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First World War

1st Battalion, King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment

 

The first shots of the War

The 1st Battalion was mobilised and the entire battalion was deployed to their stations within Dover, excepting the Corps of Drums who were detailed at short notice to guard a German merchant ship, the 'Perkoe' which had been forced into Dover Harbour by the Royal Navy.  The soldiers of the Corps of Drums were on the harbour side to guard the crew, which not only included Germans, but also American sailors, from where the ship had departed.  During the night a curious German sailor put their head out to see what was happening, and he was met with a volley of shots fired by the King's Own soldiers, thus the first shots of the war had been fired!  Despite the rain of bullets the German escaped injury and survived the night.  The next day the Germans were taken into custody and marched through Dover to be held in an internment camp for the rest of the war.

It was also on board the 'Perkoe' that the first citizen of the United States was injured in the war.  The sailor had fallen down the hold and received serious injuries, and he lay un-discovered for some time, and eventually was removed to hospital.

The local newspapers of the day record the details of the 'Perkoe'.

Dover Express 7th August 1914

War Episodes at Dover

Captures of German Shipping


The first episodes beyond the mobilisation scenes that occurred at Dover were the capture just off Dover on Wednesday about noon of two German vessels. The first capture of two German vessels. The first capture was that of a fine four-masted barque, the “Perkoe” late “Brilliant” 3,765 tons, from New York to Hamburg, with oil. She is very similar in many respects to the wrecked “Preussen.” She came up the Channel under full sail, but the appearance of one of the destroyers at Dover compelled her to shorten sail and heave to. The tide and wind, however, carried her a good way towards St. Margaret’s before she was towed back by the tug into Dover Harbour, and, subsequently, her fine appearance proved one of the sights all the afternoon for the crowds on the Sea Front. Another capture, almost simultaneously, was that of the steamer “Franz Horn” of Lubeck, which was hauled up and brought into the Harbour, and it, though less conspicuous, proved a valuable prize. The crews have been removed as prisoners of war.

Western Gazette 7th August 1914

Many Merchant Ships Seized
Oil Cargo at Dover


Since the declaration of war on Tuesday night more than 20 German merchant vessels, representing approximately 40,000 tons of shipping, have been either captured by British and French war ships of seized in British territorial waters. Of these vessels six are sailing ships, the remainder being steamers.

A notable capture is that of the large German four-masted barque Perkoe of 3,700 tons, which has been brought into Dover. The ship was recently British owned, but is understood to have been sold in New York to a German ownership, and was bound thence to Hamburg with a full cargo of oil. The Franz Horn, of 1,314 tons, bound from Curacso, Dutch West Indies, to Stettin, was also brought into Dover, and the German collier Porto, of 1,812 tons, was taken into Guernsey by a French warship.

The Hamburg-Amerika liner Belgia, which has been detained at Newport, Monmouthshire, has on board a considerable quantity of specie and food.


Cheltenham Chronicle 7th August 1914

Prizes of War

Many German Merchant Ships Seized


Within 24 hours after the declaration of war on Tuesday night more than 20 German merchant vessels, representing approximately 40,000 tons of shipping, were either captured by British or French warships of seized in British territorial waters. Of these vessels six are sailing ships, the remainder being steamers. A notable capture is that of the large German four-master barque Perkoe of 3,700 tons, which has been brought into Dover. The ship was recently British owned, but is understood to have been sold in New York to a German ownership, and was bound thence to Hamburg with a full cargo of oil. The Franz Horn, of 1,314 tons, bound from Curacao, Dutch West Indies, to Stettin, was also brought into Dover, and the German collier Porto, of 1,812 tons, was taken into Guernsey by a French warship.

According to the calculation of the “Matin” when England declared war on Germany there were 3,000 sailing vessels on the high seas flying the German flag. At the present moment these sailing vessels have no other resource save to make for the nearest neutral port and there be dismantled. There are also 2,000 steamship-cargo boats, liners and auxiliary cruisers – at present afloat. None of them carries coal for more than twelve days. They cannot, of course, coal in any neutral port, while a glance at the map will show the German coaling stations are few and far between. It is calculated that at the present moment there are 2,800,000 tons of German shipping afloat, and many visitors are being brought into various ports.



Dover Express 14th August 1914

A serious accident happened on the captured German barque “Perkoe” on Sunday. The members of the crew who were not German were left on board, and on Sunday morning one of the men, an American, fell down the hold. He was not found until late in the day, and his injuries proved to be very serious including fractures of the arms and legs. He was removed to the Military Hospital in the evening. The remainder of the crew of the barque have since been allowed to come ashore. These are not enemies, and they very much objected to being compelled to remain on the vessel.

 

 

 

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