The British Expeditionary Force (BEF) was the British army sent to France and Belgium in World War I and British Forces in Europe from 1939–1940 during World War II. The BEF was established by Secretary of State for War Richard Haldane following the Second Boer War in case the United Kingdom ever needed to deploy quickly a force to take part in an overseas war. The British Army is the land armed forces branch of the British Armed Forces. ... This article is becoming very long. ... 1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full year calendar). ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... The secretary of war in cabinet position was Henry Knox. ... Lord Haldane Richard Burdon Sanderson Haldane, 1st Viscount Haldane, (July 30, 1856 - August 19, 1928), was an important British Liberal politician, lawyer, and philosopher. ... Combatants United Kingdom Australia New Zealand Canada Cape Colony Orange Free State South African Republic Royal Dutch Navy (Evacuation of Paul Kruger only) Commanders Redvers Buller Herbert Kitchener Frederick Roberts Martinus Steyn Christiaan de Wet Paul Kruger Louis Botha Koos de la Rey Casualties 5000 - 6000 Battlefield casualties, 15,000...

World War I

Plaque at Edinburgh Castle commemorating "Old Contemptibles"

Before, and at the immediate beginning of, the war there was some debate in British military circles as to the best strategy in a conflict with Germany. Although plans had been drawn up as early as 1905 for transporting divisions rapidly to Europe, the so-called navalists favoured a strictly naval confrontation with Germany, leaving land fighting to the French. However, in the end it was decided to send a BEF to France and Belgium. Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 547 pixel Image in higher resolution (1203 × 823 pixel, file size: 132 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): British Expeditionary Force... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 547 pixel Image in higher resolution (1203 × 823 pixel, file size: 132 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): British Expeditionary Force... The castle dominates the Edinburgh skyline as seen here from Princes Street Gardens Edinburgh Castle is an ancient fortress which, from its position atop Castle Rock, dominates the sky-line of the city of Edinburgh, and is Scotlands most famous (and most visited) landmark. ... 1905 (MCMV) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar). ... Symbol of the Polish 1st Legions Infantry Division in NATO code A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of around ten to twenty thousand soldiers. ...

On the outbreak of World War I, the BEF was sent to Belgium under the command of General Sir John French. The BEF was composed of three corps (I Corps, II Corps and the Cavalry Corps) - four regular infantry divisions, rising later to seven infantry and three cavalry divisions with the addition of volunteers from Territorial Army units that had waived their right to only serve in defence of the British Isles. It suffered heavy casualties in its first battle at Mons, but helped to halt the German advance at the First Battle of the Marne. This article is becoming very long. ... The Earl of Ypres John Denton Pinkstone French, 1st Earl of Ypres, KP, GCB, OM, GCVO, KCMG, PC (28 September 1852–22 May 1925) was a British Field Marshal, the first commander of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) in World War I. Biography Born in Ripple in Kent, the son... The British I Corps has a long history, and was in existence as an active formation in the British Army for longer than any other corps. ... The British II Corps was formed in both World War I and World War II. During WWII its first assignment was to the British Expeditionary Force where it was commanded by Alan Brooke (from whose name it took its insignia of a red leaping salmon upon three wavy blue bands... The Territorial Army (TA) is a part of the British Army, the land armed forces of the United Kingdom, and composed mostly of part-time soldiers paid at the same rate, while engaged on military activities, as their Regular equivalents. ... Combatants United Kingdom German Empire Commanders Sir John French Alexander von Kluck Strength 4 divisions 8 divisions Casualties 1,600 5,000 (estimate) The Battle of Mons (Dutch name for Mons is Bergen) was the first major action of the British Expeditionary Force in World War I. // Following the surrender... Combatants France United Kingdom German Empire Commanders Joseph Joffre John French Helmuth von Moltke Karl von Bülow Alexander von Kluck Strength 1,071,000 1,485,000 Casualties Approximately 263,000: 250,000 French casualties (80,000 dead) 13,000 British casualties (1,700 dead) Approximately 250,000 total...

