CHRISTMAS TRUCE OF 1914 QUOTES

“Never was there such a Christmas before or since.” – Lieutenant Sir Edward Hulse

“The cessation of hostilities became merely a question of common sense.” – Corporal Denman, Gordon Highlanders

“It was a Christmas Day that neither I nor anyone else who took part in it will ever forget.” – Private Ron Baskerville, Royal Field Artillery

“It was a day of peace in a time of war.” – Private Jimmy Tod, 6th Seaforths

“I wouldn’t have missed that unique and weird Christmas Day for anything.” – Captain Sir Edward Hulse

“I then came to the conclusion that I have heard so often since: that there was nothing more in war than a money racket.” – Lieutenant Freddie Young, 7th Battalion Somerset Light Infantry

“Never again would I experience such a unique and bizarre Christmas.” – Private L. Hawkins, South Staffordshire Regiment

“The Germans took the initiative and shouted over to us ‘Happy Christmas, Englishmen!’ The spirit of Christmas took over all of us.” – Private Bertie Felstead, 2nd Battalion, London Regiment

“A stream of lights breaks upon my astonished vision–it is the first time I have seen a light for a while.” – Private Frank Sumpter, 6th Seaforths

“We were able to carry on an intelligent conversation with them in half a dozen languages. They had plenty of cigarettes, cigars, chocolate, and good wine–all sorts of luxuries.” – Lieutenant Graham Williams, 2nd Royal Welsh Fusiliers

“The sight of this man made us brave enough to go and find out what they wanted.” – Private F. Henderson, 6th Seaforths

“I am writing this in our trench, 600 yards from the German one.” – Lieutenant Walter Kirk, 9th Battalion Rifle Brigade

“The Germans are not bad sorts at all, and were quite decent about the whole truce business. It was Christmas Day and we wore your presents on patrol.” – Private Ronnie Mitchell, 4th Battalion Wiltshire Regiment

“We were glad because we were out of danger, and besides we always hope that we could bring this awful war to an end, and live normal again.” – Sergeant Harry Stuart, Highland Light Infantry

“They came over unarmed with hands up, coming towards us as though they were walking to church.” – Private Ernie Williams, 2nd Battalion, London Regiment Royal Fusiliers BIBLE QUOTES ABOUT WORKING ON THE SABBATH

“How dare they try to kill a spirit that is indestructible.” – Private Tom Pope, South Staffordshire Regiment

“It was as though nothing was different, and there had never been a war.” – Private Walter Kirk, 9th Battalion Rifle Brigade

“Never did I witness such a heart-stirring sight as that which broke upon us on this Christmas Day.” – Lieutenant Bruce Bairnsfather, 1st Staffordshire Battery, Royal Field Artillery

“We had to carry on for six weeks more, but all the time our hatred for the Germans was dying away.” – Private Alec Reader, 1st Battalion Norfolk Regiment

“So all the guns were silenced and they buried their dead and we buried ours.” – Private Michael Murphy, 4th Battalion Royal Irish Regiment

“One doesn’t know or think about how we could again inherit the spirit of Christmas.” – Lieutenant Sir Edward Hulse

“They were quite friendly; in fact, we were able to go over to their trenches and push each other in friendly warfare without any ill-feeling at all.” – Private Harry Scriven, Northumberland Fusiliers

“The Germans immediately came out of their trench, and after shaking hands with us they began to fraternize with us as if they had known us forever.” – Private Reginald Armitage, 5th West Yorkshire Regiment

“We had a grand sing-song they started with ‘O Come All Ye Faithful’, and we responded with ‘The First Noel.'” – Private Alfred Anderson, 5th Battalion Black Watch

“That was the happiest day that I experienced during the war.” – Captain J. C. Dunn, Royal Army Medical Corps

“It was a fine day, and the snow covered the ground, making it look just like home.” – Sergeant John Ferguson, 1st Battalion Gordon Highlanders

“We were laughing and joking. What a contrast to a and a half hours before when we were having all those shots thrown at us.” – Private Bertie Felstead, 2nd Battalion, London Regiment

“Both sides kept up this sort of socializing until it was brought to an end by the authorities.” – Private Teddy Edmonds, Royal Sussex Regiment

“Play up, play up, and give me some of your cigarettes.” – Captain Ernie Williams, 2nd Battalion, London Regiment