In 1914, Britain despatched its first round of forces to fight in Belgium and France; they were known as the British Expeditionary Force or BEF. Although the term is applicable to all the forces that fought throughout the war, it is usually reserved for those men who volunteered for the regular army before the war, taking part in the first battles. The BEF was created by Richard Burdon Haldane, under the guidance of Douglas Haig in 1912, and its mobilisation in 1914 showed how well trained, equipped and organised these British troops were. They would suffer heavy losses in The First Battle of Ypres, but many would go on to hold high ranking positions for the rest of the war, strategically leading the troops into battle. They are remembered for their spirit and camaraderie, through poems, and legends such as The angel of Mons.