Having shared with you yesterday the research that I had done on Pt Leonard Lane King because of the inscription and photograph in The Hampshire Regimental Journal, I thought that you might be interested in one of the letters that I read in it. Many will recognise the occasion, although no reference is made to the famous football match, still we have an eyewitness account of the truce whereby the humanity of the soldiers held sway over the brutality of War. This was Christmas 1914. I will transcribe it without editing although the images included are my choice.
Christmas Day in the Trenches
I cursed my luck when I discovered that C Company would be in the forward trenches on Christmas Day, but now I consider that our postponed dinner was not after all such a hardship, as we were rewarded by a most curious experience. It started soon after dark on Christmas Eve, and was first noticeable trough the absence of the usual sniping and occasional burst from the machine guns. Presently the strains of a Christmas carol floated across no man's land; this was followed by "Washing in the Rhine" (T.A.'s name for it), the German and Austrian national anthems, and many other tunes not known to us. We, however, kept our weather eye open, for although the Saxons are not credited with the same treacherous instincts as the Prussians, it was not a thought advisable to trust them entirely, even at Christmas time. About midnight the singing ceased, and after an exchange of the usual compliments of the season and a reference to our hard luck in not winning the Army Cup, perfect peace reigned, neither side firing.
The night of December 24-25 was a beautiful clear, frosty night (d---d cold), which combined with the perfect peace (except for the stamping of the sentries' feet to keep warm) gave one the impression that Providence had intervened to insure a peaceful Christmas, so that it was with some considerable feeling of annoyance one suddenly heard the French guns open away to our left. As dawn approached a thick mist came on, which continued till about mid-day. About ten o'clock on Christmas morning Lieut. Gwynne, our sporting doctor, under cover of the mist, appeared in the trench, and after an exchange of greetings and news, offered to accompany me on a small reconnaissance job made possible by the mist to clear up a much disputed point. We started out to reconnoitre together, and were soon engaged in a heated argument as to the number of paces taken, when suddenly looking up, I saw approaching through the mist not a hundred yards away a party of the enemy about twenty strong, who when they saw us halted and waved their arms. Seeing that they were without arms I shouted to them to remain halted, as I feared they would come fight up and discover the deplorable condition of our dirty ditch and all our little pet devices. This they did, and a patrol having been sent forward to interview them, it was discovered that they had come over to wish us a merry Christmas, and to request that we should cease firing during daylight. These terms having been agreed to over an exchange of compliments and smokes, each side departed to the vicinity of their own trenches. Somewhat later a considerable number of Germans made their appearance, and began to walk about too freely. I decided that in order to prevent our dispositions becoming entirely known a set of stricter rules were necessary. My sub, and myself went forward for an interview, and were met halfway across by a group of Germans. An officer having been produced, we proceeded to draw up a set of rules for this new game, in which definite limits were assigned, and an understanding that at dusk it should be a case of "as you were." Towards Christmas evening a German bigwig put in an appearance, and after taking a look round blew his whistle, at which signal the enemy immediately scuttled back to their holes. After dark, as no firing came from over the way, we also remained quiet, and next morning (Boxing Day) the truce was continued. This time neither side came out in front of their respective trenches, but walked around freely behind. The scene in front of the next regiment to our right was even more extraordinary. At one time during the day there was a group of about 300 men of both nations talking together, and I am told that an exchange of rifles and equipment took place. Christmas Day the Germans in front of us employed themselves chiefly in burying their dead, of which there were a considerable number laying out in front of their trenches. We employed our time in doing several little jobs that at any other time would have entailed considerable risk.
As I write, the truce is still holding good, although neither side comes forward from the trenches. I think both sides were glad of a rest from the continual sniping and occasional burst of fire, and had hoped it would last over New Year's Day; but this evening we received the following message that ends the Christmas truce: " Gentlemen, --Our automatic rifle has order from the Colonel to begin the fire again at midnight. We take it honour to award you of this fact." As it is now within half-an-hour of the starting time, I shall take the opportunity of once again visiting my posts in peace. I therefore hasten to finish my second attempt at literature, and trust that you will be as kind, Mr Editor, in your remarks as you were last time. I have no time to re-write or correct, but hope you will be able to make something of it if of sufficient interest.
THE VOOLOO
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