A form of missile first used in ancient China strictly for pyrotechnical display. Its first military application was in the early 19th century when the erratic Congreve rocket was deployed in the British army and struck terror into the heart of friend and foe alike. It was this that provided the ‘rockets' red glare’ of the US national anthem when failing to make any impression on Fort McHenry during the attack on Baltimore. It has become considerably more reliable since then.

— Hugh Bicheno