Buzz
In the pre-social media era, historical accounts were predominantly shaped by the victors. This has led to certain events dominating the narrative, while others have been largely forgotten. It’s unsettling to realize how much about one of humanity’s most devastating conflicts may forever remain unknown.
10. The Mystery of Jon Parr’s Death
John Parr is believed to be among the first British casualties of World War I, possibly even the very first. However, the circumstances surrounding his death remain shrouded in mystery. Hailing from London, Parr was only 14 when he falsified his age to enlist. In 1914, he was deployed to northern France with his unit, tasked with halting the German advance through Belgium. By the time his fellow soldiers clashed with German forces, Parr had already vanished. Despite his disappearance, the British military maintained for months that he was alive, only officially acknowledging his death in 1915.
Parr served in a reconnaissance unit, cycling through the devastated countryside to relay critical messages. In the lead-up to the Battle of Mons, the British army's first major clash in the war, a fellow soldier claimed they encountered a German patrol, resulting in Parr's death. This account was corroborated by a young Belgian girl. Although it was reported that the Germans recovered and buried his body, military historians dispute the validity of this skirmish. German forces were not yet in the area where Parr and his team were operating, and no records of such an encounter exist in British or German archives, diaries, or logs.
This raises the possibility that the 14-year-old soldier may have fallen victim to friendly fire, potentially due to confusion between British and Belgian troops mistaking each other for the enemy. However, the exact circumstances of his death remain a mystery. Parr's grief-stricken mother repeatedly wrote to British military authorities, desperate for answers about her son's fate. Sadly, she never received the closure she sought.
9. The Tsars' Vanished Treasure
As World War I dragged on, Russia faced mounting domestic crises, culminating in the execution of its royal family. Amid growing internal and external threats, the decision was made to relocate a significant portion—up to 73 percent—of the nation's gold reserves to safer inland locations. The gold was initially transported from Petrograd (modern-day St. Petersburg) to Kazan, and later dispersed even further across the country.
The exact location remains a mystery.
Some believe the gold was taken by Admiral Alexander Kolchak, who used it to fund his ill-fated campaign against Lenin’s forces. Others suggest that the treasure lies hidden in forgotten vaults scattered throughout Siberia. Another popular theory is that the entire hoard was buried in the forests surrounding Kazan. Omsk, once Kolchak’s headquarters and rumored to sit above a network of underground tunnels, is often cited as the gold’s final resting place. Alternatively, it might have been submerged in Lake Baikal or buried near the village of Zakhlamino. Theories abound, with some claiming that those who hid the gold were executed to ensure its location remained secret.
Whether these theories hold any truth or if the gold still lies concealed somewhere in Siberia’s vast wilderness remains unknown.
8. The Disappearance of the Zebrina’s Crew
The Zebrina, a flat-bottomed schooner constructed in 1873, changed hands multiple times before meeting an unusual end in 1917. At the time, it was transporting coal between Cornwall and France, a journey typically lasting around 30 hours. On September 17, the ship was discovered stranded on Rozel Point in France—completely devoid of its crew.
French coast guard reports indicated the vessel was entirely unharmed. The dining table was set, the captain’s log showed no irregularities, and the only minor anomaly, aside from the absent crew, was slightly disheveled sails.
Several theories attempt to explain the crew’s disappearance. One posits that the Zebrina encountered a storm, sweeping the entire crew overboard as they tried to secure the deck. However, this seems improbable given the ship’s pristine condition when found.
Another theory suggests the Zebrina fell prey to German U-boats patrolling the English Channel, targeting supply vessels. Yet, the ship showed no signs of torpedo damage, and its logbooks remained untouched. German commanders typically confiscated logs from ships they attacked as evidence.
A more intriguing theory proposes that the Zebrina was far more than a mere cargo ship. Local historians uncovered records indicating 23 individuals were aboard, far exceeding the usual crew of six. This suggests the Zebrina might have been a Q-boat—a heavily armed merchant vessel designed to ambush unsuspecting U-boats. Its flat-bottomed design would have made it a challenging target for torpedoes, ideal for such missions. However, something may have gone awry, allowing a U-boat to overpower the crew and seize the ship, though the submarine itself never returned.
While this theory is fascinating, it remains speculative. As of now, the enigma of World War I’s ghost ship is likely to remain unsolved.
