Today 109 years ago, on August 2, 1914, the 'Skirmish of Joncherey' took place, resulting in the first German and French casualties of the First World War, among the two first killed soldiers: German Lt. Albert Mayer and French Corporal Jules-André Peugeot.
Technically, they weren't killed in the First World War, as they died a day before war had even broken out between France and Germany on August 3, 1914.
On the mid-morning of August 2, 1914, German Lt. Albert Mayer led a German cavalry patrol with 6 other men across the northeastern French border.
At 9:30 AM they reached the village of Joncherey, where French soldiers were billeted in a farm, eating breakfast. Upon reaching the village they encountered a French sentry guarding Joncherey, who Lt. Mayer slashed with his saber.
The French soldiers in Joncherey, commanded by Corporal Jules-André Peugeot, were notified of the German patrol by the daughter of the owner of the farm. The French soldiers went outside and encountered the German patrol. Corporal Peugeot ordered them to halt, as they were under arrest.
Lt. Mayer pulled out his pistol and shot Peugeot in the shoulder. Upon stumbling, Peugeot fired his own pistol back but missed. His French comrades returned fire and shot Lt. Mayer in the head and stomach, killing him instantly.
Lt. Mayer is considered the first soldier to be killed in the First World War on the Western Front. 3 other of the Germans were injured and captured, and 2 others fled and escaped to Germany. The last German hid in the woods before being found and captured.
The wounded Corporal Peugeot stumbled back to the farm and succumbed to his wounds at 10:37 AM. The next day, Germany and France declared war on each other.
The Skirmish of Joncherey can be considered the first military action on the Western Front in the First World War, with Lt. Mayer and Corporal Peugeot among the first to pay the ultimate price out of some 9-10 million soldiers to come.

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