Sir Edward Grey writing despatches, 1914

Lantern slide, World War One (1914-1918), 1914.

Grey was British Foreign Secretary between 1905 and 1916 and played a leading role during the 'July Crisis' of 1914. His attempts to mediate between Austria-Hungary and Serbia came to nothing and he failed to convince the Germans that Britain would safeguard Belgium's independence should they attack that country.

Despite his endeavours for peace, the British declared war on Germany on 3 August 1914. That night as he stood at a window in the Foreign Office, watching the lamps being lit, he famously remarked: 'The lamps are going out all over Europe. We shall not see them lit again in our time'.

From a box of 69 lantern slides associated with the causes of World War One, 1914-1918.