ww1 and ww2 monuments

[fitzgerald]

why would a monument in kilbirnie ayrshire have the dates
one year after the war ended

[vehelpfulguy]

I was doing some research to try to answer your question and came across this web site.

http://www.kilbirnieauldkirk.org.uk/warmemoria ls.htm

The book of remeberance shows the date of the 1st WW as 1914-1919.

Also found this web site.

http://www.worldwar-1.net/world-war-1-timeline s/world-war-1-1919/world-war-1-1919-index.htm

It says that although the fighting stopped in 1918 the Treaty of Versailles was not signed until 1919.

So maybe "legally" we were still at war even though nobody was actually fightng.

[vehelpfulguy]

In fact a search in Google for 1914-1919 finds loads of web sites where the date of the was is put as that date.

Here is another war memorial where the date is 1914-1919 so it looks like it is more common than you thought.

http://www.artandarchitecture.org.uk/images/co nway/062a26ae.html

I must admit I always think of it as 1914-1918 and never 1914-1919 but for some reasn it seems quite common to put 1919.

[paddywak]

As vehelpfulguy says although most prople think of the war finishing on the 11th november 1918, this was actually only Armistice Day when the fighting stopped. The war (in theory) was still being fought and hostilities could have resumed at any any time up till 28th June 1919 when the actual peace treaty was signed at Versailles

[colin6789]

I think that there was a shipwreck in early 1919 involving a ship bring back Scottish solders so a lot of Scottish war memorials are dated 1919, I think I have seen it in England to.

[merejeans]

In France I have occasionally seen war memorials dating to 1919, and wondered if people had either died of wounds received, or from the 'flu epedemic.

[Buenchico]

As Paddywak indicates, the date upon which a war ends can either be viewed as the date upon which hostilities cease or the date upon which a formal treaty is signed. It's the latter view which gives rise to the date of 1919 being used on monuments.

However, determining the end of a war by the date that a treaty is signed is unreliable if no formal treaty is actually signed. By that definition, Sudan and Lebanon are both still at war with Israel. North Korea is still officially at war with South Korea. And, going back to WWII, Russia is still officially at war with Japan! (There are several web references to individual towns and cities remaining at war with entire nations. For example, Berwick appears to be at war with Russia! I've no idea which conflict that refers to, but there are plenty of websites which seem to believe it).

Chris

[wonkon-wonk]

the real Q is who will erect ww3 monuments

[123everton]

Try CWGC.org and enter their details they may tell you the date and place of death and from what, you could also contact the local British Legion, he may be able to tell you more if their names are common Scottish names.

[north star]

the thought that Berwick upon Tweed is/was still at war (Crimean) with Russia is apochryphal