This is Derbyshire --Today, we begin the countdown to the centenary commemorations of the start of the First World War. The conflict devastated families across Britain, including here in Derbyshire. We set the scene for our coverage and the impending outbreak of war in the summer of 1914.
IT is hard to imagine the naivety with which men and boys rushed to sign up after Britain declared war on Germany on August 4, 1914.
Everyone reckoned the war would be over by Christmas 1914.
European tension had been simmering for years but the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria on June 28 by Serbian nationalists led to a month of diplomatic manoeuvring between Austria-Hungary, Germany, Russia, France, and Britain, which was called the July Crisis. Austria-Hungary, supported by Germany, declared war on Serbia on July 28.
In response, Russia ordered a partial mobilisation a day later, prompting Germany to do the same on July 30. Germany declared war on Russia on August 1.
Germany attacked Luxembourg on August 2 and, on August 3, declared war on France.
On August 4, after Belgium refused to permit German troops to cross its borders into France, Germany declared war on Belgium as well.
Britain responded by declaring war on Germany on the same day following an "unsatisfactory reply" to its ultimatum that Belgium must be kept neutral.
As soon as war was declared and as the Derby Daily Telegraph recorded "Britain At War with Germany: Empire Faced with A Life and Death Struggle", the recruitment posters were out. They beseeched "young unmarried men to rally around the flag", adding: "If every patriotic young man answers her call, England and her Empire will emerge stronger and more united than ever."
When war was declared, the Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derbyshire regiment) had eight battalions, which expanded to 33 during the four-year war. Nearly, 140,000 men served in the regiment and 11,409 did not return.
A total of 36 "long" trains took the regiment to Luton and then on to Harpenden for training ahead of being shipped out to France and Belgium.
On one day in mid-August, a total of 80 troop trains passed through Derby heading for the continent.
Mothers, wives and children could only stand and watch as their men trooped off to war, although many of them went on to support the war effort themselves through munitions, nursing and farming the land.
By the time it was all over, 37 million people were dead or injured worldwide.
Britain lost almost 2.5% of its population, with 750,000 dead and a further 1.6 million injured. War memorials in our towns and villages reveal the extent of the loss felt by communities.
The growth in tracing family histories means that, although there is nobody still alive who fought in the First World War, proud descendants are helping to preserve their memories and their exploits.
The Derby Telegraph will be taking up where it left off almost 100 years ago, recalling stories of daring and human interest. With your help, we want to give a voice to those who died on the fields of Flanders, France or even further afield.
Hundreds of activities and events will be taking place in the lead-up to and during the commemorations.
During the next six months, the Derby Telegraph will be covering a huge number of events marking 100 years since the outbreak of war.
Derbyshire County Council has been given £84,600 by the Heritage Lottery Fund to support groups with First World War projects. Stories collected by communities across the county as a result will be brought together in a travelling exhibition.
Councillor Ellie Wilcox, county council deputy cabinet member for health and communities, said: "The county's record office has already started digitising its First World War records and this money will help groups to run their own projects.
"We want to look at what life was like for people left behind in Derbyshire and not just those in the trenches."
At Derby Museum, where there is already a section dedicated to the area's regiment, an exhibition called Tommies, using portrayals by local artists, will run from September 7 until the end of 2014.
And a commemorative musical piece involving schoolchildren is being devised in conjunction with East Midlands orchestra Sinfonia Viva.
Plans are also in hand to lay First World War Victoria Cross paving stones in communities where VC recipients came from to coincide with the month and year in which they gained them.
Derbyshire's VC recipients were Jacob Rivers, of Derby; Charles Hudson, also of Derby; William Gregg of Heanor; Fred Greaves, of Killamarsh; and Charles Stone, of Ripley.
Nationally, £50 million has been set aside by the Government to mark the centenary. There will be a programme of cultural events, candlelit vigils and a service of commemoration attended by Commonwealth leaders.
Plans are also in hand to allow two pupils and a teacher from every state-funded secondary school to visit the war battlefields.
Culture Secretary Maria Miller said: "The Great War was really a turning point in the history of not only this country but the world.
"Given the conflict, it will not be difficult for every family across the country to be able to find their own story to tell."
A service of commemoration at Glasgow Cathedral on August 4, following the closing of the Commonwealth Games, will mark Britain's entry into the war 100 years ago.
On the same day, a ceremony will take place at St Symphorien Military Cemetery in Mons, Belgium, where the first and last Commonwealth casualties of the war are buried.
A candlelit vigil will be held at Westminster Abbey at the end of the same day, with the last candle extinguished at 11pm – the moment war was declared – echoing the words said by the then Foreign Secretary, Sir Edward Grey, "the lamps are going out all over Europe".
Anyone with family stories, pictures or artefacts from the First World War should call Zena Hawley on 01332 253053 or e-mail zhawley@derby telegraph.co.uk. Reported by This is 19 hours ago.