This August officially marks 100 years since the outbreak of the First World War.

The general belief when Britain excitedly marched off to war on August 4, 1914 was that the troops would be home for Christmas. But over the next four years of bloody battle 16 million people lost their lives in what was to become one of history's deadliest conflicts.

In the coming weeks and months, commemorations will be held to mark the centenary, along with other activities. Here are some of the events being held near you to commemorate a war which changed Britain, Europe and the world we live in.

Ealing:

  • A commemorative service at St Mary's Church , St Mary's Road in Ealing on August 3 at 10.30am will give young and old a chance to reflect on the events of 100 years ago. The following day (Aug 4) the church will open between 9am and midday and 7pm and 9pm for prayer and lighting of candles to mark the exact date Britain entered the conflict.
  • A commemorative concert by Ealing Choral Society will will feature World War One related poetry and prose as well as works by Elgar (The Spirit of England: For the Fallen) and Vaughan (The Lark Ascending). Its St Barnabus Church, Pitshanger Lane, Ealing, W5 1QG, on November 8, 7.45pm. Cost Adults £17 (concessions £15) Under 16s £3.
  • We Will Remember Them is a special service at St Barnabus Church , Pitshanger Lane, Ealing, W5 1QG on August 3, 10.30am. Cost: Free. During the family service, the refurbished war memorial will be re-dedicated in memory of the men and women who have given their lives for others in all wars.
  • A look at the impact of World War One, seen through the eyes of those who were there with readings of diaries and journals. It will culminate with the watching of the classic anti-war film All Quiet on the Western Front. It's at St Barnabus Church, Pitshanger Lane, Ealing, W5 1QG, Aug 4, 7pm. Free

  • Northolt and World War 1 is a free commemorative event at Manor Farm Library on Tuesday 5 August 2014, 2pm to 4pm, with Sgt Bristow from RAF Northolt. Price: Free

Hammersmith & Fulham:

  • Playing the Game is part of a project looking at how World War One impacted London. It includes walks from various venues telling local stories from the period. Discover war memorials, Zeppelin raids and hear stories of bravery and heroism. It's at Fulham Library, Fulham Road SW6 5NX on September 23, 2pm (approx 2hrs). Booking at Fulham Library advisable.
  • Kids novel The Best Christmas Present in the World explores the story of the Christmas truce held on the Western Front in 1914. The book will take centre-stage in a series of hands-on learning sessions in association with the City of Westminster Archives. In addition, a World War One interpreter will demonstrate the kit soldiers wore at the time and encourage young attendees to get involved. It's at Fulham, Chelsea, Pimlico, Paddington Libraries and is free. Various dates.

A series of monthly talks are being held at libraries in Fulham and Hammersmith to commemorate the centenary of the war.

  • The Poetry is in the Pity – The poetry and art of WW1. Hammersmith Library, Shepherd's Bush Road, Hammersmith. Free. August 19, 6.30-7.30pm
  • It'll All Be Over By Christmas! - A brief history of the First World War in pictures and poetry. Fulham Library, 598 Fulham Road, Fulham. Free. September 10, 6.30-7.30pm
  • Africa's Great War – An illustrated look at the First World War in Africa. Shepherd's Bush Library, 6 Wood Lane, Shepherd's Bush. Free. October 16, 6.30-7.30pm.
  • It's a Long Way to Tipperary – An illustrated look at the lighter side of the Great War. Askew Road Library, Askew Road, Shepherd's Bush. Free. November 18, 6.30-7.30pm.
  • Christmas in the Trenches – How British servicemen and civilians in Blighty celebrated Christmas during WW1. Illustrated with slides of contemporary cards. Hammersmith Library, Shepherd's Bush Road, Hammersmith. Free.

Harrow:

  • HARROW: Join a First World War Centenary Service - organised by the Harrow Deanery of the Church of England - at St John’s The Baptist in Sheepcote Road between 6pm and 7pm this coming Sunday.
  • HARROW ON THE HILL: To commemorate the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War on Monday, the tenor bell of St Mary’s Church in Church Hill will toll at noon 96 times, one strike for each of the fallen whose names are recorded on the church’s First World War Roll of Honour.
  • PINNER: The Pinner Association of Churches is holding a First World War commemoration service at Pinner Parish Church in Church Lane at 8pm on Monday for hymns, scriptural and non- scriptural readings, silence and thought.
  • More WW1 events in Harrow and Brent are here.

