1918 Timeline of the United Kingdom home front during the First World War

a recruit women s royal naval service learning parts of rifle royal marine @ crystal palace depot.

january 1918

women s royal naval service established.

1 january 1918

food rationing on items introduced in birmingham, followed other major towns , cities.

5 january 1918

lloyd george makes war aims speech trades union leaders, setting out government s terms peace central powers.

16 february 1918

first 1,000 kilogram (2,205 pound) bomb dropped on london during twelfth night bomber raid.

25 february 1918

start of rationing of meat , fats in london , home counties.

1 april 1918

women s royal air force established.

18 april 1918

military service (no. 2) act 1918 extends conscription age 50 , residents of ireland; although latter never implemented because of conscription crisis.


a mother , son view remains of home after air raid in london.

19 may 1918

the whitsun raid largest , last of 17 bomber aeroplane raids on london; 49 civilians killed in london , essex. total number of civilian casualties air raids since 1915 within london s metropolitan police district 668 killed , 1,938 injured.

10 june 1918

representation of people act 1918 gives vote women on 30.

31 august 1918

metropolitan police go on strike.

28 october 1918

peak mortality of spanish flu pandemic in uk.

11 november 1918

lloyd george announces armistice has been signed , hostilities cease @ 11 am. church bells rung , royal family appear on balcony of buckingham palace before cheering crowds.


crowds outside buckingham palace on armistice day, 11 november 1918.