ABSTRACT
Between 9 and 22 August the British Expeditionary Force arrived in France. The British transported to France some 160,000 men in six infantry divisions, one cavalry division, two cavalry brigades, and support troops. Wilhelm II, with his penchant for unfortunate phrases, is said to have referred to the BEF as a “contemptible little army”,33 but all British troops were volunteers and most were battle-tested. Under the command of Field Marshal Sir John French, the “Old Contemptibles”, as the men now proudly referred to themselves, soon proved their worth in battle.
