Why does the war memorial where I live refer to 1914-19 for the Great War?

The “Great War” is commonly, but incorrectly, said to have ended on November 11, 1918. That is the date on which “the guns fell silent” — but all that had been agreed at that point was an armistice. Britain and its allies continued to be technically “at war” with the Central Powers, and there was at least a theoretical possibility that hostilities could be resumed were the peace talks to founder.

The Suffolk war memorials probably refer to the Great War ending in 1919 because that was when Treaty of Versailles was signed with Germany. However, Germany was not the only nation at war with Britain and her allies, and it took a total of five treaties to conclude terms with all of them: the treaties of Versailles (June 28, 1919, agreeing terms with Germany); of Saint Germain (September 10, 1919, agreeing terms with Austria); of Neuilly (November 27, 1919, agreeing terms with Bulgaria); of Trianon (June 4, 1920, agreeing terms with Hungary); and of Sèvres (August 10, 1920, agreeing terms with the Turkish Empire).

Even after these treaties the formal state of war continued to exist until ended by an Order in Council in 1921. It is therefore possible to make a case for any one of the years 1918, 1919, 1920 and 1921 as the final year of the Great War.

— Jeremy Burrows, Bedford

Why, on watch and clock faces with roman numerals, is the number 4 represented as IIII, and not IV as would be expected?

Simply because of habit and symmetry. It is a convention in the trade for the IIII design to be chosen, particularly on watches. This is because the IIII balances the VIII. King Charles V of France in 1364 insisted on the use of the IIII against the wisdom of Henry De Vick who recommended the IV. The King is said to have been dyslexic.

In the 17th century notably the “Knibb” design of the “Roman Striking” mechanism came in. This reintroduced the IV design to signify the use of a large bell for “five” and a small bell for “one”. The one before the five signified four. In practice this extended the life of the mechanism as the amount of physical activity was reduced from 156 to 60 movements per 24 hours.

— John Preston, South Croydon, Surrey

Are there any U-boats still in existence? If so, where are they?

Another U-boat in existence is the prototype of the German type IIA at Suomenlinna, an island off Helsinki, Finland. Designed by a Dutch company, and built at Turku, Finland, in 1933, and tested by the German Navy in 1934-35, the profile and details seem very similar to all subsequent U-boat designs. The boat was taken into the Finnish Navy in 1936 as the Vesikko, and served in the Winter and Continuation Wars 1939-44.

— Gifford Mann, Berwick upon Tweed

How did the Kyrie Eleison (which is of Greek origin) find its way into the Roman Catholic mass? Was there no Latin equivalent?

— Peter Clements, Bristol

Who was the Larry in the expression “as happy as Larry” and what was he so happy about?

— Anton Krause, London

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