First shot memorial

The first shot memorial is the common name of a monument in Casteau, Belgium, marking the first British engagement on the Western Front of the First World War.

The monument was designed by an architect from nearby Mons, Mr. Bertiaux, and was unveiled on 20 August 1939, just prior to the 25th anniversary of the action and the outbreak of the Second World War.

Soon after crossing the Belgian border 4th Dragoon Guards scout observed parties of German cavalry and on 22 August the regiment's C Squadron, under Major Tom Bridges, was ordered to investigate.

[4] The records of the 4th Cuirassiers note losing three men captured, one missing (who rejoined the regiment later that day), no wounded or killed and one horse grazed.

[8][4] Thomas reached the rank of sergeant and served in the Machine Gun Corps before returning to the 4th Dragoon Guards, with whom he remained until leaving the army in 1923.

[10] By the time the first British shot was fired Belgium had been almost totally overrun and the French and Belgian armies engaged for some days and had suffered in excess of 300,000 casualties.

[10][11] The commune of Mons, in which the memorial stands, stated that it was sited here for ease of maintenance, though the real reason may have been to provide a juxtaposition with a plaque marking the furthest advance by British Commonwealth forces in this sector in 1918.

[12] The plaque, which is mounted to the wall of a restaurant opposite the first shot memorial, marks the furthest advance by picquets of the Canadian 116th Infantry Battalion at the time of the 11 am, 11 November 1918 armistice.