Old Contemptibles
The Falkirk District Old Contemptibles who are buried or commemorated in the Ypres Salient and who fought in the First Battle of Ypres number twenty four. Each man holds the 1914 Star and Clasp. The Old Contemptibles refers to the professional soldiers of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) who served in France and Flanders from August 5 to November 22, 1914, earning the name from Kaiser Wilhelm II's dismissive ‘contemptible little army’ comment, which they proudly adopted as a badge of honour. They were highly trained, professional soldiers of the regular army, and of all ranks distinct from the later mass conscription forces. The surviving veterans formed the Old Contemptibles Association on 25 June 1925 were veterans who remained ‘chums’ met annually and held services of remembrance. The Old Contemptibles pub on Edmund Street, Birmingham was originally opened as the Adelphi Wine Vaults in the late 18th century and later known as the Albion Hotel it was renamed ‘The Old Contemptibles’ in 1953 to honour the WWI veterans who frequented it. In the west cloister of Westminster Abbey is a memorial to the Old Contemptibles it is made of limestone and Welsh blue slate and was designed by Donald Buttress and unveiled in 1993.
Falkirk District Old Contemptibles of the First Battle of Ypres are:
Bainsford
Bo’ness
Bonnybridge
Camelon
Carron & Carronshore
Denny & Dunipace
Falkirk
Grangemouth
Larbert
Laurieston
Longcroft
Muiravonside
Slamannan
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