The Old Contemptible' s pub in Birmingham is named after the men of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) who served in Flanders within range of the enemy mobile artillery between 5 August and 22 November 1914.
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| Old Contemptibles Pub Birmingham |
The name 'Old Contemptibles' arose from an Order of the Day issued by the Kaiser, which mentioned 'Sir John French's contemptible little army'.
The men involved fought in the battle of Mons, the retreat to the River Marne, where the German advance was halted. The subsequent advance and stalemate that developed on the River Aisne. A a Race to the Sea developed as opposing sides tried to outflank each other, finally ending in the First Battle of Ypres.
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Those who served on the Western Front in 1914 were awarded the Mons Star. A clasp dated 5th August (date of mobilisation) to the 22nd November (end of the First Battle of Ypres) was awarded to those that were actually engaged in the fighting.
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| 1914 Star with Clasp |
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| Old Contemptibles Pub Birmingham |
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| Old Contemptibles Pub Birmingham |
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| Old Contemptibles Pub Birmingham |
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| Old Contemptibles Pub Birmingham |
The pub was originally called The Albion. After the First World War it was run by Frederick Stokes, an 'Old Contemptible' who served with the Royal Warwickshire Regiment. The pub was renamed 'Old Contemptibles in 1953 in recognition of the veterans of the original BEF who gathered in the pub after the conflict.
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| Frederick Stokes Royal Warwickshire Regiment |