Firsts Meetings
The first meetings of The Salvation Army, then the Christian Revival Association, were held in a tent in the Quaker Burial Ground Whitechapel in July 1865.

The tent was previously used for mission purposes by the East London Special Services Committee to hold services in Victoria Park, Hackney, but with meetings in public parks being banned in 1864, William Booth was able to acquire it for his own meetings.

First Captain
Elijah Cadman was the first 'self styled' captain of The Salvation Army. In October 1877 he had opened fire in Whitby with a call for 2000 men and women to join 'The Hallelujah Army'.

The announcement stated that the attack would 'be led by Captain Cadman'. He was also the first person o refer to William Booth as 'The General' on posters advertising Booth's visit to Whitby.

First Salvation Army Song
The Song Of The Salvation Army was probably the first essentially Army song to be written.

Penned by Captain William J. Pearson when he was stationed at Bradford in 1878, It was sung to the tune 'Ring The Bell, Watchman'

First Brass Band
The first Salvation Army brass band came into being at Salisbury in the autumn of 1878 when Charles Fry and his three sons, Fred, Ernest and Bert, responded to the need of early Army pioneers for protection from attack.
With them they brought their instruments, two cornets, a valve trombone and a euphonium, with which they accompanied the open air meetings in the market place. The band was dissolved upon the death of Charles Fry on August 24th 1882

First Corps Flag
During a demonstration at Coventry from 28th to 30th September 1878, Corps Commanding Officer Captain Mrs. Reynolds received the first Salvation Army Flag from The Army Mother, Catherine Booth.

Since then the Salvation Army flag has become one of the most widely recognised symbols of this Christian organisation.

The First Corps Band
The Honour goes to Consett Corps, County Durham, where a band was formed in December 1879 and went out on the streets playing at Christmas.

The original band consisted of just four players, Bandmaster Edward Lennox, and Bandsmen George Storey, James Simpson and Robert Greenwood.

First Overseas Meeting
The first overseas meeting was held at Harry Hills Variety Theatre on the corner of Houston and Crosby Streets, New York on Sunday 14th March 1880. 

It was led by Commissioner George Scott Railton and was not exactly a resounding success.

Two and half hours after the start of the meeting not a soul had answered the call to the penitent form, and The Salvation Army gave way to a panorama of Uncle Tom's Cabin!

First Uniforms
There were many different unofficial uniforms worn by individuals during the Army's early years. No attempt was made to introduce a standard uniform until March 1880 when official uniforms for Captains, Lieutenants, Sergeants, Corporals, and Privates were introduced.

Prices for the jackets, ready trimmed, and trousers started at one guinea (£1.05) with a Captains helmet hat an additional 5/- (25p)! 

First Timbrels
The first recorded use of a timbrel in The Salvation Army was at Mansfield, Nottingham in March 1881. Captain Charles Rothwell, seeing a tambourine in a pawnbrokers shop, lost no time in purchasing it for Mrs. Rothwell to play in the processions.

This, it was reported, 'filled the devil with disgust, the newspapers with comments, the barracks with people and helped sinners into the fountain.'

First Corps Songster Brigade
The Corps at Newton Abbot, Devon laid claim to having formed its Songster Brigade in 1882 under the leadership of Richard Bowden who was to be leader for more than forty years.

The first officially commissioned Songster Brigade was at Penge Corps, South London. The twenty four strong brigade was led by Commissioner John Carleton and were formed in September 1898.

First Bandmaster Of The International Staff Band
The I.S.B. was formed in 1891 as the International Headquarters Staff Band, and Staff Captain Fred Fry was appointed to take charge.

The first Bandmaster to be officially appointed was Jabez Lyne on September 23rd 1893, when Adjutant Thomas Marshall was also appointed first leader of the International Staff Band.

First Leader Of The International Staff Songsters
Upon its formation in 1897 the then Adjutant, later Colonel Herbert Jackson was invited to be the first leader of the International Stall Songsters.

He was for some years assisted by Lieutenant Colonel Albert Campion. Colonel Jackson held the leadership until his appointment as Chief Secretary in Switzerland in 1922.

First Elected General
The first General to be elected to the leadership of The Salvation Army was Edward J. Higgins. He was elected by the first High Council which met at Sunbury Court from 8th to 13th February 1929.

General Higgins retired from active service on 11th November 1934 and was succeeded by General Evangeline Booth.