the additional Football Remembers

Source: 57
Lieutenant Sir Edward Hulse, 2/Scots Guards
Tacit: unspoken
Parapet – an earthen or
stone embankment protecting
soldiers from enemy fire
The morning after the attack, the
re was
an almost tacit understand as to
no
firing, and about 6.15am I saw eig
ht or
nine German shoulders and heads
appear,
and then three crawled out a few
feet in
front of their parapet and began
dragging
in some of our fellows who were
either
dead or unconscious [...] I passed
down
the order that none of my men wer
e to
fire and this seems to have been
done all
down the line. I helped one of the
men in
myself, and was not fired on, at
all.
Source: 58
Extracts from Regimental War Diaries
Each division of the British Army
kept a war diary in which they
recorded a brief summary of the
events which occurred on each
day of the war. Here are some
examples of what they recorded
during the Christmas of 1914.
6th Division, 19th Brigade, 2 Battalion, Argyll &
Sutherland Highlanders
25 Dec – Houplines
Very quiet day. Germans came out of their tren
ches unarmed in afternoon,
and were seen to belong to 133rd and 134th Regi
ments. The position was
reconnoitred by Lieut. Anderson. The Germans
asked for leave to bury 10
dead. This was granted
Document held in The National Archives, number WO
95/1365
2 Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers
25 Dec – W Frelingheim
Practically a truce all day. (Frost at night) Both
sides walked about on
top of their trenches. Allowed Germans to bury
their dead.
Document held in The National Archives, number WO
95/1365
4th Division, 11th Brigade, 1 Battalion, East Lanc
ashire
25th Dec 1914 – Le Gheer
[Christmas Day] All quiet, no shots being fired
at all, an informal truce
being held.
Document held in The National Archives, number WO
95/1498
7th Division, 21st Brigade, 2 Battalion, Wiltshir
e
25th Dec 1914 – Armentieres
Christmas Day, no firing. An unofficial armistic
e took place and troops of
both sides met and buried the dead. The Batt
alions fixed up a board with
‘A Merry Christmas’ written on it in German
midway between the trenches
and was evidently much appreciated by the enem
y.
Document held in The National Archives, number WO
95/1659
Source: 59
R1R 246 (German
original)
Es war am 24. Dezember 1914, das erste Weihnachten im Felde.
II/246 in vorderster Linie im Polygonwalde, I/246 im Brigadehof
in Bereitschaft, III/246 in Dadizeele in Reserve, grosse Bagage in
Ledeghem. Aber jedes der Bataillone wusste sich das Weihnachtsfest
den jeweiligen Verhältnissen entsprechend zu gestalten.
Das Grabenbataillon II/246 hatte es sich nicht nehmen lassen,
zwei Bäumchen mit eben aus der Heimat gekommenen Kerzen zu
schmücken und diese mit Einbruch der Dunkelheit brennend auf
den Grabenrand zu stellen. Gespannt lauschte alles, ob daraufhin
nicht der gewohnte Abendsegen einsetze, aber nichts regte sich,
kein Schuss fiel. Beinahe unheimlich wirkte die Stille, wurde
doch mit einem Angriff gerechnet, der uns um unsere schöne
Weihnachtsstimmung bringen sollte. Das Gewehr schussbereit,
stand die ganze Grabenbesatzung. Aber immer noch dauerte die
lähmende Ruhe. Ist es möglich; Sollte der Franzmann uns heute, am
Weihnachtsabend, wirklich in Ruhe lassen? Da –horch – von drüben
ertönte feierlicher Gesang. Ein Franzose sang mit prächtigem tenor
ein Weihnachtslied. Alles lauschte gespannt in die Stille der Nacht.
Ists eine Fata Morgana? Oder ists vielleicht ein Beruhigungsmittel,
um uns in Sicherheit zu wiegen? Oder ists am Ende doch der Sieg
der göttlichen Liebe über allen menschlichen Streit? Jeder blieb
wachsam auf seinem Posten, nur die Gedanken flogen in die Heimat
zu Weib und Kind, zu Eltern und Geschwistern. Feiert ihr daheim in
Ruhe Weihnachten, wir sichern die Grenzen. Aber unsere Herzen sind
bei euch. Möchten die Weihnachtsglocken auch für uns recht bald
ihr “Friede auf Erden” erklingen lassen.
