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1914 Christmas Truce Centenial

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    Posted 9 years ago

    Chrisnp
    (310 items)

    For those of you that don’t go to the main page first, Collector’s Weekly has put up a nice article on the 1914 Christmas Truce by Ben Marks. It prompted me to post this program from my home town’s rememberance of the event. The program was more left-leaning than I am, but I really wanted to be part of commemorating this centennial, so I joined my more liberal friends in remembering this remarkable episode 100 years ago this month.

    John McCutchen was on hand to sing his famous “Christmas in the Trenches”:

    My name is Francis Tolliver, I come from Liverpool,
    Two years ago the war was waiting for me after school.
    To Belgium and to Flanders to Germany to here
    I fought for King and country I love dear.
    'Twas Christmas in the trenches where the frost so bitter hung,
    The frozen fields of France were still, no Christmas song was sung,
    Our families back in England were toasting us that day,
    Their brave and glorious lads so far away.

    I was lying with my messmate on the cold and rocky ground
    When across the lines of battle came a most peculiar sound
    Says I, "Now listen up, me boys!" each soldier strained to hear
    As one young German voice sang out so clear.
    "He's singing bloody well, you know!" my partner says to me
    Soon one by one each German voice joined in in harmony
    The cannons rested silent, the gas clouds rolled no more
    As Christmas brought us respite from the war.

    As soon as they were finished and a reverent pause was spent
    "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" struck up some lads from Kent
    The next they sang was "Stille Nacht," "Tis 'Silent Night'," says I
    And in two tongues one song filled up that sky.
    "There's someone coming towards us!" the front line sentry cried
    All sights were fixed on one lone figure coming from their side
    His truce flag, like a Christmas star, shone on that plain so bright
    As he bravely strode unarmed into the night.

    Soon one by one on either side walked into No Man's land
    With neither gun nor bayonet we met there hand to hand
    We shared some secret brandy and we wished each other well
    And in a flare-lit soccer game we gave 'em hell.
    We traded chocolates, cigarettes, and photographs from home
    These sons and fathers far away from families of their own
    Young Sanders played his squeeze box and they had a violin
    This curious and unlikely band of men.

    Soon daylight stole upon us and France was France once more
    With sad farewells we each began to settle back to war
    But the question haunted every heart that lived that wondrous night
    "Whose family have I fixed within my sights?"
    'Twas Christmas in the trenches, where the frost so bitter hung
    The frozen fields of France were warmed as songs of peace were sung
    For the walls they'd kept between us to exact the work of war
    Had been crumbled and were gone for evermore.

    My name is Francis Tolliver, in Liverpool I dwell
    Each Christmas come since World War I I've learned its lessons well
    That the ones who call the shots won't be among the dead and lame
    And on each end of the rifle we're the same.

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    Comments

    1. walksoftly walksoftly, 9 years ago
      Sainsbury’s Christmas advert. Made in partnership with The Royal British Legion. Inspired by real events from 100 years ago.
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWF2JBb1bvM
    2. Chrisnp Chrisnp, 9 years ago
      Great ad! Thanks for sharing!
    3. walksoftly walksoftly, 9 years ago
      You're most welcome, someone sent it to me a couple of weeks ago.
      Merry Christmas Chrisnp.
    4. Chrisnp Chrisnp, 9 years ago
      Thanks for the love racer4four, walksoftly, aghcollect and fortapache.

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