> Firsts and lasts
British cemetery at Hangard Wood near AmiensThe Great War was an immense, sprawling affair over four hard years. The facts and statistics could fill many websites. Here are just a few of the more interesting of the 'firsts and lasts' of the British Army in the Great War.
 
First shots fired by the British Army against the enemy on the Western Front
At dawn on Saturday 22nd August 1914, C Squadron of the 4th Royal Irish Dragoon Guards, commanded by Major Tom Bridges, pushed out two patrols north towards Soignies, and met the Germans for the first time. They commenced a reconnaissance along the road heading out from Maisières. Four enemy cavalrymen of the 2nd Kuirassiers emerged from the direction of Casteau. They were spotted by the British, and turned around, whereupon they were pursued by the 1st Troop, under Captain Hornby, and the 4th Troop. Corporal E. Thomas of the 4th opened fire near the chateau of Ghislain, the first British soldier to do so in the Great War. He was uncertain whether he killed or wounded the German soldier that he hit. (Corp. Thomas joined the Army at the age of 14 years, and had served in the Indian Army. In 1916 he transferred into the Machine Gun Corps. He came through the war without a scratch, and was awarded the MM. Demobilising in 1923, he became the Commissionaire of a cinema in Brighton, where he died in 1939). Meanwhile, Hornby led his men in hot pursuit and charged the Germans, killing several. He returned with his sword presented, revealing German blood. There were other cavalry encounters with the enemy in the areas of La Louviere and Binche.
 
First British soldier to die on the Western Front
It is believed that L/141916 Private John Parr, 4th Bn Middlesex Regiment, was the first soldier to die on the Western Front when he was killed while on patrol on Friday 21st August 1914 near Obourg. His battalion was in the hot of the action at Mons two days later when among many acts of great bravery were two that were sufficient for an award of the Victoria Cross.
 
First Territorial Division to go overseas
'Go one better', the motto of the East LancashiresMen who joined the Army in the Territorial Force before the war were not obliged to serve overseas. However, when war broke out they were invited to do so, and the majority did. 90% of the East Lancashire Division (later to be designated 42nd) - men of the Blackburn, Bolton, Chorley and Burnley areas - signed up, and by 10th September 1914 they had mobilised, moved to Southampton, and embarked for Egypt.
 
First enemy aircraft shown down by anti-aircraft fire
On 23 September 1914, Lt O. Hogg and his gun team of No. 2 AA Section of the Royal Garrison Artillery, then with III Corps, shot down an enemy aircraft after firing 75 rounds.
 
First formal attack by the British Army on the Western Front
The 4th and 6th Divisions of Lt-Gen. Pulteney's III Corps attacked enemy positions on the Meterenbeek, near Hazebrouck on 13th October 1914.
 
First soldiers of the New Armies to come under fire
On 16th December 1914, two Companies of the 18th (Service) Bn (1st County), the Durham Light Infantry became the first troops of the New Armies to come under enemy fire, when they were manning the trenches of the Tyne and Tees defences which were shelled by the German ships Derfflinger, Von Der Tann and Blucher.
 
First exchange of prisoners of war
On 15th February 1915, 110 British and 95 German wounded POWs were released to return home, going via the Netherlands.
First underground mine fired by British forces
On 17th February 1915, the first British mine was blown at Hill 60 by RE troops of 28th Division.
 
First New Army Division to go overseas
The thistle symbol of the 9th DivisionThe 9th (Scottish) Division began to detrain at Saint-Omer on 9th May 1915, and completed concentration in France 5 days later. It was quickly followed by the 14th (Light) and 12th (Eastern) Divisions, both of which were in France before June 1915.
 
First use of observation balloon
The 1st Kite Balloon Section proceeded to Steenvoorde for work with the Second Army in the Ypres sector, on 11th May 1915.
 
First use of flamethrowers
On 30th July 1915, units of the German 126th Regiment launched an attack using flammenwerfer against the 14th (Light) Division holding front-line positions at Hooge in the Ypres salient. This attack, whilst generally expected as the British had successfully attacked and captured ground here a few days before, was launched with great secrecy and achieved great surprise. It caused large numbers of casualties to the British defenders, and pushed the enemy line forward. However, although the flamethrower remained a fearsome weapon, British infantry soon learned to deal with the slow-moving men carrying the cumbersome equipment. The British Army did not adopt the weapon.
 
First to be 'left out of battle'

When ordered to take part in the first attack in the Battle of Loos on 25th September 1915, units of the 47th (London) Division left a portion of the officers, NCOs and men behind. They would form a cadre on which the unit could be rebuilt if it suffered very heavy losses. This gradually became a standard practice for all Divisions on the Western Front.
 
First 'Chinese attacks'

142nd Brigade of the 47th (London) Division did not attack in the Battle of Loos on 25th September 1915, but stood their ground to form a defensive flank. In order to add to the confusion of the enemy, alongside a gas and smoke barrage, they erected and moved many wooden dummy soldiers. At a distance through poor visibility, the enemy were uncertain whether they were being attacked, and wasted much attention and ammunition on the dummies. Called a 'Chinese attack', this method of battlefield deception was widely adopted.

 
First use of poison gas
The German Army released gas against British troops near Ypres on 22nd April 1915, and the British retaliated at Loos on 25th September 1915. Click here for an extensive section on gas warfare.
 
First use of thermite shells
Thermite is an incendiary; thermite shells were designed to set a target ablaze, and were fired by field artillery. They were first used by the artillery of 30th Division, firing on Bernafay Wood on the Somme, on 2 July 1916.
 
First use of tanks
Tanks were first deployed as a surprise weapon in the third phase of the 1916 Battle of the Somme, which is known as the Battle of Flers-Courcelette, on 15th September 1916. Click here for an extensive section on tank warfare.
 
First supplies to troops dropped from aeroplane
On 27th March 1916, a 70-pound millstone was dropped to the besieged 6th (Poona) Division at Kut-al-Amara, in Mesopotamia. A large grain store had been discovered there, but in retreat the Turks had removed the millstones. A total of 140 aircraft sorties were flown, dropping in addition 16,000 pounds of flour, sugar, salt, mail and other supplies at Kut.
 
First ammunition supplies to front-line troops, dropped by parachute

A constant problem that held up many an advance was the difficulty in keeping the forward troops supplied with ammunition. Not only were supplies heavy and bulky, needing many men and horses to transport them, but the supply routes were under fire and often over destroyed ground where roads were impassible. A solution was tried at the Capture of Hamel on 4th July 1918.