Lights across the UK will be extinguished on Monday 4th August 2014 to mark the centenary of the first world war and commemorate the millions who fell during four years of warfare in Europe.
The “Lights Out” tribute urges people in homes, offices and public buildings to take part by turning out all lights between 10pm and 11pm, leaving on just one light or a candle to mark the exact moment the UK entered the first world war; 11pm on the 4th August 1914. The tribute is evocative of the eve-of-war remarks of the foreign secretary at the time, Edward Grey: “The lamps are going out all over Europe, we shall not see them lit again in our lifetime.”
In London, a solemn service will be held at Westminster Abbey, with lights dimmed one by one until only a single oil lamp is left burning on the tomb of the Unknown Warrior.