Source: 59
R1R 246
Translated by Hanna Heffner for the British Council, 2013.
field.
stmas in the
ri
h
C
t
rs
fi
e
ing by in
December, th
I/246 stand
th
,
4
st
2
re
e
fo
th
n
n
o
o
g
ly
ttalion in
It was
, a large ba
ne in the Po
li
le
e
t
e
rs
iz
fi
d
e
a
th
D
mas
in
II/246 in
their Christ
6 in reserve
p
4
u
2
t
I/
se
II
,
to
?)
d
(
manage
Brigadehof
ry battalion
ve
e
t
ances.
u
B
.
m
e
the circumst
Ledegh
y
b
d
te
it
rm
d with
s as pe
ees decorate
tr
celebration
ll
a
sm
o
erected tw
usk they
lion II/246
d, and at d
a
n
tt
la
a
e
b
m
o
ch
h
n
e
e
nches.
th
The tr
ge of the tre
ceived from
d
re
e
e
d
a
th
h
n
y
o
e
g
llow.
candles th
ndles burnin
g” would fo
in
ca
ss
e
le
th
“b
h
g
it
w
in
s
sual even
s almost
put the tree
uietness wa
hether the u
q
w
e
d
h
e
T
it
.
a
d
w
re
e
fi
s out
Everyon
sed to rock u
no shots were
o
,
p
d
p
ve
su
o
s
m
a
w
g
t
a
pons
But nothin
n attack, th
d their wea
a
a
h
d
s
e
e
ct
e
ch
p
n
x
e
e
e
possible?
e in the tr
spooky. As w
ood. Everyon
ndured. Is it
e
m
s
ss
e
a
m
ln
st
fu
ri
ce
h
nd
pea
of our C
stmas Eve? A
ri
paralyzing
h
e
C
th
n
t
o
u
y,
B
a
e.
y.
tod
at the read
the other sid
us in peace
m
o
ve
fr
a
le
rd
a
e
ch
h
n
Fre
song was
Everyone
Should the
se – a festive
rious tenor.
ri
lo
g
rp
a
su
h
a
it
t
w
a
then – wh
? Or is it a
stmas song
it a mirage
sang a Chri
Is
n
.
a
g
m
in
ch
n
n
ve
fter all,
e
re
AF
in the quiet
fe? Or is it, a
y
sa
sl
u
re
o
a
ri
e
w
cu
g
d
mained
in
listene
s into think
? Everyone re
u
fe
ll
ri
lu
st
s’
to
n
r
a
e
tranquilis
wife and
over the hum
ept home to
f god’s love
cr
o
ts
h
h
p
g
m
u
o
iu
th
tr
e
eace, we
the
t home in p
posts, only th
a
ir
te
e
th
ra
b
n
le
o
e
t
t the
C
vigilan
et’s hope tha
nd siblings.
L
a
.
ts
u
n
yo
re
h
a
p
it
w
earts are
us too.
children, to
rs. But our h
n Earth” for
e
o
rd
ce
o
a
b
e
e
“p
th
ir
secure
ring the
ells will soon
Christmas b
Source: 60
Words to Silent Night in English and German
Music was an established part
of both civilian and army life.
Soldiers of all nationalities would
sing during long marches,
or when at rest to entertain
themselves and maintain their
morale.
As British and German troops dug in to their
trench lines in the autumn of 1914 they would
sometimes hold singing competitions, where
one side would sing a song, for example their
national anthem, and the other would either
attempt to drown it out with their own singing,
or reply with another song sung more loudly.
