The Christmas Truce 1914
Peaceful and sometimes friendly interactions between opposing forces was a regular feature in quiet front-line sectors of the Western Front.
Though there was no official truce, roughly 100,000 British and German troops were involved in unofficial cessations of fighting along the length of the Western Front. Late on Christmas Eve 1914, near Armentiers, the British heard German troops in the trenches opposite them, singing carols and patriotic songs and saw lanterns and small fir trees along their trenches. Messages began to be shouted between the trenches. The following day, British and German soldiers met in No Man's Land and exchanged gifts, took photographs and some played impromptu games of football. As the message was passed from trench to trench, the ceasefire expanded along a 27 mile stretch and continued until the end of Christmas day. Both sides took the opportunity to recover the bodies of their compatriots and arrange their burial.
As the Peace Committee argues, 'These spontaneous acts of festive goodwill directly contradicted orders from high command, and offered an evocative and hopeful – albeit brief – recognition of shared humanity and thereby, give a rereading of the traditional Christmas message of 'on earth peace, good will toward men.'
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The truce was not observed everywhere along the Western Front. Elsewhere the fighting continued and casualties did occur on Christmas Day. Some officers were unhappy at the truce and worried that it would undermine fighting spirit.
After 1914, the High Commands on both sides tried to prevent any truces on a similar scale happening again. Despite this, there were some isolated incidents of soldiers holding brief truces later in the war, and not only at Christmas. In what was known as the 'Live and Let Live' system, in quiet sectors of the front line, brief pauses in the hostilities were sometimes tacitly agreed, allowing both sides to repair their trenches or gather their dead.
condensed from www.1914-18.net/truce.htm and wikipedia.
© Queensferry History Group 2014
Peaceful and sometimes friendly interactions between opposing forces was a regular feature in quiet front-line sectors of the Western Front.
Though there was no official truce, roughly 100,000 British and German troops were involved in unofficial cessations of fighting along the length of the Western Front. Late on Christmas Eve 1914, near Armentiers, the British heard German troops in the trenches opposite them, singing carols and patriotic songs and saw lanterns and small fir trees along their trenches. Messages began to be shouted between the trenches. The following day, British and German soldiers met in No Man's Land and exchanged gifts, took photographs and some played impromptu games of football. As the message was passed from trench to trench, the ceasefire expanded along a 27 mile stretch and continued until the end of Christmas day. Both sides took the opportunity to recover the bodies of their compatriots and arrange their burial.
As the Peace Committee argues, 'These spontaneous acts of festive goodwill directly contradicted orders from high command, and offered an evocative and hopeful – albeit brief – recognition of shared humanity and thereby, give a rereading of the traditional Christmas message of 'on earth peace, good will toward men.'
*
The truce was not observed everywhere along the Western Front. Elsewhere the fighting continued and casualties did occur on Christmas Day. Some officers were unhappy at the truce and worried that it would undermine fighting spirit.
After 1914, the High Commands on both sides tried to prevent any truces on a similar scale happening again. Despite this, there were some isolated incidents of soldiers holding brief truces later in the war, and not only at Christmas. In what was known as the 'Live and Let Live' system, in quiet sectors of the front line, brief pauses in the hostilities were sometimes tacitly agreed, allowing both sides to repair their trenches or gather their dead.
condensed from www.1914-18.net/truce.htm and wikipedia.
© Queensferry History Group 2014
Princess Mary's Christmas Box
In November 1914, an advert was placed in the National press asking for contributions to a Sailors & Soldiers Christmas Fund which had been created by Princess Mary, the 17 year old daughter of King George V and Queen Mary. The aim was to provide everyone wearing the King's uniform and serving overseas on Christmas Day 1914, with a gift from the nation.
With the money raised, an embossed brass box was designed which was engraved with an outline of the Princess, the words Christmas 1914 and monogrammed 'M'
The contents varied depending upon who was to receive them.
The majority contained a pipe, a lighter, 1oz of tobacco and twenty cigarettes in distinctive yellow monogrammed wrappers. However non-smokers and boys received a silver and brass bullet pencil and a packet of sweets instead.
Nurses serving abroad received chocolate,
King George V also sent a Christmas card to every soldier, sailor and nurse.
© Queensferry History Group 2014
With the money raised, an embossed brass box was designed which was engraved with an outline of the Princess, the words Christmas 1914 and monogrammed 'M'
The contents varied depending upon who was to receive them.
The majority contained a pipe, a lighter, 1oz of tobacco and twenty cigarettes in distinctive yellow monogrammed wrappers. However non-smokers and boys received a silver and brass bullet pencil and a packet of sweets instead.
Nurses serving abroad received chocolate,
King George V also sent a Christmas card to every soldier, sailor and nurse.
© Queensferry History Group 2014