in london, explaining closing, september 1914.

november 1914

first dilution agreement between engineering employers federation , trades unions, allowing unskilled workers (including women) take on of roles reserved skilled workers.

19 november 1914

the central association of volunteer training corps recognised war office, legitimising many town guards , local defence companies have been formed illegally around country.

3 december 1914

the no conscription fellowship formed.

16 december 1914

a squadron of german battlecruisers , other warships conduct raid on scarborough, hartlepool , whitby, resulting in 137 deaths , 592 casualties, of whom civilians.




^ declarations of war around world: austria-hungary . law library of congress. july 28, 1914. retrieved may 9, 2017. 
^ declarations of war around world: germany . law library of congress. july 31, 1914. retrieved may 9, 2017. 
^ declarations of war around world: germany . law library of congress. august 3, 1914. retrieved may 9, 2017. 
^ baker, chris. sir edward grey s speech on eve of war: 3 august 1914 . www.1914-1918.net. retrieved 18 april 2015. 
^ beckett (2006) p. 216
^ baker, chris. proclamations mobilised army . www.1914-1918.net. retrieved 18 april 2015. 
^ baker, chris. soldier in kitchener s army ? . retrieved 15 august 2015. [1]
^ doyle p.24
^ beckett (2006) p. 39
^ beckett (1985) p. 15
^ beckett (2006) p. 153
^ doyle p. 25