Hebrides  News

Contact newsdesk on:  info@hebridesnews.co.uk

Classified adverts   I   Jobs                               

 Local Services     

 

Flags were flown at half-mast in the islands today to mark the 100th anniversary of an incident which kick-started a chain of events leading to the the First World War.

Flags in Stornoway’s town centre - in the Perceval Square civic centre and along South Beach harbour front - were lowered to indicate mourning in remembrance of the centenary of the start of the conflict.

Cal Mac ferries and Stornoway Coastguards also participated the event.

United Nation’s organisation Unesco asked vessels at sea to fly flags at half-mast to commemorate mark the anniversary and for boats in harbour to give a blast on their whistles to mark the time of the first shot was fired in the war.

Unesco said: “These symbolic actions serve to call for peace and reconciliation, remember the victims that perished in the war and will remind of the need to protect the underwater cultural heritage from that period.”

On 28 June 1914 a young Serb militant, Gavrilo Princip, shot dead Archduke Franz Ferdinand - the heir to Austria-Hungary throne.

Austria, supported by Germany, soon declared war on Serbia. Russia mobilises her troops to defend Serbia. As a result Germany declares war on Russia. Belgium refuses free passage for the German military to cross her land to invade France. Germany announces it is at war with Belgium resulting in Britain’s decision to enter the conflict.

 

 

Flags lowered to mark war event                28/6/14