“My stock of powdered biscuits is out, so I have to be satisfied with bully beef today. I’d give something just now for a good feed!”   [Chamberlain p11]

“The following cablegram has been received by the Governor from the Secretary of State for the Colonies:- "His Majesty's Government desires me to offer you their warmest congratulations on the splendid gallantry and magnificent achievement of your Contingent in the successful progress of the operations in the Dardanelles.”

[Press, Volume LI, Issue 15266, 30 April 1915, Page 6]

In time of war it is not uncommon to be killed by your own side (artillery barrages falling short, targets not properly identified) but to be deliberately killed by a member of your own unit is a rarer event.

On 4 August 1914 Britain declared war on Germany. The British Prime Minister, Herbert Asquith, had given Germany an ultimatum to withdraw its forces from Belgium by midnight of 3 August. Following the events in Sarajevo, and the consequent declaration of war on Russia, Germany had set in motion the Schlieffen Plan that doomed Belgium to invasion as a means of attacking France. Britain had guaranteed Belgium’s neutrality in treaties dating back to 1839.

The German response to the ultimatum was unsatisfactory and Britain declared war.