The British Expeditionary Force heroically stopped Kaiser Wilhelm's Imperial Germany in the battle of the Meuse at the start of World War I, but the true story of their battles is clouded by the propaganda of the time. Winston Churchill described the opening campaign of the First World War as 'a drama never surpassed'. The titanic clash of Europe's armies in 1914 is one the great stories of 20th-century history, and one in which the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) played a hugely significant role. The pride in the British Army's achievements was reflected in the Official History, but its account of the fighting was understandably reticent about its shortcomings. What was more surprising, however, was the way in which the Official History set the template for succeeding accounts of the campaign, which tamely accepted its conclusions with little or no attempt at critical engagement. This work will clear away the layers of sentiment that have obscured a true historical appreciation of the British Army's opening campaign in the West. For the first time, the reader will be given a complete picture of the BEF at war, illustrating both failings and successes. It will describe how British commanders were forced to come to terms with the fearsome nature of modern warfare, as its soldiers returned to Europe to fight a first-rate opponent for the first time in nearly 100 years. The book will feature first-hand accounts that illustrate important elements of the battles, whether a heroic defensive action or a unit breaking under pressure, alongside an examination of the BEF's leadership, organization, tactics, and weapons, and an assessment of how the regular soldiers of 1914 differed from the volunteers and conscripts that follwed, and how their first allegiance was not to crown and country but to comrades and regiment.