Five months had already passed since the outbreak of World War I. By early September, the German army came within 70 kilometres of Paris, but at the First Battle of the Marne (September 6 to 12, 1914), French and British troops forced the Germans to retreat, ending their advance into France. The German army retreated north of the Aisne River and dug trenches there, starting the beginnings of a static western front that was to last for the next three years. However, when Christmas Day was approaching, a series of unofficial ceasefires occurred along the western front.

In his book Catastrophe: Europe Goes to War 1914, Max Hastings dedicates a chapter to the Christmas truce. Hastings says that when Pope Benedict XV issued a public appeal on December 7, 1914, for an official truce between the warring governments over the feast of Christmas, the idea was quickly rejected by governments and commanders; however, their soldiers proved more willing to do so. The sentimentality and self-pity displayed in December 1914 was almost all started by Germans.

According to Hastings, on December 24, a Bavarian soldier named Carl Mühlegg walked nine miles to Comines, where he bought a small pine tree before returning to his unit in the line. He then played Father Christmas, inviting his company commander to light the tree candles and wish peace to comrades, the German people and the world.

There were excursions across no man’s land, where small gifts were exchanged. Some even exchanged addresses

According to Jonathan Thompson in an article in The Telegraph, this episode occurred in the German trenches situated in the region of Ypres, southern Belgian province of Walloon, particularly in Saint-Yvon, in the village of Ploegsteert, nicknamed Plugstreet by British soldiers manning the opposite trenches.

British soldiers of the 5th London Rifle Brigade with German Saxon soldiers during the truce at Ploegsteert. Photo: www.telegraph.co.ukBritish soldiers of the 5th London Rifle Brigade with German Saxon soldiers during the truce at Ploegsteert. Photo: www.telegraph.co.uk

German postcard of the Christmas truce. Photo: Purnell’s History of WW IGerman postcard of the Christmas truce. Photo: Purnell’s History of WW I

Hastings says that after midnight in Mühlegg’s sector, German and French soldiers met in no man’s land. Belgians likewise clambered out of their positions near Dixmude and spoke across the Yser canal to Germans, whom they persuaded to post cards to their families in occupied territory.

According to Hastings, many of the belligerent soldiers forgot for a while the cruelty of war and fraternised together: “Along several sectors of the western front, a singing competition developed between rival trenches. The German 2nd Guards divisions, for instance, sang Stille Nach and O du Fröliche, and hoisted a Christmas tree on their parapet. When the French had made their own choral contribution, the Germans answered with Vom Himmel hoch. Then the contest became more nationalistic: the French bellowed the Marellaise, the Germans Wacht am Rhein and Deutscland über alles before giving three cheers for the Kaiser.”

In World War I, H.P. Willmott says that the next morning a fog lifted to reveal frost-covered trees in brilliant sunlight. All firing stopped and there was shouting between trenches, followed by soldiers moving into no man’s land. Both sides took the opportunity to bury their dead. Soon thereafter, there were excursions across no man’s land, where small gifts were exchanged, such as food, tobacco, cigarettes, alcohol and souvenirs such as buttons, caps, cap badges and photographs. Some even exchanged addresses.

In many places, it lasted through Boxing Day, the day after Christmas, observed by the British as a holiday. In a few parts of the line, hostilities did not restart until after New Year’s Day, 1915.

British and German troops play football in No Man’s Land at Ypres. Photo: www.flanderstoday.euBritish and German troops play football in No Man’s Land at Ypres. Photo: www.flanderstoday.eu

Thompson says that several football matches took place between German and British troops during the truce. A game in Ploegsteert is referred to in the official history of Germany’s 133rd Saxon Regiment, which describes: “caps casually laid down as goals” and “Teutonic astonishment that Scottish players were wearing nothing under their kilts”.

Several football matches took place between German and British troops during the truce... the game ended with a narrow 3-2 German victory

Thompson says the game ended with a narrow 3-2 German victory, after the ball struck a piece of barbed wire. But even that did little to deflate the festive spirit, fuelled by the exchange of British bully beef and rum for German sausages and cognac. Belt buckles, badges and buttons followed suit.

German postcard from Christmas 1914. Photo: Simon ReesGerman postcard from Christmas 1914. Photo: Simon Rees

Hastings writes that even on the eastern front on Christmas Day in Galicia, Austro-Hungarian troops were ordered not to fire unless provoked, and the Russians displayed the same restraint. Some of the Austro-Hungarian garrison of the fortress of Przemysl (encircled by the Russians from September 24, 1914, to March 22, 1915) deposited three Christmas trees in no man’s land. Soldiers met there and exchanged Austro-Hungarian tobacco and schnapps for Russian bread and meat.

News of the events of the truce was not published on the newspapers for a week, in an unofficial press restriction. However, in some sections of the western front, fighting continued as usual throughout Christmas Day, while in others, little arrangements were made to recover bodies of dead soldiers in no man’s land. The fraternising between soldiers of the belligerent countries on the western front did not last long and the agony of the trench warfare resumed again.

In 1915, a few units again arrang­ed ceasefires with their enemies over Christmas Day, but the truces were not nearly as widespread as in 1914. The high commands of both sides gave strong orders to prohibit such fraternisation.

