Today 109 years ago, on August 4, 1914, the United Kingdom declared war on Germany following the German invasion of Belgium on the same day.
At 8:02 AM on August 4, 1914, the first German troops began crossing the Belgian border on their way to France, thereby breaching Belgian neutrality.
In 1839, the the United Kingdom had ratified and signed the Treaty of London, serving to recognise and guarantee the independence and neutrality of Belgium in case of invasion. The German invasion on August 4, 1914 was a plain breach of this treaty, which Britain would use as their gateway to declare war on Germany and enter the First World War.
At 2 PM on August 4, British Foreign Secretary Sir Edward Grey sent a British ultimatum to Germany by telegraph demanding that Germany respect the neutrality of Belgium and pull out her troops, with a German reply required before 11 PM.
By 10:45 PM, no German response had been received, and British King George V prepared to declare war. He commented: "It is a terrible catastrophe, but it is not our fault."
At 11:05 PM, the German Embassy in London received the British declaration of war, and the United Kingdom had thus entered the First World War. British Foreign Secretary Sir Edward Grey famously remarked on August 3: "The lamps are going out all over Europe, we shall not see the lit again in our lifetime."
First Sea Lord of the Admiralty Winston Churchill later wrote: "It was 11 at night - 12 by German time - when the ultimatum expired. Along the Mall from the direction of the Palace, the sound of an immense concourse singing "God save the King" floated in. On this deep wave there broke the chimes of Big Ben; and, as the first stroke of the hour boomed out, a rustle of movement swept across the room.
The war telegram, which meant "Commence hostilities against Germany," was flashed to the ships and establishments under the White Ensign all over the world."

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