7. The Mystery Behind the Red Baron’s Death
The Red Baron stands as one of history’s most legendary aviators, a name recognized even by those unfamiliar with military history. With 80 confirmed aerial victories, including an astonishing 21 in April 1917 alone, Manfred von Richthofen became not just a target but a symbol of the enemy for Allied forces.
On April 21, 1918, the Red Baron was shot down, though the exact circumstances remain unclear. Allied troops recovered his body in France and accorded him a military burial with full honors. Even as they paid their respects, individuals and groups were quick to claim responsibility for his demise.
To this day, numerous theories persist about who delivered the fatal shots that ended the Red Baron’s reign. A squadron from the Australian Flying Corps claimed to have confronted the Baron, but evidence suggests they were likely battling other aircraft from his unit. Another theory proposes that the lethal shots originated not from the air but from the ground—with varying accounts. Some attribute it to an Australian anti-aircraft unit, others to an unnamed rifleman, and still others to a machine gun crew stationed on the ground.
Official recognition was awarded to Canadian Captain Roy Brown of the RAF’s No. 209 Squadron, but skeptics argue his account is vague and inconsistent. Eyewitness testimonies suggest his encounter with the Baron occurred before the iconic red plane was actually brought down.
6. The Mystery of the Woman in Uniform
Recently, a collection of World War I photographs was discovered in northern France. These private images include a young lieutenant in a New Zealand uniform and another photo showing a New Zealander—depicted as a lieutenant in some images and later as a captain—with a woman sitting on his lap. Intriguingly, the same woman appears in the lieutenant’s uniform in earlier photos. The backdrop is the Villa des Acacias in France, and the man is identified as Captain Albert Arthur Chapman, an Australian serving in the New Zealand Pioneer (Maori) Battalion. However, the woman’s identity remains unknown, raising fascinating questions about her role and story.
The primary question is, who is she? Historians have theorized she might have been a local Frenchwoman. The photographs hint at a romantic connection, though Chapman returned home after the war alone and unmarried, while the woman is visibly wearing a wedding ring. Another possibility is that she was a friend, the spouse of another soldier, or a relative. Initially, it was thought the uniform might be hers, suggesting she could have been one of the first female military officers. However, this has been disproven, as there were no women officers in the British or New Zealand armies during the war. Chapman’s presence in the photos and his rank progression indicate he knew her for at least two years, and their bond is evident.
Could these photos be poignant remnants of a doomed romance? Did she survive the war, or was she a victim of the devastating Spanish Flu pandemic that followed? Was her husband perhaps just out of frame? Chapman’s solitary return to New Zealand after the war raises questions of heartbreak or tragedy. Records show he never married, offering an intimate glimpse into the personal lives affected by the war.
5. The Enigma of Nurse Margaret Maule
The staggering death toll of the World Wars often overshadows the fact that each casualty represents a deeply personal and tragic story.
The story of Nurse Margaret Maule has recently come to light, alongside her suitcase, discovered hidden in a cupboard at Abertay University. However, the suitcase has raised as many questions as it has answered, prompting the university to seek public assistance in solving the mystery. There is no record of anyone named Margaret Maule being connected to the university, and the origins of the suitcase and her true identity remain unknown.
Among the items in the suitcase is Maule’s diary, which she began in 1914. Her brother died in the war, and she initially struggled with the idea of caring for wounded German soldiers alongside her fellow countrymen. However, her diary reveals a remarkable shift in her perspective over time. Also found in the suitcase was an autograph book, filled with signatures from the men whose lives she saved—many of whom were German soldiers.
It is known that Maule served at Dartford War Hospital in Kent and the Shakespeare Hospital in Glasgow. Yet, far more information is needed to fully reconstruct her life and the lives of the nurses who worked alongside her.
4. The Mystery of the First Shot
The first recorded claim of firing the initial shot dates back to July 29, when Austro-Hungarian naval forces on the River Sava began shelling Belgrade. The shots that ignited the conflict were reportedly fired by the Austro-Hungarian gunboat Bodrog, which now lies abandoned and rusting on the River Danube.
In Britain, however, the situation is less definitive. British military records suggest the first shot was fired on August 22, 1914, by Corporal E. Thomas, a cavalry drummer. Thomas was part of a reconnaissance patrol tracking German troop movements in Belgium. His squad encountered four German cavalrymen, leading to a brief skirmish and the first shot of the war. Remarkably, no casualties were reported.
