Peace over a football game at Christmas
HISTORIANS RICHARD PURSEHOUSE AND BEN CUNLIFFE REVEAL THE INVOLVEMENT OF BURTON MEN IN THE FAMOUS 1914 DAY OF PEACE BETWEEN THE SOLDIERS
MUCH has been written about the Christmas Day “truce” on December 25, 1914 – while the popular image of Christmas Day 1914 might be that “peace reigned”, this was not universal across the Western Front. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission records the deaths of 78 men on December 25, 1914 – whilst just over 30 of these “died of wounds”, 43 can be identified as “killed in action”, so clearly the truce was not universal across the Western Front.
The Pope in late December 1914 also called for a truce.
Within the context of the initial fighting at the start of the Great War, the story of the Christmas 1914 truces seems somewhat bizarre – some generals when advised of events reacted instinctively, ordering an increase in patrols, trench raids or artillery “hates”. Some generals understood that a break in the fighting on one day or so was not overly worrying and simply ignored the reports.
The German paper, “Vorwarts” however, published a letter in early 1915 from a soldier describing what took place on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
The writer says: “Suddenly, from the enemy, hurrahing was heard, and, surprised, we came from our mouseholes and saw the English advancing towards us, waving white cigarette boxes, handkerchiefs, and towels. They had no rifles with them, and therefore we knew it could only be a greeting and that it was all right.
“We advanced towards them about halfway. We were only about 200 metres from each other. The greeting took place in the presence of officers from both sides. Cigarettes, cigars, and many other things were exchanged, and even snapshots by both sides were taken.
“The English began playing with a football they had with them. On darkness descending, both sides returned to their drawing-rooms, having promised that for the next three days of the holidays they would not fire on each other. This promise was given as word of honour, and extended on both sides to the artillery as well as the cavalry and infantry.
“The French lay a little further away, and therefore did not take part in this. They were under fire the whole of the day by our artillery. We were able to move about the whole of Christmas Day with absolute freedom. It was a day of peace in war. It is only a pity that it was not a decisive peace.”
Giving his Christmas experiences at the front, Private Simnett, of the 1st North Staffordshire Regiment, writing in early January 1915 to his father at Moor Street, Burton said: “This story will be hard to swallow in England, but it is quite true. As the German trenches were not more than 50 yards away, we shouted and asked them to come over for Christmas – just for a joke, of course: but anyway, they asked us to cease firing and sent a man out from each side between the trenches.
“Believe me, it was not long before we were all out, and it was arranged to cease firing until midnight Christmas. We were having cigars from them and giving them cigarettes, and singing and playing all day. Everyone else was carrying on as usual; in fact, the transport fellows came up, as they could not believe it. “Several of the Germans were from London, and were wishing the war was over. One of them even
I have established friendly relations with our enemy opposite just for Christmas.
Unnamed soldier (1914)
suggested that we should finish it off at football or throwing mud at each other, as we should not get hurt. No doubt you would have liked to be here for the day. What funny things happen in this war!”
Another Burton soldier, Sgt Hawley, of the 1st Battalion North Staffordshire Regiment, had his letter published in the Burton Observer under the headline “Iron rations for Fritz”.
The Rolleston Road soldier acknowledged receipt of tobacco sent to him, “which is so jolly useful”.
He said: “I guess Christmas has been rather quiet in old Burton, but I may say it has been far from quiet here.
“Of course, we had no ‘truce’ Christmas Day; we didn’t want it, but miserable Fritz did. Nevertheless, we gave ’em some ‘iron rations’ [bullets] to share amongst them. Wishing all the Burton folk the best of luck,
The Sentinel in early January 1915 published a letter under the title “North Stafford’s truce” from Sgt C Lightfoot of C Company, 1st North Staffordshire Regiment, dated December 28, 1914.
He wrote: “On Christmas Day, we saw a sight past imagination. The Germans left their trenches and so did we. We met them halfway, and you should have seen them shaking hands, exchanging addresses and souvenirs, etc. They brought us plenty of cigars and tobacco. There was not a shot fired between us all Christmas Day. One of our men played a melodeon and the Germans danced to it, and gave us some very good aiming”.
