4th August 1914 On this day: Shot fired on the Mersey   The first shot by the British in the Great War was fired one of the guns of Fort Perch Rock on the Mersey, as a warning across the bow of a Norwegian vessel which ignored a signal to halt, just 30 minutes after war had been declared. Earthquake in Jamaica   A severe earthquake was felt across the colony of Jamaica, particularly on the north side and the eastern end of the island. Considerable damage reported in Port Antonio, but no lives have been lost.  Mobilisation  Mobilization British Army Mobilises   Across Britain the trains, towns and cities were filled with soldiers and officers in khaki as they were recalled to their units after the Bank Holiday Weekend. The Territorial Forces, who had set out for their annual summer camps, were ordered home to take up their war stations. Homefires Burning - Gavin Roynon 1st Royal Scots in Gosport   1st Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers were based in Gosport as part of 9th Brigade, 3rd Division when war broke out in 1914. 40th Brigade RFA mobilise   40th Brigade Royal Field Artillery were at Bulford Camp and at once began to mobilise for war. 1st Royal Fusiliers mobilized   1st Royal Fusiliers at the barracks at Kinsale, Ireland received the order to mobilize at 6pm. www.creasey.name Berkshire Regiment at Aldershot   1st Battalion Berkshire Regiment were at Aldershot when war broke out in 1914. At 5.30pm Orders were received to mobilize 2nd Royal Irish Regiment at Devonport   2nd Battalion the Royal Irish Regiment were in Devonport, as part of 8th Brigade, 3rd Division when war broke out in August 1914. 5th Durhams deployed to Hartlepool and South Gare   The territorials of the 5th Battalion Durham Light Infantry are deployed to Hartlepool and South Gare to dig coastal trenches to defend the mouth of the River Tees. 11th DLI Martin Bashforth 2nd West Riding Brigade leave Marske   The 2nd West Riding Brigade are at their annual camp near Marske on the North Yorkshire Coast, they broke camp this morning. 3000 territorials of the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th Battalions, Duke of Wellington's West Riding Regiment marched to Saltburn station and entrained on specially commissioned rolling stock, for their home bases. 11th DLI Martin Bashforth West Yorkshire Territorials march into Scarborough   The Territorials of the West Riding Brigade, 5th, 7th and 8th Battalions West Yorkshire Regiment broke camp near Scarborough and marched to Scarborough railway station to entrain for the journey home. Anti War Meeting in Darlington   A crowd of over 1000 protestors gathered in the Market Place at Darlington to attend a meeting called by Darlington Trades Council to urge the British Government to remain neutral, W.G. Loraine of the National Union of Railwaymen lead the speeches. 11th DLI Martin Bashforth Poplar and Stepney Rifles return from Salisbury Plain   17th (Poplar and Stepney Rifles) Battalion, The London Regiment. It was a Territorial unit and had its headquarters at 66 Tredegar Road, Bow, when war broke out in August 1914. It was part of 5th London Brigade, 2nd London Division (later the 47th Division). The Division had just arrived for their annual summer camp on Salisbury Plain when war was declared in August 1914 and they were at once recalled to their home base and mobilised for war service. 5th Welsh return from Portmadoc   The 5th Batalion, Welsh Regiment were at Portmadoc for their annual camp when war was declared, they at once returned to man their war station at Fort Scoveston.  Battleships in Pursuit    2nd Battalion West Yorkshire Regiment were in Malta when war was declared in August 1914. 59th Field Coy RE to mobilize   4th Aug. 1914, 5.30pm Ireland. Telegram 'Mobilize' received by 59th Field Company Royal Engineers On the Move   At the outbreak of war 4 Squadron moved to Eastchurch and undertook naval and anti-Zeppelin patrols. No 4 Squadron had been created from No 2 Flight, No 2 Squadron at Farnborough on 16th Sep 1912 and moved to Netheravon in 1913. A great part of the initial work was experimental, and the specific challenge to No. 4 Squadron was to develop the art of night flying. During this time tentative trials were also carried out with wireless sets for artillery co-operation. The success of these trials led to the creation of a separate Wireless Flight to develop the system further.  Mobilisation Order  All ready. Mobilise   At 4.00 p.m. on 4th of August 1914, the War Office began the process of mobilising the Regular Army and to recall regular reservists to the colours. A telegram, containing one word "Mobilise" was despatched to all commands and garrisons. At Aldershot, the signal came from the Headquarters of Aldershot Command at Stanhope Lines at 6.30 p.m. A soldier came out from the side entrance of the Headquarters Office and hoisted three large black balls on the flagstaff on the lawn outside the building. Around the country, telegrams and policemen notified regular reservists that they were to report to their old regiments.  Guiseley Territorials Mobilise  Mobilisation  Battery Ready for Service  Orders to Mobilise  In France  Mobilisation  Orders  Orders  Order Received  Mobilisation  Orders  Orders  Mobilisation  Telegram  Orders  Orders Received  Orders Received  Orders Received  Location  Orders  Mobilization  Mobilisation Orders  Mobilisation  Order to Mobilise.  Orders Received  Mobilisation  Mobilisation  Mobilisation  Mobilisation  Mobilisation  Orders  War Station  Mobilisation  Mobilisation  Mobilisation  Mobilisation Gloucestershire Hussars mobilise   The Order to mobilise the Gloucestershire Hussars was given at 7pm on August 4th 1914. They joined the 1st South Midland Brigade with the Warwickshire and Worcestershire Yeomanry, based Newbury Racecourse. The Brigade then moved to the east coast of England in case of a German invasion. In September a second Regiment of the R.G.H. was raised, and later a third. Can you add to this factual information? Do you know the whereabouts of a unit on a particular day? Do you have a copy of an official war diary entry? Details of an an incident? The loss of a ship? A letter, postcard, photo or any other interesting snipts? If your information relates only to an individual, eg. enlistment, award of a medal or death, please use this form: Add a story.

Killed, Wounded, Missing, Prisoner and Patient Reports published this day. This section is under construction.

Want to know more about 4th of August 1914? There are:60 items tagged 4th of August 1914 available in our Library   These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Great War.

Remembering those who died this day, 4th of August 1914. Engineer Ali Ahmad. Read their Story. Lascar Amanat Ali. Read their Story. Tindal Amrullah Jani Ali. Read their Story. Stoker Abdul Aziz. Read their Story. Lascar Abdul Baba. Read their Story. Seacunny Abdul Ghani. Read their Story. Lascar Abdul Ghani. Read their Story. Stoker Abdul Hakim. Read their Story. Serang Almeida Joaquim. Read their Story. Serang Abdul Husain Karim. Read their Story. Stoker Abdul Majid. Read their Story. Serang Ahmad Muhammad. Read their Story. Serang Abdur Rahman. Read their Story. Add a name to this list.

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