The Old Contemptibles WWI BEF

(book)

by Bill Rutherford

No. 24 of the Elite Series with text by Michael Barthorp, plates by Pierre Turner, Osprey Pub. Ltd., London, 1989, 64pp., illus. and photos, PB, $11.95.

The British Expeditionary Force (BEF) is described from its birth after the turn of the century, to its near annihilation in the early days of World War 1. The text is tightly written, though, as Barthorp notes, it can do little more than outline the BEF's actions in the limited space of this book. He does, however, do a good job of detailing the organization and makeup of the BEF. The 65 b&w photos show some field scenes, but in the main, portray the uniforms worn by the different units making up the BEF. The twelve pages of color plates, with their extensive book's-end descriptions, likewise depict the wide variety of uniforms worn over the BEF's first twelve years. Barthorp provides a brief list of suggested further readings, as well. This book will be of good value to those with an interest in the British military.

Reviewing Stand

Back to Table of Contents -- Courier Vol. IX No. 6
Back to Courier List of Issues
Back to Master Magazine List
© Copyright 1991 by The Courier Publishing Company.
This article appears in MagWeb.com (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web.
Other articles from military history and related magazines are available at http://www.magweb.com