From the Mirror archives

August 14

Ten days after the outbreak of the First World War, we show a recruiting station at Scotland Yard in London besieged by eager young recruits. The initial call for 100,000 volunteers was far exceeded as almost half a million men rushed to join up. The crowds of volunteers were so big that mounted police were needed to keep order. Many of the men believed the war would be short and that they would be home by Christmas.