Peacetime Troops and the Challenges of a Small Force
The 2nd Suffolks were part of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) sent to France in 1914. The BEF was a relatively small professional army, numbering roughly 70,000–80,000 combat troops. It was designed as a rapid-reaction force for short, limited wars on the European continent, not for a long, protracted conflict like the First World War. At the outbreak of war, the BEF fought a mobile, non-trench campaign, relying on the firepower and discipline of its highly trained soldiers—particularly their accurate, rapid rifle fire—rather than mass armies or static defenses.
The challenges faced by such a small force were stark: limited manpower, few reserves, and vulnerability to attrition. Yet the BEF’s professional training and cohesion allowed it to fight effectively in the early battles of 1914, even when outnumbered and outgunned.
Peacetime: India’s Training Grounds
Before the war, the 2nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment, honed its skills during peacetime postings, particularly in India from 1900 to 1907. The battalion earned a reputation as a “well-officered battalion that compared favorably with the best in the service, with the nicest possible feeling among all ranks.” It was also regarded as an excellent shooting unit, demonstrating high-level musketry skill—the ability to coordinate rifle and automatic fire on designated targets.
This professionalism was rooted in a spirit of independence and self-reliance among officers and non-commissioned officers, cultivated over years of service across India and other postings. Such qualities helped the 2nd Battalion achieve first place in the Quetta Division of the British Army of India in military effectiveness. This recognition came after a rigorous six-day test, with more than twelve hours of activity each day, including bridge building, retreats under fire, forced marches, and the defense of ground and fixed fortifications.
Wartime: Europe’s Proving Grounds
In August 1914, at the start of the First World War, the 2nd Battalion landed at Le Havre as part of the 14th Brigade in the 5th Division. Just 23 days later, at the Battle of Le Cateau, the value of the battalion’s peacetime training was vividly demonstrated. The 2nd Battalion undertook a fierce rear-guard defense against superior enemy forces. It held its position despite losing its commanding officer, Lt. Col. C.A.H. Brett, DSO, at the start of the action, and its second-in-command, Maj. E.C. Doughty, who was severely wounded after six hours while supplying ammunition to machine gunners.
After more than eight hours of relentless fighting, the battalion was almost completely decimated. Gradually outflanked, the men refused to surrender, even as German forces attempted to order them to lay down their arms using buglers and hand signals. Eventually, an overwhelming attack from the rear ended the battalion’s defense. Survivors spent the next four years as prisoners of war, returning home only on Christmas Day 1918.
The heroism and discipline of the 2nd Battalion at Le Cateau, built on years of peacetime training, illustrate the potential—and the vulnerability—of a small, professional force.
Modern Parallels
The principle of well-trained peacetime troops rising to the challenge of actual combat remains true today. The majority of British soldiers spend most of their careers in peacetime environments—training at home or on overseas rotations, participating in exercises, and supporting NATO operations across Europe, Africa, and beyond. For example, UK forces deployed as part of NATO’s Enhanced Forward Presence operate primarily in Estonia and Poland, conducting intensive drills, live-fire exercises, and operational rotations to maintain readiness in the face of Russian aggression.
Even without direct combat, these troops develop the resilience, coordination, and skills necessary to respond effectively if war were to come. In this way, modern UK forces continue the legacy of the 2nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment: small, disciplined, and highly trained units capable of meeting extraordinary challenges.