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