A simple construction of the Ree groups of type 2F4

We give an elementary construction of Ree's family of finite simple groups , avoiding the need for the machinery of Lie algebras, algebraic groups, or buildings. We calculate the group orders and prove simplicity from first principles. Moreover, this is a practical construction in the sense that it gives an explicit description of the generalized octagon, and from it generators for many of the maximal subgroups may be easily obtained.