Christmas truce letter from the front

[stiletto_33853]

Thought as it was Christmas Eve I would place a letter that appeared in the Evening News, 2nd January 1915 on the forum.

Christmas Day 1914.

My Dear Parents - Christmas Day ! The most wonderful day on record. In the early hours of the morning the events of last night appeared as some weird dream - but to-day, well, it beggars description.

You will hardly credit what I am going to tell you; but thousands of our men will be writing home to-day telling the same strange and wonderful story.

Last night as I sat in my little dug-out, writing, my chum came bursting in upon me with: 'Bob, Hark at 'em !' and I listened. From the German trenches came the sound of music and singing. My chum continued: 'They've got Christmas trees all along the top of their trenches ! Never saw such a sight.

I got up to investigate. Climbing the parapet, I saw a sight I shall remember to my dying day. Right along the whole of their line were hung paper lanterns and illuminations of every description, many of them in such positions as to suggest that they were hung upon Christmas trees. And as I stood in wonder a rousing song came over to us; at first the words were indistinguishable, then, as the song was repeated again and again, we realized we were listening to 'Watch on the Rhine.'

Our boys answered with a cheer, while a neighbouring regiment sang lusilty the National Anthem.

Some were for shooting the lights away, but almost at the first shot there came a shout in really good English 'Stop Shooting !.'

Then began a series of answering shouts from trench to trench. It was incredible. Hallo ! Hallo ! you English; we wish to speak. And everyone began to speak at once.

Some were rational, others the reverse to complimentary. Eventually some sort of order obtained, and lo ! a party of our men got out of the trenches and invited the Germans to meet them half-way and talk. And there in the searchlight they stood Englishmen and German, chatting and smoking cigarettes together mid-way between the lines.

A rousing cheer went up from friend and foe alike. The group was too far away for me to hear what was said, but presently we heard a cheery 'Good Night. A merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all,' with which the parties returned to their respective trenches.

After this we remained the whole night through, singing with the enemy song for song.

'Give us Tipperary,' they cried. Whereupon an adjacent Irish regiment let loose a tremendous 'Whoop' and complied with the request in a way such as only Irishmen can. Presently there came a lull, and, taking advantage of the comparative quiet, someone, we could not tell who, walked out across out front, went almost up to the German trenches, and, after a brief conversation with those who came out to meet him returned just as calmly as though he had visited old acquaintances.

[stiletto_33853]

And so with these untoward events turning my thoughts all topsy-turvy` I tried to snatch a few hours rest.

I turned out this morning at dawn, still pondering upon the events of the previous night and wondering if this farce was still continuing. I asked the sentries for their reports, and they laughed. 'Reports ! Look at this lot Sergeant.'

Again I climbed on to the parapet and was staggered at the seeming audacity of our enemies. They were all out upon the earthworks, still shouting and singing, and waving cheery greetings across to us.

'Come out,' they cried. 'We are friends to-day.'

Already many of our chaps were going across to meet them. At first our officers remonstrated but nobody seemed to want to do any harm, and before long we were all out in the open exchanging souvenirs and smoking each others cigarettes.

But before we could really feel on easy terms there were some gruesome tasks to be performed. English and German returned for spades, and between us we gave decent burial to those poor fellows who had fallen weeks previously, and who had, perforce, to be abandoned in the field. We had tried on several occasions to get to these bodies and bury them by night, but such a procedure always resulted in shots being exchanged, and a hasty return whence we came.

But to-day I stood shoulder to shoulder with a German and dug a grave for his late comrade. Crosses now mark the spots where for weeks there had lain gruesome forms.

This business over, we turned to our conversation. At first we were rather chary about talking or chumming up, but after a while everyone seemed to know everybody else, and we laughed and joked and strolled about in a way that would have startled you good people at home.

Many of 'our friends' knew London well. One chap cleared a space and showed us how he performed at various theatres in London.

War ! We looked at each other and laughed, each showing his incapacity to fully realise the situation in his own peculiar way.

One great-coated warrior tore of his equipment, and flinging it to the ground cried: 'War ! This is war ! Well I'm ______ !' and he promptly burst into tears.

And so we spent the day. As dusk came on we returned to our trenches, and here we sit, wonder more profound than ever holding us, awaiting what next may come.

Even as I write I can hardly credit what I have seen and done. This has indeed been a wonderful day.

[stiletto_33853]

After this letter, I would like to wish every forum member a Very Happy Christmas

Andy

[egbert]

thanx for sharing and have a wonderful Christmas!

[johnreed]

Thanks for that Andy.

John

[jay dubaya]

Peace on Earth to you all,

Jon

[chrrip]

Wonderful account; was he definitely Rifle Brigade ?? or maybe London Rifle Brigade; both were in 11 Brigade in Ploegsteert sector: Merry Christmas, Chris

[michel knockaert]

Thank you for sharing with us Andy.

Have a Merry Christmas an Happy New Year

Michel

[NigelS]

My chum continued: 'They've got Christmas trees all along the top of their trenches ! Never saw such a sight.

