5892871 Striking for war, Big Ben struck 11pm on the 4th August 1914, (photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Britain declared war on Germany on 4 August 1914. The declaration was a result of German refusal to remove troops from neutral Belgium. ... It was 11 o\'clock at night ??12 by German time ??when the ultimatum expired;); Prismatic Pictures ; English, out of copyright.