| |
| home |
| how to take part |
| some of the letters |
| the soldiers |
| faqs |
| links |
| SCOTLAND |
|
SEE ALSO THE SCOTSMAN The Oban Times January 9th, 1915: Oban Territorial at the Front - Christmas Day in the trenches A Hare Ran Through The Lines. Instantly, with the greatest good humour, friend and foe joind in a frolicsome chase. They tumbled and pulled each other about, and of course in the midst of all this hilarity Master Hare quietly escaped. Advantage was taken of the truce to bury the dead, some of whom had been lying between the opposing fronts since the previous engagement. This incident leads the writer to remark on the grim sight presented by a mound behind their section of trenches where lie those who have fallen in action, and in the fact that the last resting place of many gallant lads is marked by a rude cross made out of a ration box. On the day after Christmas the truce was still in operation, and the Germans continued to march about and to pay occassional visits to the British trenches. The Germans, says Private MacGregor, looked big and smart in their grey coats, and are a fine soldierly set of men. While the man on this particular part of the front prolonged the season of "peace and good-will" into the following day, those in other parts of the line were not as fortunate, and both to the right and left the guns and rifles again began their deadly work.Undoubtedly the strangest thing of all that happened on Christms Day on this part of the front - emphasising in the most striking manner the power engendered by all that Christmas stands for in our religious annals - was a short service held by a British chaplain, the Rev J E Adam, of Union Street, West United Free Church, Aberdeen, his hearers comprising German as well as British soldiers. He also held a burial service over a grave in which 16 Germans were buried. After the service a German officer presented the clergyman with a cigar. During the truce the men had an opportunity of viewing their respective positions. The trenches in some parts are only a matter of 50 yards apart, and there is even shorter distance between the respective entanglement. Private MacGregor points out that the truce was not altogether spent in innocent fun, some of the men being busily engaged all day in strengthening the trenches and making the dug outs as comfortable as possible. He explained that varying distances separate the trenches, and that the men's positions are frequently changed so that they are not kept permanently in the same section of trench. With regard to the particular trench occupied by his company in Christmas week, he states that when the men were relieved in order to get to the rear of the fighting line, it was necessary for them to crawl for a considerable distance along a ditch, which for some time was almost waist-deep in ice and water. Private MacGregor also intimated in his letter that he was sending by same post a parcel containing an empty French "75" shell - a type of explosive which, in the hands of the skilled French gunners, had been used with terrible effect against their opponents. Aberdeen Daily Journal January 1 1915: Another version of writing to friends in North Wales as transcribed from Yorkshire Post. "It was a memorable Christmas Day in our trenches as we had a truce with the enemy from Christmas Eve till Boxing morning not a shot being fired. It was quite a change - no lead flying about. The truce came about in this way. The Germans started singing and lighting candles about 7.30 on Christmas Eve, and one of them challenged any one of us to go across for a bottle of wine. One of our fellows accepted the challenge and took a big cake to exchange. That started the ball rolling. We then went half way to shake hands and exchange greetings with the enemy. There were 10 dead Germans in the ditch in front of the trenches and we helped to bury these. I could have had a helmet but I did not fancy taking one off a corpse. The Germans were trapped one night trying to get to our outposts trench some time ago. The Germans seemed to be very nice chaps and said they were awfully sick of the war. We were out of the trenches nearly all day on Christmas Day collecting souvenirs." January 1 1915: Chase after a hare with Germans. "Bulletin of Falsehood" Private Edward Duncan E Company, 6th battalion Gordon Highlanders, son of Mr George Duncan, builder, Ardlui, Inverurie, writing home to his mother on 28th December in the course of a long and interesting letter says:- We spent Christmas Day in the trenches and it was one long to be remembered for a reason that you can hardly credit. We had a day off with the Germans and had fun along with them in chasisng a hare and giving as well as receiving souvenirs. It seemed to be a mutual truce along our part of the line. Certainly it was not official. The first that we knew about it was a few Germans putting their heads up above the trenches and some of the boys saying that they wanted to bury their dead. A few of the enemy soone appeared clear of the trenches and before you could say Jack Robertson they all came out and over the trenches without their rifles. Our boys were soon swarming up to meet them and hand-shaking ensued. We were not allowed to go near their trenches so we carried their dead half across and they carried our dead to the same distance. Soon