THIS year, as readers of Yesterday Once More can hardly have failed to notice, marks the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War.

It was a war which changed the face of the world. Millions of young men died, old certainties were shattered, national boundaries were redrawn.

For the first, shocking time, man's awful power to use technology to destroy other men was demonstrated on an almost industrial scale.

It is that senseless waste of young lives that we remember perhaps most vividly today.

Almost every town and village in the country has its memorial to those who gave their lives during the course of the war. More than 1,400 young men (and two women) from York died on active service.

Their names are recorded in The King's Book of Heroes, kept in a glass case at York Minster.

But in addition to this dreadful toll of young life, there was enormous change on the home front, brought about by four years of all-out war.

Old social hierarchies were eroded; women found a new role in the factories and fields that kept the nation running while their menfolk were at the front; and working men themselves, once the war was over, began to realise the value of their labour.

Throughout 2014, we'll be returning to the theme of The Great War, as it was known at the time – especially from August onwards, which is when war was declared in Britain.

And we'll be inviting readers who have memories of fathers or grandfathers who fought during the Great War – or of mothers or grandmothers who played their part, either back at home or as nurses out at the front – to come forward with stories and pictures to share through the pages of The Press (see panel).

For now, however, to mark the fact that the 100th anniversary of the start of the war is approaching, we have a simple spread of photographs which attempt to capture some flavour of the Great War, both at home and on the western front.

We also have a short report, taken from the pages of the Yorkshire Herald, of an event that profoundly shocked York almost 100 years ago: the Zeppelin raid of May 2, 1916.
 

• Throughout this year, we are hoping to hear from local families within our circulation area in York and North and East Yorkshire who have stories about relatives – fathers or grandfathers, uncles or great uncles – who fought in the First World War.

We would like to carry as many stories as we can, so as to bring alive the memories of the great sacrifices made by our young men of a century ago.

We also want to hear stories about life on the Home Front: about the women and mothers – maybe your mother or grandmother – who suffered at home while their menfolk were away, and who brought up children, fed families, and tried to maintain some semblance of ordinary life.

If you have a story you would like to share with us, or photographs of relatives who fought or died in the Great War, phone Stephen Lewis on 01904 567263 or email stephen.lewis@thepress.co.uk