British Expeditionary Force (World War I) The British Expeditionary Force or BEF was the force sent to the Western Front led by General John French (later to become Field Marshall) during the First World War. Planning for a British Expeditionary Force began with the Haldane reforms of the British Army carried out by the Secretary of State for War Richard Haldane following the Second Boer War (1899–1902). The term "British Expeditionary Force" is often used to refer only to the forces present in France prior to the end of the First Battle of Ypres on 22 November 1914. By the end of 1914—after the battles of Mons, the Le Cateau, the Aisne and Ypres—the old regular British army had been wiped out, although it managed to help stop the German advance. An alternative endpoint of the BEF was 26 December 1914, when it was divided into the First and Second Armies (a third, fourth and fifth being created later in the war). B.E.F. remained the official name of the British Army in France and Flanders throughout the First World War. On the 9th August the BEF began embarking for France. Unlike Continental European armies, the BEF in 1914 was exceedingly small. At the beginning of the war the German and French armies numbered well over a million men each, divided into eight and five field armies respectively; the BEF had c. 80,000 soldiers in two corps of entirely professional soldiers made up of long-service volunteer soldiers and reservists. The BEF was probably the best trained and most experienced of the European armies of 1914. British Army training emphasized rapid marksmanship and the average British soldier was able to hit a man-sized target fifteen times a minute, at a range of 300 yards (270 m) with his Lee-Enfield rifle. This ability to generate a high volume of accurate rifle-fire played an important role in the BEF's battles of 1914. Emperor Wilhelm II of Germany, who was famously dismissive of the BEF, reportedly issued an order on 19 August 1914 to "exterminate... the treacherous English and walk over General French's contemptible little army". Hence, in later years, the survivors of the regular army dubbed themselves "The Old Contemptibles". No evidence of any such order being issued by the Kaiser has ever been found. It was probably a British propaganda invention, albeit one often repeated as fact.
Description of the BEF used in World War OneOn the 9th August the BEF began embarking for France. Unlike Continental European armies, the BEF in 1914 was exceedingly small. At the beginning of the war the German and French armies numbered well over a million men each, divided into eight and five field armies respectively; the BEF had c. 80,000soldiers in two corps of entirely professional soldiers made up of long-service volunteer soldiers and reservists. The BEF was probably the best trained and most experienced of the European armies of 1914. British Army training emphasized rapid marksmanship and the average British soldier was able to hit a man-sized target fifteen times a minute, at a range of 300 yards (270 m) with his Lee-Enfield rifle. This ability to generate a high volume of accurate rifle-fire played an important role in the BEF's battles of 1914.
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British Expeditionary Force (World War I) The British
Expeditionary Force or BEF was the force sent to the Western Front
led by General John French (later to become Field Marshall) during
the First World War.
Planning for a British Expeditionary Force began with the
Haldane reforms of the British Army carried out by the Secretary of
State for War Richard Haldane following the Second Boer War
(18991902).
The term "British Expeditionary Force" is often used to refer
only to the forces present in France prior to the end of the First
Battle of Ypres on 22 November 1914. By the end of 1914after the
battles of Mons, the Le Cateau, the Aisne and Ypresthe old regular
British army had been wiped out, although it managed to help stop
the German advance. An alternative endpoint of the BEF was 26
December 1914, when it was divided into the First and Second Armies
(a third, fourth and fifth being created later in the war). B.E.F.
remained the official name of the British Army in France and
Flanders throughout the First World War.
On the 9th August the BEF began embarking for France. Unlike
Continental European armies, the BEF in 1914 was exceedingly small.
At the beginning of the war the German and French armies numbered
well over a million men each, divided into eight and five field
armies respectively; the BEF had c.80,000 soldiers in two corps of
entirely professional soldiers made up of long-service volunteer
soldiers and reservists. The BEF was probably the best trained and
most experienced of the European armies of 1914. British Army
training emphasized rapid marksmanship and the average British
soldier was able to hit a man-sized target fifteen times a minute,
at a range of 300 yards (270 m) with his Lee-Enfield rifle. This
ability to generate a high volume of accurate rifle-fire played an
important role in the BEF's battles of 1914.
Emperor Wilhelm II of Germany, who was famously dismissive of
the BEF, reportedly issued an order on 19 August 1914 to
"exterminate... the treacherous English and walk over General
French's contemptible little army". Hence, in later years, the
survivors of the regular army dubbed themselves "The Old
Contemptibles". No evidence of any such order being issued by the
Kaiser has ever been found. It was probably a British propaganda
invention, albeit one often repeated as fact.
Field Marshal Sir John French, KP GCB OM GCVO KCMG
British Expeditionary Force (World War I)Field Marshal Sir John
French, KP GCB OM GCVO KCMG