a hare made its appearance between our trenches and all joined in the chase. Not a man could refrain from laughing at the sight as the Germans mixed with us in the scramble. Spontaneous laughter re-echoed all around and the hare got clean away so there was no trouble over who was going to have the soup. A good few of them could speak English and one of them was once a Sunday School teacher in Blackpool. He said that they get bulletins issued to them every day and they were told of a great German victory in Poland and that they were to get 160 guns, which had been captured from the Russians, up to help them. They had been waiting patiently but no guns had come their way so they are now fearing it was a bulletin of falsehoods. They are all fed up and wishing it was over. Some of them were exceedingly smart looking chaps and gave our boys cigs and chocolate as well as drinks of gin. They said that if we did not fire they would not and the arrangement was carried out. The day after Christmas they cried across if we would play them at a game of football, but as no football was forthcoming there was no match. The first night we were in the trenches they were crying across to us and singing Christmas carols and taking spasmodic turns of shouting, " Are we downhearted? NO!"January 5 1915: Gateshead soldier. Stories from the front. An informal Christmas truce Writing on Christmas Day to a friend at Low Fell a Gateshead soldier serving with the BEF writes:- I will now describe my Christmas. Last night the Germans lit up their trenches and started calling across merry Christmas. We responded in the same way and then we started singing songs to one another, carols etc. We then sang the Austrian national anthem and they responded with God Save the King after which we cheered lustily. By this time all shooting had stopped. We walked about the parapets of the trenches and called out to one another. Then some of our chaps walked out and met some of the Germans half way, wishing each other a merry Christmas, shook hands and said they would not fight today. We had communion this morning in a farm about half a mile away. We set out before day light to be on the safe side. It was very strange. The farm had been bombarded and consequently it was in a bad way. Where we held the service half the roof was off. I don't suppose I shall ever go to such another service - it was so reverent and the surroundings so rough. When we came back we decided to come along the top although we would be in full view of the enemy. We got back safely and then some of our chaps started kicking a football about outside the trench. Then the Germans showed themselves and to cut a long story short it finished up with us meting one another half way shaking hnds exchanging fags and souvenirs and parting the best of friends. One has given me his address to write to him after the war. They were quite a decent lot of fellows I can tell you. I know this seems an unbelievable story but it is fact. I am sure if it was left to the men there would be no war. Aberdeen Daily Journal, January 4th 1915 Decent Germans Writing to the Rev Charles Mackie, Drumoak, Lance-Corporal Robert Alexander, 6th Gordon Highlanders, Inverurie Company, says: We spent Christmas Day in the trenches. Not a very warm spot but we were quite able to sing a few songs. The Germans treated us to music too. We were only 60 yards or so from them. We have now had two turns in the trenches, the first time six days and nights, the second four. The weather has been none too good or warm. On Christmas Day we had the honour of meeting and speaking with the Germans. They emerged unarmed from their trenches and soon we met halfway between our trenches and theirs. An experience of a lifetime I should think and one very rare. We have failed to fathom it yet but many of us thought there were as decent Germans as there are British. Aberdeen Daily Journal, January 6th 1915 Lance-Corporal Imlah at present serving with D Coy, 6th Gordon Highlanders in France, writing home to his father, Mr Alexander Imlah, grocer, High Street, Buckie, says: "We were in the trenches for four days last week, coming out two nights ago. We had a remarkable experience last week in the trenches. On Christmas morning I was sitting in our trenches having breakfast when the word came along 'The Germans are out of their trenches'. I could not credit it at first but on looking over the top of the trench I was amazed to see large numbers of the Germans standing out in front of their trenches all without arms. Of course we did not fire and when some of the German officers approached some of ours got out and went over to them to inquire, I suppose, the reason why their men were out of their trenches. The German officers then said that they wish an armistice in order to bury their dead. After some conference it was agreed to grant the armistice, the reason being that we also had dead to bury. Other sentiments also had something to do with it I think for was it not Christmas Day, the day of peace and goodwill towards men? We were all glad of the halt anyway and soon we got started burying the dead. Any of our men were lying near the German trenches were carried by the Germ to a ditch midway between the trenches where they were buried by us. Any of their dead on our side of the ditch were carried there to be