sorry if this is a repeat post but it hasnt appeared on the forum this end.............Pardon my naivity but what was the role of the BEF and why was it called the BEF not just The BF ie why expeditionary

OK, let's start something.........

Think of the BF as being commanded by the Grand Old Duke of York.

They went to Arras out of political expediency or perhaps out of a sense of nostalgia having spent several years there in the first war.

So maybe they wanted to call it the British Expeditious Force?

And when they were there they were there. And when they were back they were back and when they were only halfway there they were getting the snot bombed out of them at Dunkirk.

Role? You asked for a role?

Beats me!

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I like Majors description there...

Stevin, am I being naive here in thinking you are talking of BEF British Expiditonary force of 39/40 to France?

E for Expiditionary being the word in question?

Expidition...overseas?

If BF then just British Force, could be anywhere in UK etc?

What was their role? Major is correct, they were there to test the French and Belgian sand for its use as a defence against bombing attack, hence when they got home eventually, sand bags seen around all UK important buildings and houses....

There was another famous BEF, well actually there were lots of others even in ww2 and before, but the old contemptibles off ww1 were oft reported as the BEF as well.

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