One of the most remarkable letters that passed the sensor at a British Army post office in France was that received by a family from a young (unnamed) officer in the North Staffordshire Regiment.
The brave soldier was a local man and was the only surviving member of the staff of officers who left England with the regiment at the beginning of the war.
The most amazing statement in his letter that British and German soldiers, having called an unofficial truce, stood between the trenches on Christmas Day discussing the war and exchanging compliments in the shape of cigarettes and playing football.
Writing from the trench on Christmas Day – he ate his dinner in the trench – he first warmly thanks his friends for a generous hamper they had sent him. Then he says, humorously: “I can’t play a mouf organ” but I gave them to the men, and the trenches resounded all day with perfect melody, much to the annoyance of the Germans, who are only yards away.
“They sent shells and bullets whistling over the heads of the players. I have a minute to spare as I am adjutant now, and when we are not in the trenches I am absolutely worked off my head. I came out last night for a rest after 10 solid days in trenches.
“We do endure ghastly tortures in this war. The cold is perfectly appalling, however many clothes one wears, and I haven’t slept for nearly a fortnight, so I am awfully tired and done up.
“I am the only officer left who came out with the regiment, the last survivor besides myself was killed last Saturday morning in a fight we had. Such nice boy, too, but I have lost all my best friends in this war, and I daren’t think of what it will be like when it is all over. However, I suppose that will come very soon and I shan’t mind as I have been through much now that I really don’t care for anybody or anything.
“I have established friendly relations with our enemy opposite just for Christmas, and all today English and Germans have been standing in groups between the trenches discussing the war, kicking a football about and exchanging cigarettes, etc. Wonderful isn’t it?
“I have a great admiration for these Germans and they are undoubtedly worthy of our steel as they are exceptionally fine soldiers.”
The Staffordshire Advertiser dated February 27, 1915 ran a story under the headline “Played the Germans at football”.
Drummer Arthur E Salt, 1st North Staffordshire Regiment, had arrived at his home, Railway Cottages, Great Bridgeford, near Stafford, after being absent with his regiment since September.
Interviewed by an Advertiser representative, he said he was suffering from frostbite and gastritis, the latter illness having been brought on by drinking impure water.
Salt said his regiment joined the main army at Coulommiers and formed part of the contingent which turned the Germans’ march to Paris into the route back across the River Marne. He was present throughout the Aisne operations, and was with the 6th Division when they marched towards the River Yser to check the enemy’s attempt to reach Calais.
He said: “I can tell you we have had a lot of losses since we took over that position at La Bassee canal. Of course, there have been bayonet charges, and I am pleased to say we have come out on top. We were in the trenches from December 8 to the 31st, being unable to be relieved. So we had Christmas Day there.
“There were so many dead Germans in front of our trenches and also in them that we gave the Germans a 24 hours’ armistice on Christmas Day to bury their dead. Of course, during the day we paid compliments, and had a singsong. They said they would sooner be in London or anywhere except where they were. Well, we had a football contest, and England won 2-1.
“We parted on best of terms, and at night started on our usual game, as butchers, of killing one another.”
As can be seen, peace did not entirely reign on Christmas Day 1914 – but significantly, there would be very few repetitions in the subsequent Christmases.
Depending on the positions of the trenches some of the truces continued for several days and even weeks. The final vestiges of the “live and let live” ethos was eventually expunged, usually with a change of regiment in the front trenches – although there are several instances of warning messages scribbled on to boards advising that the changeover was about to happen, to keep their heads own, and nearly always a “best of luck, Fritz” or “see you in Leicester Square, Tommy”.
Many generals on both sides in the main thought it was madness to fraternise on Christmas Day and beyond.
The men – and officers – who shared cigars, cigarettes, chocolate, bread, schnapps or strong navy rum also exchanged addresses and regimental buttons from their coats and tunics. They sang Silent Night across Noman’s-land to each other, to the same tune but in their own languages.
They reflected on where the true madness lay – behind the lines in the generals’ chateaux.