An earlier contender for the first British shot occurred on August 12, 1914, when Alhaji Grunshi, a West African soldier in the British army, fired at German forces guarding a critical wireless communication station in Togo. This station could transmit signals as far as Asia, making it a strategic target. The German colony in Togo was swiftly attacked by British forces from neighboring territories, marking a strong claim for the first British action of the war.
Australia also stakes a claim to firing the first shot for the British Empire. On August 5, 1914, John Purdue, an artillery sergeant stationed at Fort Nepean near Melbourne, and his crew fired on the German merchant ship SS Pfalz, compelling it to surrender.
3. The Mystery of Bela Kiss
When Bela Kiss was drafted in 1914, the villagers of Cintoka, Hungary, remembered him as a charming, intelligent, and sociable man, particularly popular with women. Kiss resided in a modest home, and when his landlord heard rumors of his tragic death during the war, he decided to clear out the house for new tenants.
That’s when he discovered the horrifying truth.
The metal drums Kiss had claimed were for storing fuel were instead filled with the preserved bodies of his victims—mostly women, with one exception—all submerged in alcohol.
Investigations revealed Kiss had been luring women with promises of romance and marriage, only to murder them for their wealth. Many of his victims responded to personal ads he placed in Budapest newspapers, targeting financially independent women. One victim, a successful dressmaker, sold her business before meeting her tragic fate in one of Kiss’s gruesome barrels.
Kiss was still serving on the frontlines—and very much alive—when his victims' bodies were uncovered. The chaos of war allowed him to vanish without a trace. Conflicting reports about his fate emerged: some claimed he died of typhoid, others said he was arrested for burglary, and some believed yellow fever claimed his life in Turkey. Authorities nearly caught him once when they learned he was recovering from an injury in a hospital, but Kiss had already switched his identity with a deceased patient and escaped.
Amid the turmoil of war, tracking him proved impossible. Rumors circulated that he had joined the French Foreign Legion, and alleged sightings of Kiss were reported as far as New York City, even into the 1930s. In 1936, a janitor was suspected of being Kiss, but by the time authorities arrived to investigate, he had disappeared. While no further murders were definitively linked to him, it doesn’t rule out the possibility of more victims.
2. The Mystery of Artist JM
Before photojournalism became prevalent, soldiers' artwork provided some of the only authentic glimpses of life on the front lines. Recently, professors at the University of Victoria in Canada discovered a remarkable sketchbook from World War I—yet the identity of its creator remains unknown.
Little is known about the enigmatic artist beyond his extraordinary talent. The artwork is on Royal Regiment of Artillery stationery and signed with the initials “J.M.” The artist was likely stationed in France and/or Belgium between 1917 and 1918. Some pieces are dedicated to his daughter, Adele, and one sketch dated 1920 confirms he survived the war.
The collection includes two sketchbooks, featuring pen and ink drawings as well as watercolors. They offer a stunningly poignant portrayal of war and the psyche of someone caught in its midst. The sketches depict devils and skeletons circling a crowned king, terrified horses fleeing bombings, and the grim reality of gas attacks in the trenches. The artist also captures the devastation of towns, with hauntingly serene images of graves, weary nurses, and smoldering ruins.
The university remains hopeful that they will one day uncover the identity of this mysterious and gifted artist, whose work provides an intensely personal glimpse into the horrors of war.
1. The Disappearance of the USS Cyclops
The disappearance of the USS Cyclops marked the largest single loss of life in U.S. Navy history at the time, and the mystery surrounding its fate remains unsolved.
In 1918, the Cyclops, a unique vessel in the Naval Overseas Transportation Service, was transporting cargo between Brazil and the United States. On February 15, it departed Rio de Janeiro carrying nearly 11,000 tons of manganese ore bound for Baltimore, Maryland. After rerouting to Barbados on March 3 due to starboard engine issues, the ship set sail for the U.S. the following day—the last time it was ever seen.
The Cyclops carried 309 people when it vanished. Although there were unverified sightings off the American coast, none were confirmed. Theories about its disappearance include structural weaknesses, engine failures, potential flooding from overloading, or a sudden shift in cargo. Until the wreck is discovered, the truth will likely remain a mystery.
