King's Own Royal Regiment Museum

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Lancaster and The King's Own go to War.

Generously supported by the Sir John Fisher Foundation.

The First Days of the War
The First World War was a result of growing tensions and mistrust between European nations, not least because of the emerging strength of Germany. The spark that ignited the war was the assassination, by a Bosnian-Serb Nationalist, of the Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife whilst visiting Sarajevo in Serbia on 28th June 1914.

On Tuesday 4th August 1914, Britain declared war on Germany when the neutrality of Belgium, guaranteed by the 1839 Treaty of London was violated. Britain probably acted to prevent the port of Antwerp falling under German control rather than the treaty breach.

With no radio or television, it was the newspapers of 5th August that broke the news of the war. In rural areas, notices appeared on public buildings and at railway stations. Rather than welcome the outbreak of war with great flag-waving enthusiasm, people simply gathered together in order to learn the news.

In Lancaster….

The Lancaster Guardian of 8th August 1914 reported on the start of the war:


Lancaster, as a military centre, has naturally shared to the fullest extent in the gravity of the situation caused by the great European War. Throughout the week-end the feeling of suspense was almost painful in its intensity. The hope was freely expressed that England would be able to maintain strict neutrality, but fears were then entertained that acts of aggression on the part of Germany would render interference imperatively necessary, and it was felt we were under the shadow of a great calamity the ultimate outcome of which it was impossible to foretell. At most of the places of worship on Sunday special prayers of intercession for Peace were offered; and on Monday, though holiday jaunts already arranged were not abandoned, there was little of the real holiday spirit abroad. Everywhere the dismal prospect of a sanguinary and probably prolonged struggle were eagerly discussed, and most people were going about with face which if not exactly lugubrious and mournful, were rendered more grave than usual by a sense of impending tragedy.

The period of suspense practically came to an end on Tuesday when the preliminaries to actual mobilisation convinced everyone that England would inevitably be drawn into the fray, though the tidings of the declaration of war did not become generally known until the following morning. Naturally there was a good deal of excitement, but there was no “mafficking” and few outward demonstrations of enthusiasm. There was no lack of patriotism, but the whole business had been brought about too suddenly and developed such huge proportions in a very brief space of time as to almost stagger people who under other circumstances would probably be most demonstrative. The chief feeling was one of amazement at the aggressions of Germany, and although groups of people were to be found in every part of the town discussing the situation, there were no shouting and cheering crowds thronging the streets, which in this respect bore a marked contrast to the scenes they presented during the period of mobilisation for the Boer war.


The Colours of the 5th Battalion, King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment being deposited at Lancaster Parish Church, 5th August 1914, laid up for the duration of the war. Colours had not been taken on active service since 1881.
Accession Number: KO1812/01

1st Battalion in Dover

In Dover the 1st Battalion of the King’s Own was mobilised, the Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Dykes, gave the order a full day before the official order was received.

Lieutenant Colonel Dykes, commanding officer of the 1st Battalion wrote to his mother on 5th August whilst his battalion got ready for war.

“I was fully convinced that unless we, as a nation, were to sacrifice our honour, we were bound to go to war. First, in accordance with our most solemn obligations to France and Belgium. Secondly, to preserve our existence as a Nation and an Empire. Consequently without waiting for orders, I got to work at once on the great work of mobilisation, last Monday morning. I am now thankful; for though we are terribly busy, a great deal was done before the order arrived yesterday at 5 o’clock. We are now more than a day ahead of our programme and have saved a great deal of rush. ….we are awaiting the arrival of reservists, who will be pouring in tomorrow and subsequent days. My battalion will then be 31 officers and 1037 other ranks.
One thing only I do ask you and that is to accept the news and whatever comes of it, with the calm strength and bravery which you have always shown in times of stress. We are all happy and full of confidence and I think that rarely never did war begin in a more thoroughly just cause.

You used to think me cynical, I think, in our Billiard Room War Councils when I used to air my views on the value of German Treaties, Vows and Protestations. There is no need to ‘crow’! The truth of all I said stands self evident today. On the heads of the German and Austrian Emperors, who have plotted and planned all this, for years, while professing peace…..”

Accession Number: KO2654/036


Opposition to the war was very limited, three members of the government resigned and there were some small anti-war protests. The general public supported the war and any anti war opinions were unpopular.


‘A Nursery Rhyme Up To Date’ by Captain John Bois of the 2nd Battalion, serving in India, published in “Indian Ink”, September 1914
Accession Number: KOLIB0199/01-001

‘A Nursery Rhyme Up To Date’ by Captain Bois. Sep 1914
“Sing a song of millions
Going out to die
The pigeons of Europe
Baked in pie

When the pie was opened
The birds began to sing
Oh! Wasn’t that a dainty dish
to set before a King!!”
 

The very first shots of the war

With the order to mobilise, soldiers of the 1st King’s Own in Dover were detailed to guard locations such as the breakwater forts The Royal Navy was soon sweeping German shipping from the seas, and among the vessels brought into the harbour was the 'Perkoe', a four-masted barque of 3,700 tons, shipping oil from New York to Hamburg. Every man of the garrison was already committed, so the band boys of the King’s Own were detailed to guard the Perkoe. The German crew kept down below, but in the middle of the night the ship’s cook thought it safe to put out a cautious head in search of air. He was greeted by a volley of fire which demonstrated the alertness of the band boys.. It also gave them the distinction of firing the first shots of the war.



German Barque “Perkoe” captured at Dover, 5th August 1914 and guarded by the band boys of the 1st Battalion, King’s Own.


Drum Major Wilfred Thompson and the boys while they were at Grand Shaft Barracks, Dover. These were the boys who were reported to have fired the first British shots of the war in Dover Harbour.
KO1121/119


Photograph from the Dover Express of 14th August 1914 showing Germans under escort at Dover by soldiers of the 1st King’s Own.

© Images are copyright, Trustees of the King's Own Royal Regiment Museum.
 You must seek permission prior to publication of any of our images.