Just a quick note. The Old Contemptibles was the nickname of the British Expeditionary Force that fought in France at the start of the war.

Most of them were killed. The few who lived were made officers over the troops who were sent later on. Suffice to say, that nickname denotes valor and honor.

The nickname is based on the contempt that the Kaiser, the leader of Germany, had for the small British army that were the first in combat in WW1.

That said, then it was called the Great War. It was meant to end all wars. They feared that there would be another war. Sadly, it did happen. So they started calling The Great War WW1 and the next phase of the war WW2.
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