The 1914 Star - The British Expeditionary Force served in France and Flanders between August 5th and November 22nd, 1914 and received the 1914 Star, commonly known as the Mons Star. King George V instituted a Bar on October 19, 1919 in recognition of men who served under fire of the enemy for the full duration of time between August 5th and November 22nd, 1914.

Alfred Brockman was an Old Contemptible, a voluntary group of soldiers who had served in the pre-war British Army that later became the British Expeditionary Force of late 1914. The Kaiser referred to the the British Expeditionary Force as "that contemptible little army", which was taken as compliment by the British soldiers and adopted it as their nickname.