The Exeter Branch of the Old Contemptibles Association was one of many local branches formed after the First World War to support the surviving members of the British Expeditionary Force who had served in France and Belgium before 22 November 1914. These men became known as the “Old Contemptibles” after the German Kaiser was reported to have dismissed the BEF as “that contemptible little army”.
The national Association was founded in 1925 to promote comradeship, remembrance and practical assistance for its members. Branches were established across Britain, and Exeter’s was active throughout the inter‑war years. Its members took part in Armistice Day parades, reunions and civic events, and the branch provided support to widows and families of those who had served in the opening battles of the war.
A memorial panel dedicated to the Exeter Branch survives, listing the names of local men who were part of the original BEF. It stands as a reminder of the city’s contribution to the retreat from Mons, the Marne, the Aisne and the first battles of Ypres, and of the heavy losses suffered by the small professional army that met the German advance in 1914.
As the years passed and the number of surviving Old Contemptibles declined, the Exeter Branch, like many others, gradually became inactive. The national Association was formally disbanded in 1975. The Exeter memorial remains an important link to the city’s First World War history and to the men who served in the earliest and most desperate phase of the conflict.
