<P> On 5 August 1914 , the German ship SS Pfalz attempted to escape from Port Phillip . Within minutes of being notified that war had been declared , Lieutenant - Colonel Sandford at Fort Queenscliff gave an order to Lieutenant C Morris , the Fire Commander at Fort Nepean , to `` stop her or sink her '' . After the Pfalz ignored signals to halt , the B1 gun fired across her bow . The Pfalz then turned around and the crew was arrested at Portsea . </P>
<P> On 5 August 1914 , the German ship SS Pfalz attempted to escape from Port Phillip . Within minutes of being notified that war had been declared , Lieutenant - Colonel Sandford at Fort Queenscliff gave an order to Lieutenant C Morris , the Fire Commander at Fort Nepean , to `` stop her or sink her '' . After the Pfalz ignored signals to halt , the B1 gun fired across her bow . The Pfalz then turned around and the crew was arrested at Portsea . </P>
where was the first shot fired in ww1
where was the first shot fired in ww1
Fort Nepean
Fort Nepean