First Ypres 1914: The graveyard of the Old Contemptibles

Description

In the autumn of 1914 the original British Expeditionary Force faced a heavily reinforced German drive. Field Marshal Sir John French, the British Commander-in-Chief, had sent his men north in an attempt to take the fight into Flanders, so they could fight across open ground. History tells us that this was not to be the case. David Lomas chronicles the first of the trench-warfare battles, where lines that would remain almost static for the rest of the war were established. Although the Germans failed to reach the channel ports, the death knell had rung for the BEF, which was virtually wiped out in this brave defence.

David Lomas is the pen name of Deborah Lake who currently lives and works in Northumberland. Ed Dovey has been a military illustrator for a number of years and has worked on Osprey titles such as Campaign 49 Mons 1914. He is well known and much admired for his work in Military Illustrated magazine.