Henry Hadley (died 1914) facts for kids

Henry Hadley (born March 27, 1863 – died August 5, 1914) was an English civilian. He was shot and killed in Germany on August 3, 1914. This happened just one day before the United Kingdom officially joined World War I. Some people call him the "first British casualty" of the Great War.

Early Life and Education

Henry Hadley was born in Cheltenham, England. His father, also named Henry Hadley, was a senior doctor in the British Army. He served in different places, including Australia and during the Crimean War. Henry's mother, Alpha Clementia Dunn, was from Hobart, Tasmania.

Henry went to school at Cheltenham College. He also attended the Royal Military Academy Woolwich. For a short time, he was a lieutenant in the 1st West India Regiment. Later, he became a teacher of languages.

Tragic Death in Germany

Henry Hadley had been teaching languages in Berlin, Germany, for several years. In early August 1914, tensions were very high in Europe. Germany declared war on Russia and France. Because of this, Henry decided to move to Paris.

On August 3, 1914, Henry and his English housekeeper, Elizabeth Pratley, took a train from Berlin. They planned to change trains in Cologne. On the train, a conductor became suspicious of Henry. An argument started while the train was stopped at Gelsenkirchen station.

It was later said that Henry spoke in many languages. He also seemed unsure where he was going. He argued with a waiter and made gestures at German officers. After returning to his seat, he was shot in the stomach. This happened in the train's hallway. A Prussian military officer named First Lieutenant Nicolay shot him.

Henry was taken to a hospital in Gelsenkirchen. He died there on August 5, 1914. This was only three hours after the UK declared war on Germany. He was buried in a simple grave in Gelsenkirchen. The exact spot of his burial is not known today.

Elizabeth Pratley, Henry's housekeeper, was questioned. She was suspected of being a spy. She was held in a military prison. However, she was later released without any charges. She returned home in November 1914. She then told the British government about Henry's death.

Aftermath and Legacy

The German government sent a message to the British government. They said that Lieutenant Nicolay claimed he acted in self-defense. He stated that Henry Hadley seemed to be reaching for a weapon. Nicolay also said Henry did not respond to a warning. A military court later found Nicolay innocent. He was even promoted to Captain.

However, the British government still believed it was a case of murder. They released a statement in The Times newspaper on April 17, 1915. This statement quoted the German message. It also protested Nicolay's acquittal. Henry's cousin, S. Eardley Wilmot, also doubted the German story. He called it an example of "Prussian brutality."

In 1917, German authorities said some of Henry's belongings were sold. The money from the sale paid for his hospital care. Later, more of his items were returned to his family. This happened through neutral authorities in The Hague.

See also

• HMS Amphion, a British ship sunk by a German mine on August 6, 1914. About 170 people died.
• Private John Parr, believed to be the first British soldier killed in World War I. He died on August 21, 1914.