This is an extract from "The History of the London Rifle Brigade 1859 - 1919" for December 1914, when its 1st Battalion was at Ploegsteert:

The Germans were also determined to keep the Christmas season if they could, and their trenches on 24th December were outlined with fairy lights, while Christmas trees were in evidence as well. As the weather was very frosty just then, the British troops arranged a truce with the Saxons who were opposite this portion of the line, in order that burying parties might carry out their very necessary duties, and this led to meetings in No Man's Land and an exchange of courtesies, which ignorance at that time of the German methods and intentions in the matter of poison-gas and other horrors made possible. In some cases visits were said to have been made to the enemy's trenches by adventurous spirits, and there were rumours of a proposed football match, but the authorities frowned upon ideas of this sort and stopped them, quite rightly, because it would have been most unwise to allow the Germans to know how weakly the British trenches were held. Anyhow the matter was essentially a question of paying proper respect to the dead, and not a shot was fired after Xmas Day until a message was received on New Years Eve, that "The automatic pistol would recommence firing at midnight." It did but the shots were purposely aimed high, and gossip said that adjutant, who was going up through the wood, was very nearly hit.

Regarding the stopping of football matches by the authorities, as we now know, and in the best seasonal tradition of pantomime, altogether: "Oh no they didn't!"

Please could somebody enlighten me as to just what "the automatic pistol" was - it reads to me as if it were one that was set to fire without human intervention, or have I got the wrong end of the stick?

Season Greetings

NigelS

[shaymen]

Andy

Cheers for posting that account

Have a good one all.

Glyn

[Rupert]

Fantastic story! And Merry Christmas to all the Pals!

Stu

[stiletto_33853]

Chris,

Yes the letter definetely from Rifle Brigade. It was written by Sergeant Lovell, 1 company of the LRB was attached to the Rifle Brigade in the trenches, the rest of the LRB were in Bunter Avenue in the Wood.

Andy

[Steven Broomfield]

Thnaks, Andy.

Did Sjt Lovell make it to the end of the war?

[stiletto_33853]

Hi Steven,

Yes he did survive the War.

Andy

[Cnock]

Andy,

Thanks for sharing,

Cnock

[Charles Fair]

Thanks for sharing that Andy, hope you had a great day. regards Charles

[Brendan Grant]

Thank you and merry Christmas from Canada. It's wonderful yet strange to hear these stories. But I could easily see myself feeling the same way as these boys in 1914. It reminds me of the movie "Joyeux Noel" which depicts one of these events in 1914 (with football match)... A decent movie. Cheers all and happy new year.

http://www.amazon.com/Joyeux-Noel-Widescre...x/dp/B000I6BJ56

[chrrip]

Chris,

Yes the letter definetely from Rifle Brigade. It was written by Sergeant Lovell, 1 company of the LRB was attached to the Rifle Brigade in the trenches, the rest of the LRB were in Bunter Avenue in the Wood.

Andy

Thanks Andy; I have found quite a few LRB accounts of the truce so great to see another one in their sector albeit RB; best wishes for 2008, Chris

[chrrip]

The LRB was attached to the Rifle Brigade in the trenches by half companies for ‘acclimatisation’. In October 1933, the LRB RECORD recounts one of the lighter moments in the LRB’s early days in the line;

‘Are you the LRB snipers,. Well, go and report to Sgt. Mann of ‘C’ Coy.; and he’ll show you your positions. ‘C’ Company are along the edge of the wood over there on the right.’

The snipers, four or five in number, walked along behind the front-line trench. The line was well inside the wood and one could move about in daylight in comparative safety. True, now and again an odd ‘spare’ from away beyond the Birdcage would go ‘thwack’ into a tree nearby or a ‘ricco’ would whistle past, singing its evil song. However, as things went, it was safe enough. This was just as well, for there was no room in the trench for passers-by, anyway.

The Rifle Brigade were then holding the line. The LRB had only arrived a day or two before and were sharing the fortunes of war with the 1st R.B. for a time. There was some excellent cover in the undergrowth for snipers and some LRB marksmen had been detailed to report to the R.B. for sniping duty.

The sniping party came to a gap in the trench and saw a rough path leading half-right, obviously a short cut to ‘C’ coy. It soon fizzled out however, but ‘C’ Company couldn’t be far away, so they went on through the wood. They had only gone another 20 or 30 yards when they saw a trench. Good, they were on the right track. They could just see a sentry’s head bobbing about the trench, so they went up to it and called out ‘ Hullo, are you ‘C’ Coy.?’

The sentry who wasn’t doing his job very thoroughly, and hadn’t noticed them approach, now suddenly became very alert indeed. He shouted ‘ Die Englander, die Englander’ and seized his rifle. The Snipers, to their astonishment and dismay, had seen almost as soon as they had spoken that the sentry, bareheaded, had a grey uniform, and they bolted. Luckily, the German sentry was just as much taken by surprise as they and by the time he and a few more Germans had collected their wits and their rifles and begun to fire the LRB Snipers were well on their way back to our trenches, where they arrived breathless but safe.’

