THE FIRST SHOT

Gisborne Times, Volume LXV, Issue 10319, 31 January 1927, Page 5

THE FIRST SHOT

FIRED BY EX-GUNNER NOW IN AUCKLAND REMINISCENCES OF 1914. SHELL CASE NOW COVETED TROPHY. (Special to the Times.) AUCKLAND, Jan. 28. The man who .fired Britain’s first shot in the Great War, Mr A. J. Jenkins, was among the 615 arrivals by the Pakeha to-day, who have come to try their luck in New Zealand. He brought with him his wife .and their year-old baby Patricia, who was a general favorite with passengers throughout the voyage. While he holds no decorations other than his service medals, the ex-gunner of the Royal Horse Artillery who has this honor, possesses a remarkable record.

Besides giving Von Moltlie the first indication that Britain meant bus!neshs he probably fired more shells than any British gunner, for he served throughout the. war without receiving a wound and entered Germany during the Rhine occupation, remaining there until the end of 1919.

Mir Jenkins speaks of this memory of twelve years ago with extreme modesty. It was just a piece of luck,’’ was his comment, ‘‘and 1 thought it was a good omen that the shell was anything but a dud. Did I get any decorations? No, I’ve got myself, and that is good enough for me.’’

Mr Jenkins joined the Artillery in 1911, and at the time the first shot was fired at 11.30 a.in. on August 22, 1914, he was a gunner in the E Battery, Royal Horse Artillery, which was part of the Third London Brigade. The scene of the historic incident was Binclie, near Mons. It was a small Belgian village on the right of the British line, forming .the right flank position of Lord Haig s First Army Corps. The movements of the« next few days, and the immortal story of the part- the “Old C'ontemptibles’’ played needs ilo recapitulation. The case of the shell Gunner Jenkins fired is now a coveteel trophy for competition between the football teams of the British Army. The gun itself is housed at the imperial War Exhibition in London. In recognition of his famous part in the war Mr Jenkins was accorded the honor of unveiling last November the Artillery Memorial at Hyde Park, London. 'This was closely on the eve of his departure for Neii Zealand. . . A tall man of fine physique and showing no sign in his youthful appearance of the strain of Ins lengthy service Mr Jenkins is in every sense a likely candidate for a farming career lie lias chosen. He left this evening for Tekauwhata, a farming and fruit growing district fifty-tour miles south of Auckland, where he will enter partnership with Mi ofieison.. who is Mrs Jenkins’ uncle.