This common experience of music would
be a central component of the truces which
occurred at Christmas 1914. German troops are
said to have begun to sing ‘Silent Night’ (Stille
Nacht, heilige Nacht) in the front line trenches
on Christmas Eve. This was a popular Christmas
carol, composed in 1818 by Franz Xaver Gruber
to lyrics by Joseph Mohr in the small town of
Oberndorf bei Salzburg, Austria. It was declared
an important piece of cultural heritage by
UNESCO in March 2011.
h
ht – Englis
Silent Nig
Holy night!
Silent night!
all is bright,
d!
All is calm,
er and Chil
th
o
M
in
g
ir
V
ild,
Round yon
nder and m
te
o
s
t,
n
fa
Holy In
ce!
avenly pea
e
h
in
p
e
le
S
ce!
avenly pea
Sleep in he
Holy night!
Silent night!
e sight!
quake at th
r,
Shepherds
Heaven afa
m
o
fr
m
a
e
tr
Glories s
eluia!
sts sing All
o
H
ly
n
e
v
a
He
born!
Saviour, is
Christ, the
born!
Saviour, is
Christ, the
Holy night!
Silent night!
light
loves pure
,
d
o
G
f
o
n
Holy Face
So
s from Thy
m
a
e
b
t
n
ia
g grace.
Rad
f redeemin
o
n
w
a
d
e
With th
th!
, at Thy Bir
Jesus, Lord
th!
, at Thy Bir
Jesus, Lord
an
ht – Germ
Silent Nig
ht,
heilige Nac
Stille Nacht, insam wacht
;e
Alles schläft hochheilige Paar.
te
u
aar,
Nur das tra
lockigen H
im
e
b
a
n
K
r
Holde
uh!
mlischer R
Schlaf in him lischer Ruh!
m
Schlaf in him
ht,
heilige Nac
Stille Nacht,
t
h
c
a
kundgem
,
Hirten erst
ja
lu
Engel Halle
Durch der
d
n nah:
t von fern u
u
la
s
e
t
n
ö
T
a!
Retter ist d
Christ, der
a!
d
Retter ist
Christ, der
ht,
heilige Nac
Stille Nacht,
ht
n, o wie lac
h
o
S
nd,
s
e
tt
o
G
ttlichen Mu
ö
g
m
e
in
e
de Stund’.
Lieb’ aus d
t die retten
g
lä
h
c
s
s
n
Da u
rt!
einer Gebu
Christ, in d
rt!
einer Gebu
Christ, in d
Source: 61
A Carol from Flanders by Frederick Niven (1878–1944)
Niven was rejected for military service due to ill health. During the
war he wrote propaganda for the British Ministry of Information.
In Flanders on the Christmas morn
The trenched foemen lay,
the German and the Briton born,
And it was Christmas Day.
The red sun rose on fields accurst,
The gray fog fled away;
But neither cared to fire the first,
For it was Christmas Day!
They called from each to each across
The hideous disarray,
For terrible has been their loss:
“Oh, this is Christmas Day!”
Their rifles all they set aside,
One impulse to obey;
‘Twas just the men on either side,
Just men — and Christmas Day.
They dug the graves for all
their dead
And over them did pray:
And Englishmen and German
s said:
“How strange a Christmas
Day!”
Between the trenches then
they met,
Shook hands, and e’en did
play
At games on which their he
arts were set
On happy Christmas Day.
Not all the emperors and kin
gs,
Financiers and they
Who rule us could prevent
these things —
For it was Christmas Day.
Oh ye who read this truth
ful rime
From Flanders, kneel and sa
y:
God speed the time when
every day
Shall be as Christmas Day.
Source: 62
A whole page from the Glasgow
News, 2 January 1915
Source: 63
Kastbestand by Bethlehem
Farm, Mesen, 25.12.1914
(German original)
After the war, German soldiers told
their stories about what happened
during the truce. This story is
taken from a book written about
the German army and describes
how the two sides made friends
Deutsche und englische Li
eder wurden gesungen. Na
ch
einer Mundharmonika un
d einer englischen Flöte tan
zten
Freund und Feind miteina
nder. Aus dem ersten engl
ischen
Graben klang Klavierspiel
. Auch Mädchen sah man,
die mit
dampfenden Kesseln darau
f zugingen. Währenddess
en
kam der englische Abschni
tts-Kommandeur, Hauptm
ann
Grant der Royal Berkshire
, und begrüsste uns herzli
ch.
