First British Death WW1; Friendly Fire?!

[SIZE=1.2em]Ironic, if true.[/SIZE]
"A 14-year-old believed to be the first British soldier killed in the First World War may have been a victim of 'friendly fire', it has been revealed.
Nearly 100 years after Private John Parr was shot, military experts have suggested his death may been an accident at the hands of his French and Belgian allies.
On the night he died, Private Parr is believed to have been at least 10 miles away from members of the German cavalry.+3

[SIZE=1.2em]Jon Cooksey, a military author, told The Sunday Times: 'There was no German soldier around to shoot at him. John Parr must have died either as a result of friendly fire or an accident.[/SIZE]

Parr was last seen on the night of August 21, three weeks after war had been declared, when he was sent out to look for missing platoons.
Mr Cooksey, who studies German troop patterns, added: 'No contact with the British Expeditionary Force near Mons has been reported that day.'"
[SIZE=1.2em]He said opposition troops would have rushed to take credit for the death, because of their eagerness to be commended and praised for their actions.[/SIZE]
The reconnaissance cyclist with the 4th battalion, Middlesex Regiment, is believed to have lied about his age to enlist, telling forces he was 17.
He is due to be honoured on August 4 at a special Anglo-German service to mark 100 years since war was declared.
A senior member of the Royal Family will visit his grave as part at St Symphorien near Mons in Belgium."
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2608849/First-British-soldier-die-WW1-probably-shot-friendly-fire-incident-French-Belgians-soldiers-not-German-forces-previously-thought.html#ixzz2zTo8EDr1

 

He died on operations.

 

Any more details? Think the author's got too hung up on German cavalry officially being ten miles away; they would have had scouts out at least.