Ernest Edward Thomas, MM (16 December 1884 – February 1939) was a cavalryman in the British Army and drummer.

While serving with the 4th (Royal Irish) Dragoon Guards he fired the first British shot of the First World War in Europe, at 7:00 a.m. on 22 August 1914, in an engagement against German troops outside Mons.

It was while serving as a corporal in the 4th (Royal Irish) Dragoon Guards that Thomas is reported to have fired the first British shot of the First World War in Europe.

While positioned in a slit trench he advanced on his opposite number after British shelling of the enemy lines, to find all the German soldiers killed.

Noting the quality of the German boots, he removed them from several soldiers, tied them together and crawled back to his own lines, where he distributed them amongst his friends.