Jules André Peugeot

Jules Andre Peugeot (June 11, 1893 - August 2, 1914) was the first French soldier to die in World War I. He died one day before war was formally declared on France by Germany.

Early life
Before being called up for compulsory military service in 1913, Jules Andre Peugeot was a teacher.

Death
On mid morning on August 2, 1914, a German cavalry patrol led by Leutnant Albert Otto Walter Mayer patrolled into France before war had been officially declared. Upon crossing into French territory Albert Mayer slashed a French sentry with his saber before going deeper into France.

Around 9:30 Peugeot and his fellow soldiers was eating breakfast in a billet house owned by a certain M. Doucourt. The owner of the house's daughter, Nicolet, came in and told the soldiers that a German patrol had entered the town at which Peugeot and his comrades arose from breakfast to meet them. At 9:59 Peugeot yelled at Mayer and his patrol to stop, as they were under arrest, but Mayer pulled out a pistol and shot Peugeot in the shoulder. Peugeot stumbled and shot his pistol, missing Mayer, but Peugeot's comrades returned fire, hitting Mayer in the stomach and head, killing him. Peugeot went back to the billet house where at 10:37 A.M. he died on the steps of the house.