World War 1 1914–1918 — Somme, Battles, Trenches & Western Front
Road to war, battles, commanders, air and naval power, remembrance and the changing methods of industrial warfare.
World War 1 — 1914 to 1918
The First World War began in 1914 and the fighting on the Western Front ended with the Armistice on 11 November 1918. This hub connects the political road to war with the Western Front, the Somme, Vimy Ridge, Cambrai, Amiens, air and sea power, medals and remembrance.
Start with the campaign: First World War 1914–1918: Complete Western Front Campaign Guide. For the site's largest battle study, go directly to the Battle of the Somme 1916 complete field guide.
World War 1 medals & service research
If you are tracing a serviceman, medal group or family story, start with World War 1 Medals: British Campaign Medals, Stars & How to Trace Them →. It covers the 1914 Star, 1914–15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal, Territorial Force War Medal and the medal-index-card route into unit war diaries.
Battle of the Somme: quick-answer route
If you are looking for when and where the Somme was fought, who won, and what the offensive actually achieved, start with Battle of the Somme 1916: When, Where, Who Won & What It Achieved →. From there, continue into the full battlefield guide.
World War 1: start here
- Why World War 1 began — Sarajevo and the July Crisis
- Western Front 1914–1918 — complete campaign guide
- World War 1 medals — campaign medals, stars & tracing service
- Battle of the Somme — when, where, who won & why it mattered
- Battle of the Somme 1916 — ground, order of battle & timeline
Major battles
Technology, air and sea power
Remembrance
Flanders, Poppies & Remembrance 1914–1928 →
When is Remembrance Day 2026? →
Explore the Gallus World War 1 collection →
Before industrialised warfare
If your research takes you back before 1914, continue on our companion site Iron Regiment, covering the ancient world through Waterloo, with its own research-led Regimental Record →.