Auch wir tauschten Gegens
tände aus. Wenke, der sei
nen
Photographenapparat bei sic
h hatte, machte von dieser
Begegnung eine Aufnah
me. Der englische Hauptm
ann liess
durch eine Ordonnanz de
n Telegrammbericht der Lo
ndoner
Times holen, welchen die
Truppen über die Ereignisse
an der
Front täglich erhalte. Er ba
t mich, am nächsten Tag
mit
illustrierten deutschen Ze
itungen zu kommen und
mich seinem
Stellvertreter, Hauptman
n Hoque, durch Winken
mi
t dem
Taschentuch erkennen zu
lassen. Den Vorschlag, de
n
Krieg
zwischen uns mit einem
Football-Match zu enden,
lehnten wir
dankend ab. Nachdem wi
r gegenseitig die Anschrif
ten gegeben
hatten, gingen wir in un
sere Graben zurück.
Source: 64
Kastbestand by Bethlehem Farm, Mesen,
25.12.1914
After the war, German soldiers told
their stories about what happened
during the truce. This story is
taken from a book written about
the German army and describes
how the two sides made friends.
German and English son
gs were sung. Friend and
foe danced
together to a harmonica an
d an English flute. Piano
playing was
heard from the English tre
nches. […]
During this the English com
manding officer arrived […
] We
exchanged gifts too.
Wenke, who had his photo
camera on him, took pictu
res of the
encounter.
[…]
They suggested that we sh
ould end the war between
us through
a football game, which pro
posal we thanked for, howe
ver turned
down. After we exchanged
addresses, we returned to
our trenches.
Translated by Hanna Heffner for the British Council
Source: 65
They’ve evidently seen me
Cartoon drawn by Bruce Bairnsfather. Reproduced with the kind permission of the Bairnsfather family.
Source: 66
Well, Alfred, ‘ow are
the cakes?
Cartoon drawn by Bruce Bairnsfather. Reproduced with the kind permission of the Bairnsfather family.
Source: 67
Happy memories of
the zoo
Cartoon drawn by Bruce Bairnsfather. Reproduced with the kind permission of the Bairnsfather family.
Source: 68
Situation shortly
vacant
Cartoon drawn by Bruce Bairnsfather. Reproduced with the kind permission of the Bairnsfather family.
Source: 69
When one would like
to start an offensive on
one’s own
Cartoon drawn by Bruce Bairnsfather. Reproduced with the kind permission of the Bairnsfather family.
Source: 70
The Fatalist
Cartoon drawn by Bruce Bairnsfather. Reproduced with the kind permission of the Bairnsfather family.
Source: 71
That ‘out wiring’
sensation
Cartoon drawn by Bruce Bairnsfather. Reproduced with the kind permission of the Bairnsfather family.
Source: 72
Norfolk Chronicle and Norwich
Gazette, 1 January 1915
Walter Balls was a British soldier
who fought in the trenches in the
First World War. This newspaper
report tells the story of his
Boxing Day encounter with the
Germans as he described it in a
letter home.
Cromer man’s baptism of fire – L Corp W
Balls in the trenches – Boxing Day chat
with the Germans.
On Christmas Day things were very quiet.
I don’t think there was a rifle shot on either side
near us.
At night we could hear them singing in the
trenches quite plain, so we got a good fire up
and did ditto – carols and songs, A1…
On Boxing morning we could see the Germans
on top of their trenches walking about. So we
did ditto.
Some of them came across so some of us went
half way to meet them and shake hands with
them.
One could speak English well. He told us they
did not want to fight.
One of the officers snapped one of our chaps
with a small camera.
he same
Ditto: t
Source: 72
Norfolk Chronicle and Norwich
Gazette, 1 January 1915
The Illustrated London News, 9 January 1915