Could it ever happen again?
Brigade HQ cabled him: "It is thought possible that enemy may be contemplating an attack during Xmas or New Year. Special vigilance will be maintained during this period.
Nonetheless, Col Laurie...gave orders not to fire on the enemy the following day, unless they fired first. At 8.30pm on Christmas Eve, he signalled brigade HQ: "Germans have illuminated their trenches, are singing songs and are wishing us a Happy Xmas"
Compliments are being exchanged but am nevertheless taking all military precautions." No shots had been fired since 8pm, he added.
Col Laurie went on to describe how soldiers from both sides were mingling. The Germans, he wrote, were "fine men, clean and well clothed. They gave us a cap and helmet badge and a box of cigars. One of them states the war would be over in three weeks as they had defeated Russia!"
Brigade HQ replied at 12.35am – Christmas Day – saying: "No communication of any sort is to be held with the enemy, nor is he to be allowed to approach our trenches under penalty of fire being opened."Irish Times
I'm not certain that we have many gentlemen on the battlefield today.
ReplyDeleteAnd the Islamic State? I can't imagine a Christmas truce with them?
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Merry Christmas to you and yours, CI. May your days be merry and bright.
AOW: The Islamic State is strong proof that there are some ideas, such as religion and socialism, that have absolutely no place in any decent government.
DeleteNope, definitely not IS. I was considering the possibility for when we next find ourselves in a conflict with a western State.
DeleteWouldnt it be great if all soldiers everywhere just said "ah fug no" anytime some pinhead at the top proclaimed war operations to commence. Then when the generals ordered the colonels to start executing those who disobeyed orders, the colonels would just say "ah fug no you guys want to fight, get on with it, we'll all watch from here." I know I'm talking like a beauty pageant contestant now.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas CI.
What if they gave a war and nobody showed up? A poignant question for the ages.
DeleteHoly crap, my friend and I were just talking about this story. And, yes, it's good to see that the human condition isn't entirely off its rocker.
ReplyDelete