Hillingdon:

  • St John’s Church in Royal Lane, Hillingdon, is holding a candlelit vigil from 10pm-11pm on August 4 with readings, poetry and music. All are welcome
  • Eastcote Royal British Legion are joining the national British Legion’s Lights Out on August 4. It asks residents to join a candlelit vigil at Eastcote War Memorial from 10.50pm - 11.10pm in remembrance of those who lost their lives fighting in the First World War on the 100-year anniversary of its outbreak.
  • University students have created a short film inspired by this year’s World War I anniversary. The film will premiere in Leicester Square on the 25th October and the first screening of the film sold out within two hours. This crowd-funded project was filmed in iconic WWI locations across Europe, including a 60ft trench constructed by historian Andrew Robertshaw. Here's more about it .

Between July and December, Hillingdon Libraries will be running a series of events to commemorate the centenary of the start of World War 1. These events are intended to help local people learn about the contribution their area or their family has made to the First World War and to commemorate the sacrifices of those who took part.

  • ‘Home fires and foreign fields’ - an exhibition at Uxbridge Library, 4 August to 31 December showing the effects of the war on the people at home and the soldiers abroad. Many items on display have been lent by local people and show how the war is still remembered by family members.
  • The Last Post at Northwood Library - Throughout July. The British Postal Museum and Archive display.
  • Harefield Village History day. Date: Saturday 2 August 2014, 9am to 5pm at Harefield library. Bring in items to do with World War 1. Refreshments available. Price: Free

Hounslow:

  • A World War One memorial will be unveiled in Hounslow Town Centre. The granite obelisk has been funded by the council in front of the semi-circle stone steps which serve as a makeshift memorial. It will be unveiled by Victoria Cross holder Johnson Beharry outside Holy Trinity Church, Hounslow high Street, August 2, 3pm.
  • A service will honour the 166 men from Heston who never returned from the battlefields. Each name of those who died will be read out during the service, which will also encourage war poetry. It takes place at Heston Centenary Service, St Leonard's Church, Heston Road on August 3, 3.30pm.
  • A First World War exhibition and display which will be looking at fascinating war stories from the Hounslow borough. It will be at the Civic Centre, Lampton Road, Hounslow, on August 4, 3.30pm. Admission is free.
  • A service organised by the Royal British Legion and Parish of Brentford service will take place to commemorate the start of The Great War. It's at the grounds of Brentford Library on August 10, 11am.

Kensington & Chelsea:

  • A multimedia performance tells the story of a violin that took 100 years to build. It was being made by a man who was conscripted in 1915 and died in battle two years later. The parts were passed to his daughter and upon her death sent to auction, where it was purchased and finally completed in 2007. Made in The Great War will see the violin's new owner, Sam Sweeney, perform the show with the actual fiddle made by a man who went top war and never returned. It's at Britten Theatre, Royal College of Music on September 12, 7.30pm. Cost: £15
  • In 1916 the Chelsea Physic Garden allowed patients from military hospitals to visit the garden. This year, it is inviting Chelsea Pensioners and their families back. The gardens remain open to the general public as normal for an entrance fee. Go to the Chelsea Physic Garden, 66 Royal Hospital Road, SW3 4HS on October 6. Cost: Adults £9.90, students, unemployed and children aged 5-15 £6.60.

Westminster:

  • Among the social changes bought by the First World War was the vote for women, which was finally granted (to a limited degree) in 1918. The Suffragettes and the Women's War guided walk looks at the how war impacted on a very different battle raging at home. It sets off from Westminster Tube Station on August 7, 2pm and costs £10 (concessions available) and lasts approx 1.5hrs.
  • The Great War Walk offers a fascinating blend of history, story-telling and sight-seeing through Whitehall. A Blue Badge guide will outline causes behind the war and take walkers to some of the buildings that played an historic role, while describing some of the key characters involved such as Winston Churchill and David Lloyd George. It leaves from Embankment Station (riverside exit) on August 3, 11am (approx three hrs). Cost is £12 / £10 (concessions available).

The First World War and a long-standing impact on our society and the world we live in today. Here's three things that came about because of the war.

1) Votes for Women – The fight for the female vote had been raging long before World War One. But as men went off to fight in the European theatre the fight for the female vote was largely put on hold as women entered the workforce. Women deemed 'respectable' and over 30 were given the vote in 1918.

2) British Summer Time – This was first established by the Summer Time Act 1916 to maximise the working hours in the day, particularly in agriculture, and to minimise use of artificial lighting and fuel during the war effort.

3) Licensing Laws – Fears that Britain's war production efforts were being hampered by drunkenness resulted in the restriction of pub opening hours and the watering down of beer.