WW1 fact that is not well known

[cokeaddict]

Fascinating History fact that is not well known......
Today I spent the day at Point Nepean. Located on the very tip of the Mornington Peninsula Victoria Australia. A truly beautiful place.
Underground tunnels were used by our defence forces here. There is even a Hydraulic Gun which is hidden underground so the enemy could not see it.

On 5th August 1914 at 12:45pm, just 3 hours 45 minutes after war was declared in London, the first shot in the British Empire was fired from Coastal Artillery Gun Emplacement No.6 at Fort Nepean, Portsea, Victoria Australia. The shot was fired in order to prevent the German merchant vessel SS Pfalz from escaping Port Phillip
to the open seas with a full load of coal that the Germans needed for the war they knew was to come.
The shot was successful – the Pfalz surrendered.

2 things fascinating about this story....
1st being that we fired the first shots during WW1 and
2 being we captured the 1st German prisoners of WW1.
Considering we are half a world away, I think that's amazing.
Best viewed in HD
Hope you enjoy the video....

[youtube] http://youtu.be/3l5-0CNihPA[/youtube]

 

[Lithium12.6]

It was more interesting to see this video with the history of this place.
Very tragic that our great grandfathers were fighting each other. All European kings and emperors were related yet could not prevent the war.