The BEF of 1914 is remembered because of its battle honours and the suffering it endured. This culminated in the bloody attritional fighting around Ypres in October and November 1914

The pre-war regulars and reservists had, in many respects, a different attitude to the war. They professional soldiers trained to fight, obey orders and not ask questions. They were, in truth, one of the finest fighting forces to have served Great Britain overseas.

The Bronze Star was awarded in April 1917 to all soldiers who had served in France and Belgium between 5^th August – 22^nd November 1914. The soldiers awarded this medal were known as "Old Contemptibles." In 1919 King George V sanctioned the award of a bar to this medal for all those who had served under fire between those dates. 378,000 stars were awarded. It is not known how many bars were awarded.

Pop was awarded the Star & Bar as well as the Victory Medal and the British War Medal having fought on the Battlefields around Le Cateau, The Marne, The Aisne and Ypres as well as The Somme.

The majority of the BEF was killed or wounded and, after 1915 there were few units left that could boast of more than 5 men from the Old Army. The spirit of the Contemptibles was epitomized by the acceptance of their nickname. It is said that the Kaiser Wilhelm issued an order to Von Kluck, Commander of the German 1^st Army "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 your skill and all the valour of my soldiers to exterminate the treacherous English, and walk over French’s contemptibly small army." In mis-translation, contemptibly became contemptible. However, on hearing this, the men were happy to be known as The Contemptibles.