The force got its nickname the 'Old Contemptibles' from a supposed 'Order of the Day' for 19 August 1914 issued by Kaiser Wilhelm. August 19 is the 231st day of the year (232nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1914 (MCMXIV) was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... German Emperor Wilhelm (born Friedrich Wilhelm Viktor Albrecht, Prince of Prussia 27 January 1859–4 June 1941), was the last German Emperor and King of Prussia (de: Deutscher Kaiser und König von Preußen), ruling from 15 June 1888 to 9 November 1918. ...

It is my Royal and Imperial Command that you concentrate your energies for the immediate present upon one single purpose, and that is that you address all your skill and all the valour of my soldiers to exterminate first the treacherous English [and] walk over General French's contemptible little army.

The Kaiser had apparently described the force as "contemptibly little", referring to its size, but it got reported as "contemptible". The name stuck and the BEF proudly referred to themselves as the 'Old Contemptibles'.

No evidence of such an order was ever found in the German archives after the war, and the ex-Kaiser denied having said it:

On the contrary, I continually emphasised the high value of the British Army, and often, indeed, in peace-time gave warning against underestimating it.

The order was, it seems, created by Frederick Maurice in the British War Office for propaganda purposes. (Reference: Nigel Rees citing Arthur Ponsonby, Falsehood in War-Time, 1928.) Old War Office Building, Whitehall, London - the former location of the War Office The War Office was a former department of the British Government, responsible for the administration of the British Army between the 17th century and 1963, when its functions were transferred to the Ministry of Defence. ... Nigel Rees (born June 5, 1944, near Liverpool) is a British author and presenter, best known for devising and hosting the Radio 4 panel game Quote Unquote and for his keen interest in the use and misuse of the English language. ... Lord Arthur Augustus William Harry Ponsonby, 1st Baron Ponsonby of Shulbrede (16 February 1871 - 23 March 1946) was a British politician, writer, and social activist. ... Year 1928 (MCMXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar). ...

The term "British Expeditionary Force" strictly refers only to the forces present in France prior to the end of the First Battle of Ypres, November 22, 1914; the surviving members of these forces were later awarded the Mons Star. An alternative endpoint of the BEF was December 26, 1914, when it was divided into the First and Second Armies (a third, fourth and fifth being created later in the war). However, the name is often used to refer to the British Army in France and Flanders throughout the First World War. Combatants United Kingdom France German Empire Commanders John French Ferdinand Foch Erich von Falkenhayn Strength UK: 7 infantry divisions, 3 cavalry divisions France: ? Fourth and Sixth Armies Casualties UK: 58,000 France: 50,000 130,000 The First Battle of Ypres, also called the Battle of Flanders, was the last... November 22 is the 326th day (327th on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1914 (MCMXIV) was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... The Mons Star was medal awarded to the British Expeditionary Force whom a senior German commander (often thought to be Kaiser Wilhelm) referred to as Britains contemptible little Army, and hence commonly known as the Old Contemptibles. ... December 26 is the 360th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar, 361st in leap years. ... 1914 (MCMXIV) was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... The British First Army was a field army that existed during the First and Second World Wars. ... The British Second Army was extant in both World Wars. ... The British Third Army was a British Army unit. ... The British Fourth Army was a field army of the British Expeditionary Force during the First World War. ... The British Fifth Army was a field army of the British Expeditionary Force during the First World War. ... Flanders (Dutch: ) has several main meanings: the social, cultural and linguistical, scientific and educational, economical and political community of the Flemings; generally called the Flemish community (others refer to this as the Flemish nation) which is, with over 6 million inhabitants, the majority of all Belgians; the constituent governing institution...

