Charles Beck Hornby

Major Charles Beck Hornby DSO JP (7 February 1883 - 10 January 1949) was an officer in the British Army. While a captain in the 4th (Royal Irish) Dragoon Guards, he is reputed to have become the first British soldier to kill a German soldier in the First World War, around 6:30am on 22 August 1914, near the Belgian village of Casteau.

Hornby was born in Bangalore. His father, Colonel John Frederick Hornby, served with the 12th Lancers.

He was educated at Harrow School and was commissioned as an Ensign in the 4th Dragoon Guards in 1901, promoted to Lieutenant in 1903, and Captain in 1909. He served in the Second Boer War and was the regiment’s adjutant from January 1911 to January 1914.

After the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, Hornby was sent to France with the British Expeditionary Force, as second-in-command of C Squadron of the 4th (Royal Irish) Dragoon Guards, under Major Tom Bridges (later Lieutenant General). His squadron became the first unit of the BEF to engage the German army outside Mons on 22 August 1914.

The squadron was guarding the road from Mons to Soignies, near the village of Casteau to the north-east of Mons (later to become the location of Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe). Two troops were dismounted in ambush, and two in reserve commanded by Hornby. Four patrolling German lancers - 4th Cuirassiers of the 9th Cavalry Division - were reconnoitring the route around 6am on 22 August, as the advance guard of General Alexander von Kluck’s 1st Army which was about to advance on Mons. Sensing danger, the German cavalrymen retreated and were pursued by Hornby's two reserve troops, the 1st Troop leading with swords drawn and the 4th Troop following. The Germans retreated towards a larger force of German lancers, which Hornby charged with his men. Hornby is said to have been the first to kill one of the German cavalrymen, fighting on horseback with sword against lance, reputedly using a 1908 pattern trooper's sword now held by the museum of the Yorkshire Regiment.

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