taken away by the Germans for a burial. Our padre, who very fortunately happened to come up to the trenches that morning to wish us a Merry Christmas, arranged to have a service. After the burials were completed we lined up on appointed sides of the ditch, officers in front and burial parties in rear. I was very proud to be one of our party on such an occasion. Our padre then gave a short service, one of the items in which was Psalm XXIII. Thereafter, a German soldier, a divinity student I believe, interpreted the service to the German party. I could not understand what he was saying but it was beautiful to listen to him. The service over, we were soon fraternising with the Germans just as if they were old friends. We have all heard of the terrible atrocities perpetrated by the Germans but really from our intercourse with some of them on Christmas Day, one could hardly believe them capable of the terrible acts that have been laid at their door. Some of them could speak English fluently - one had been a waiter in the Hotel Cecil, London and I gathered from them that they were pretty well tired of this horrible business. Souvenirs in the form of silver coins, pipes, cigarettes, tobacco etc they handed out all round, and anything we gave them in return seemed to be very much appreciated. They all looked a happy lot anyway and seemed to be well cared for. The armistice was supposed to last till 4pm on Christmas Day after which we were told any man who left the trenches would take the risk of being fired at. However we ourselves made a little compact with the enemy that there would be no shooting at all that day and you may be sure we kept our promise. Of course we didn't relax our vigilance as we have learned that our friend the enemy is not to be trusted too far. However, they were true to the promise and next morning arrived without a shot being fired. Again the news came that the Germans were out of their trenches and sure enough there they were walking about. Some of our chaps were soon over amongst them and through the day several of them had shaves from the Germans and souvenirs were continually passing. We left the trenches that afternoon and today I hear, the armistice still continues, each side evidently refusing to start firing. This can't last of course but I hear that we are going to have an armistice again on New Years' Day, which is our day. This comedy - for it has now developed into such - is only occurring along our immediate front of course." Aberdeen Daily Journal, January 7th 1915 Letter from Lance-Corporal Stephen, G Company 6th Gordon Highlanders yet to be transcribed. Shaking Hands With The Germans Several letters were received from the Inverurie Territorials on Tuesday. The lads had received a consignment of chocolate which was sent them by the committee of the dairy produce sale, and in acknowledging the same, Private Robert Joss says: Just a p.c. written in the trenches on New Year's Day to thank you and the committee for the braw boxd chocolates. Weel, I'm j'st sittin in a neufe o' the trench chewin' awa' and enjoyin' it capital. This is New Years Day. We came into the trenches last night. We were over shaking hands with the Germans this morning but owing to lack of education I had not much of a conversation with them but the fellowes we are up against are a fine set and are as anxious for the finish of the war as we are. This life would be all right in the summer but it's very trying just now." Private Bert Burnett, the well-known footballer, says: "It was a gey cauld New Years Day for us but the chocolate cheered us up a bit. I don't want to put in any more New Year's Days of this sort. I would rather have been kicking a football. However the spirits are good. We had a shake of the Germans hand this morning, and had our breakfast off a German loaf but it wisna as good as the hame ones. I am sending this out with the ration party." Aberdeen Daily Journal, January 9th Letters to the Editor. Handshaking with Germans. Sir, I have read in your issue of the Journal about the fraternising of the British and German troops on Christmas week. If some of the details had not been written by men of my own acquaintance I could scarcely have credited them. I am surprised and disappointed to think that British soldiers would have agreed to shake hand with murderers and thieves. Was all this done with the concurrence of their officers and will it be mentioned in Sir John French's next dispatch? I doubt not. In the same issue of your paper where the handshaking is mentioned we read report of the French Commission appointed to investigate acts committed by the enemy in violation of international law that 'outrages on women and girls have been of unprecedented frequency' and 'the soldiers and offices' finished off the wounded and mercilessly killed the un-offensive, sparing neither women nor children'. Fie on ye, Scotsmen! There is not much of the boasted Highland Pride left in you when you would sell it for a German souvenir. Yours etc Inverurie. The Ayr Advertiser or West County and Galloway Journal Ayr Advertiser Ayr Advertiser Glasgow Weekly Herald: No letters. If you would like to take part in this project by helping to transcribe such letters from your local archives, send an email to info@christmastruce.co.uk to register your interest. |
|
THE ENTHUSIASTS OTHER WORKS
|