‘I was standing behind the front line at the time, thinking how lucky we were to be in such a nice cushy spot when my peaceful reverie was shattered by the venomous crack of angry bullets. I tumbled into the trench in a smart, but most unriflemanlike manner, and saw the Snipers making for cover.’

[Guest narra1952]

Thought as it was Christmas Eve I would place a letter that appeared in the Evening News, 2nd January 1915 on the forum.

Christmas Day 1914.

My Dear Parents - Christmas Day ! The most wonderful day on record. In the early hours of the morning the events of last night appeared as some weird dream - but to-day, well, it beggars description.

You will hardly credit what I am going to tell you; but thousands of our men will be writing home to-day telling the same strange and wonderful story.

Last night as I sat in my little dug-out, writing, my chum came bursting in upon me with: 'Bob, Hark at 'em !' and I listened. From the German trenches came the sound of music and singing. My chum continued: 'They've got Christmas trees all along the top of their trenches ! Never saw such a sight.

I got up to investigate. Climbing the parapet, I saw a sight I shall remember to my dying day. Right along the whole of their line were hung paper lanterns and illuminations of every description, many of them in such positions as to suggest that they were hung upon Christmas trees. And as I stood in wonder a rousing song came over to us; at first the words were indistinguishable, then, as the song was repeated again and again, we realized we were listening to 'Watch on the Rhine.'

Our boys answered with a cheer, while a neighbouring regiment sang lusilty the National Anthem.

Some were for shooting the lights away, but almost at the first shot there came a shout in really good English 'Stop Shooting !.'

Then began a series of answering shouts from trench to trench. It was incredible. Hallo ! Hallo ! you English; we wish to speak. And everyone began to speak at once.

Some were rational, others the reverse to complimentary. Eventually some sort of order obtained, and lo ! a party of our men got out of the trenches and invited the Germans to meet them half-way and talk. And there in the searchlight they stood Englishmen and German, chatting and smoking cigarettes together mid-way between the lines.

A rousing cheer went up from friend and foe alike. The group was too far away for me to hear what was said, but presently we heard a cheery 'Good Night. A merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all,' with which the parties returned to their respective trenches.

After this we remained the whole night through, singing with the enemy song for song.

'Give us Tipperary,' they cried. Whereupon an adjacent Irish regiment let loose a tremendous 'Whoop' and complied with the request in a way such as only Irishmen can. Presently there came a lull, and, taking advantage of the comparative quiet, someone, we could not tell who, walked out across out front, went almost up to the German trenches, and, after a brief conversation with those who came out to meet him returned just as calmly as though he had visited old acquaintances.

Thought as it was Christmas Eve I would place a letter that appeared in the Evening News, 2nd January 1915 on the forum.

Christmas Day 1914.

My Dear Parents - Christmas Day ! The most wonderful day on record. In the early hours of the morning the events of last night appeared as some weird dream - but to-day, well, it beggars description.

You will hardly credit what I am going to tell you; but thousands of our men will be writing home to-day telling the same strange and wonderful story.

Last night as I sat in my little dug-out, writing, my chum came bursting in upon me with: 'Bob, Hark at 'em !' and I listened. From the German trenches came the sound of music and singing. My chum continued: 'They've got Christmas trees all along the top of their trenches ! Never saw such a sight.

I got up to investigate. Climbing the parapet, I saw a sight I shall remember to my dying day. Right along the whole of their line were hung paper lanterns and illuminations of every description, many of them in such positions as to suggest that they were hung upon Christmas trees. And as I stood in wonder a rousing song came over to us; at first the words were indistinguishable, then, as the song was repeated again and again, we realized we were listening to 'Watch on the Rhine.'

Our boys answered with a cheer, while a neighbouring regiment sang lusilty the National Anthem.

Some were for shooting the lights away, but almost at the first shot there came a shout in really good English 'Stop Shooting !.'

Then began a series of answering shouts from trench to trench. It was incredible. Hallo ! Hallo ! you English; we wish to speak. And everyone began to speak at once.

Some were rational, others the reverse to complimentary. Eventually some sort of order obtained, and lo ! a party of our men got out of the trenches and invited the Germans to meet them half-way and talk. And there in the searchlight they stood Englishmen and German, chatting and smoking cigarettes together mid-way between the lines.

A rousing cheer went up from friend and foe alike. The group was too far away for me to hear what was said, but presently we heard a cheery 'Good Night. A merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all,' with which the parties returned to their respective trenches.

After this we remained the whole night through, singing with the enemy song for song.

'Give us Tipperary,' they cried. Whereupon an adjacent Irish regiment let loose a tremendous 'Whoop' and complied with the request in a way such as only Irishmen can. Presently there came a lull, and, taking advantage of the comparative quiet, someone, we could not tell who, walked out across out front, went almost up to the German trenches, and, after a brief conversation with those who came out to meet him returned just as calmly as though he had visited old acquaintances.