World War II

Following the German invasion of Poland in 1939, the British Expeditionary Force was sent to the Franco-Belgian border. By May 1940, when the German attack began, it consisted of ten infantry divisions in three corps, a tank brigade and a RAF detachment of about 500 aircraft. Commanded by General Lord Gort, although constituting only a tenth of the defending Allied force it sustained heavy losses during the German advance and most of the remainder (roughly 330,000 men) were evacuated from Dunkirk in June, leaving much of their equipment behind. However, the 51st (Highland) Infantry Division was left behind at Saint-Valéry-en-Caux, as it was not trapped by the Germans at the time; it surrendered along with elements of the French 10th Army later in June. The short lived second Expeditionary Force commanded by General Alan Brooke was evacuated from Western France during Operation Ariel. Combatants Poland Germany, Soviet Union, Slovakia Commanders Edward Rydz-ÅšmigÅ‚y Fedor von Bock (Army Group North), Gerd von Rundstedt (Army Group South), Mikhail Kovalov (Belorussian Front), Semyon Timoshenko (Ukrainian Front), Ferdinand ÄŒatloÅ¡ (Field Army Bernolak) Strength 39 divisions, 16 brigades, 4,300 guns, 880 tanks, 400 aircraft Total: 950... Infantry of the Royal Irish Rifles during the Battle of the Somme in World War I. Infantry are soldiers who fight primarily on foot with small arms in organized military units, though they may be transported to the battlefield by horses, ships, automobiles, skis, or other means. ... A corps (plural same as singular; a word that migrated from the French language, pronounced IPA: (cor), but originating in the Latin corpus, corporis meaning body) is either a large military unit or formation, an administrative grouping of troops within an army with a common function (such as artillery or... The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the air force branch of the British Armed Forces. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Field Marshal John Standish Surtees Prendergast Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort VC GCB CBE DSO and two Bars MVO MC (commonly known as Lord Gort) (10 July 1886 - 31 March 1946) was a British soldier who served in both World War I and II, rising to the rank of field marshal... French troops rescued by a British merchant ship at Dunkirk British evacuation on Dunkirk beach Operation Dynamo (or Dunkirk Evacuation, the Miracle of Dunkirk or just Dunkirk) was the name given to the World War II mass evacuation of Allied soldiers from May 26 to June 4, 1940, during the... For the First World War unit, see British 51st (Highland) Division (World War I). ... Saint-Valery-en-Caux is a seaside town and commune of the Seine Maritime département, Haute-Normandie région, Normandy, France, located 30 km west of Dieppe and 30 km east of Fécamp. ... Statue of Field Marshal The Viscount Alanbrooke, MoD Building, Whitehall, London Field Marshal Alan Francis Brooke, 1st Viscount Alanbrooke, KG, GCB, OM, GCVO, DSO (July 23, 1883 - June 17, 1963) was a British Field Marshal during World War II. He also served as Lord High Constable during the coronation of... During World War II, Operation Ariel was the escape of French and British forces from northern France after the collapse of that country. ...

For the order of battle, see British Expeditionary Force order of battle (1940) This is the British Expeditionary Force order of battle on 9 May 1940, the day before the German forces initiated the Battle of France // G.H.Q. Troops [This pool of troops were not a formation. ...

See also

• British Military Mission to Poland
• La Ferté-sous-Jouarre memorial - one of many World War I memorials to the British Expeditionary Force

The British Military Mission to Poland was an effort by Britain to aid the nascent Second Polish Republic after it achieved its independence in November, 1918, at the end of the First World War. ... The La Ferté-sous-Jouarre memorial is a World War I memorial located on the south bank of the River Marne, on the outskirts of the French commune of La Ferté-sous-Jouarre, 66 kilometres east of Paris, in the department of Seine-et-Marne. ...

References

• Sayings of the Century, Nigel Rees, 1984.

Nigel Rees (born June 5, 1944, near Liverpool) is a British author and presenter, best known for devising and hosting the Radio 4 panel game Quote Unquote and for his keen interest in the use and misuse of the English language. ... 1984 (MCMLXXXIV) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• A source for Kaiser Wilhelm's Order of the Day