The Battle of Mons occurred in which the BEF held the German forces, but began a month long retreat to the Marne.
Irishman Maurice James Dease became the first British officer to be killed in action, for which he additionally won the Victoria Cross.
The machine gun crews were constantly being knocked out. So cramped was their position that when a man was hit he had to be removed before another could take his place. The approach from the trench was across the open, and whenever a gun stopped Lieutenant Maurice Dease... went up to see what was wrong. To do this once called for no ordinary courage. To repeat it several times could only be done with real heroism. Dease was badly wounded on these journeys, but insisted on remaining at duty as long as one of his crew could fire. The third wound proved fatal, and a well deserved VC was awarded him posthumously. By this time both guns had ceased firing, and all the crew had been knocked out. In response to an inquiry whether anyone else knew how to operate the guns Private Godley came forward. He cleared the emplacement under heavy fire and brought the gun into action. But he had not been firing long before the gun was hit and put completely out of action. The water jackets of both guns were riddled with bullets, so that they were no longer of any use. Godley himself was badly wounded and later fell into the hands of the Germans.
German troops killed 654 Belgian civilians in Dinant, Belgium in confusion or panic regarding francs-tireurs
The French were defeated in the Battle of the Ardennes and the Battle of Charleroi.
The Battle of Tannenberg began between the German Army and the Imperial Russian Army.
The Battle of Kraśnik began between the Austro Hungarian Army and the Imperial Russian Army.
Japan declared war on Germany. China canceled the German lease of the Kiaochow Bay.
New Zealand occupied the German colony of German Samoa, following an unopposed invasion.
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