First British Artillery Shell Fired in the Great War

[peregrinvs]

I know the first British artillery shot of the Great War - from a 13 Pounder field gun on 22nd August 1914 at Bray in Belgium - has been discussed on here before, but a detail continues to elude me...

Is it known whether the projectile fired was a shrapnel shell or a high explosive shell?

Thanks,

Mark

[MikB]

Dunno if HE was issued until much later, and then probably mainly for 18-pdr and up. I thought shrapnel would always have been the default round for 13-pdr, especially so early in the war.

Happy to stand corrected, though.

Regards,

MikB

[calibre792x57.y]

I don't think that the first H.E. rounds (3, I seem to remember!) were issued until October 1914 and they were for an 18 Pdr at Ypres. - SW

[peregrinvs]

Thanks for the input. A spot of googling does indeed suggest that they would have only had shrapnel at that stage.

I ask as I own an inert example of a 13 Pounder shrapnel round and was wondering if it was representative of the first shot fired.

[philgb]

Just reading family at war by Jolyon Jackson about Francis Foljambe who commanded the 120th battery which fired the 1st 18lb rounds on 23rd August 1914

[bruce]

Was it a dud?

Bruce

[bu6512]

I think I'm correct in saying the BEF had 70 or 80% shrapnel to HE in 1914 but I'm sure someone will be along to give the exact amount!