Overwhelming response to Princess Mary’s ‘Gift from the Nation’ Christmas Day initiative

The gift box for smokers comprised an ornate embossed brass box containing tobacco, a packet of 20 cigarettes, a pipe, a tinder lighter, a Christmas card and a photograph of Princess Mary. Photo: Purnell's History of WW IThe gift box for smokers comprised an ornate embossed brass box containing tobacco, a packet of 20 cigarettes, a pipe, a tinder lighter, a Christmas card and a photograph of Princess Mary. Photo: Purnell's History of WW I

The origins of the Princess Mary Gift Box go back to October 14, 1914, when the Sailors and Soldiers Christmas Fund was founded by Princess Victoria Alexandra Alice Mary. She was the third child and only daughter of King George V and Queen Mary. She was just 17 when war broke out. The aim of the initiative was to give a ‘Gift from the Nation’ to everyone wearing the King’s uniform and serving overseas on Christmas Day 1914.

The response was overwhelming, amounting to £162,591, 12s 5d, and a decision was taken to use the collected funds on an embossed brass box, based on a design by Messrs Adshead and Ramsey.

In her article ‘A gift for Christmas: the story of Princess Mary’s Gift Fund, 1914’, Diana Condell says that the majority of gifts were for smokers and comprised of an ornate embossed brass box containing tobacco, a packet of 20 cigarettes, a pipe, a tinder lighter, a Christmas card and a photograph of Princess Mary. For non-smokers, the brass box comprised a packet of acid tablets, a khaki writing case containing pencil, paper and envelopes together with the Christmas card and a photograph of Princess Mary. For Indian troops, sweets and spices were given.

After that Christmas, a simpler gift was given out to all other servicemen, which consisted of a bullet pencil and a New Year card. The contents of this particular ‘smoker’s’ gift box were not so complete, and it only consisted of cigarettes, tobacco and a card.

A soldier opening his Princess Mary Gift Tin, Christmas 1914.A soldier opening his Princess Mary Gift Tin, Christmas 1914.

Condell says the gift boxes were divided into three classes. Class A comprised the Royal Navy and troops at the front in France. It also included the wounded in hospitals and men on furlough, prisoners and men interned, members of the French Mission with the Expeditionary Force, nurses at the front in France and the widows or parents of those who had been killed. Members of this class were to receive the gift on or near Christmas Day. Class B comprised all British, colonial and Indian troops serving outside the British Isles. Class C comprised all troops in the British Isles.

Condell gives a detailed description of the lid of the box, which had an embossed decoration: in the centre – Princess Mary’s head in profile surrounded by a wreath and with the letter M on each side. In each corner of the lid was the name of a British allies: Belgium, Japan, Montenegro and Serbia; the top horizontal edge of the lid was decorated with a bayonet and scabbard with the words Imperium Britannicum at the centre; along the bottom edge a plaque bearing ‘Christmas 1914’ with the bow of a dreadnought battleship on each side; each vertical edge is adorned with three crossed flags with a disc in front bearing the words ‘France’ and ‘Russia’.

Those gifts that were not distributed until after Christmas were sent out with a card wishing the recipient a ‘victorious new year’. The wounded on leave or in hospital, nurses, and the widows or parents of those killed, were also entitled to the gift. Prisoners of war at the time had theirs reserved until they were repatriated.

More than 355,000 were delivered by the deadline. As time pressed on, a shortage of brass meant that many entitled personnel did not receive their gift until as late as the summer of 1916, and in January 1919 it was reported that ‘considerable’ numbers had still not been distributed.

When the fund finally closed in 1920, almost £200,000 had been donated for the provision of more than two-and-a-half million boxes with contents.

How Christmas 1914 was celebrated in Malta

The Daily Malta Chronicle reported that Christmas of 1914 was celebrated quietly in Malta.

Governor Sir Leslie and Lady Eleanor Rundle, vice-admiral Limpus, Mrs and the Miss Limpus, attended an entertainment activity held at the Valletta Gymnasium. The building was crowded and the event started at 5.30pm.

The audience consisted of representatives of the garrison, navy, departments and married families.

The event included performances of vocal and instrumental pieces by some of the most popular amateur singers and musicians, cinematograph pictures, club swinging and sketches.

Lieutenant-Colonel Attenborough and officers, the band of the regiment under the direction of Mr Tyles, licentiate of the Royal Academy of Music, played at the intervals.

Major Hasell from the Royal Army Medical Corps conducted the proceedings.

During the day there were ‘fancy fairs’ in the La Valette and King’s Own bands in Strada Sa Giovanni (St John’s Street) and Strada Reale (Republic Street), respectively.

The St Paul and Count Roger bands of Rabat played at Saqqajja from 4pm onwards under the direction of A.E. Agius.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Own Band played at Vittoriosa Square from 5.30pm onwards, under the direction of G. Giumarra.

There was a well-attended matinee at the Royal Opera House where there was a very credible rendering of Aida.

Connaught Home, Floriana, and the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Rest at Margherita Hill, Cospicua, also offered a welcome to the troops and their families.

Rev. Peverly Dodd and the Rev. Percy Haliding, Weslyan ministers, organised the entertainment in their respective charge.

All this entertainment was reported to have provided great enjoyment to the island’s inhabitants.

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