Thomas Stephens was the first Englishman to reach India, at least by sea route. He sailed for India on a Portuguese ship as a Jesuit missionary on 4th April 1579 and landed at Goa six months later, on 24th october.
In the year 1914 (28th July), First World War started and ended in 1918 (11th November). England, France Russia was on a side and Germany, Austria, Hungary and Turkey were on another side.