Thomas Edwin Hill - Old Contemptibles World War 1

The Old Contemptibles Association was a voluntary group of old soldiers who had served in the pre-war all-professional regular British Army that became the British Expeditionary Force of late 1914. They were that select band who served in France and Flanders between 5 Aug and 22 Nov 1914 and received the 1914 Star (the "Old Contemptibles" medal). The term comes from a reference to the B.E.F. by the Kaiser (or one of his generals) as "that contemptible little army". As is their way, the British soldiers inevitably took this as a reverse compliment and adopted it as their nickname.
The Association was disbanded some years ago when its members became too elderly and frail to continue their meetings and commemorative services.