Christmas Truces: “…our German friends were quite friendly.”

A recent viewing of the movie Joyeux Noël made me curious as to the involvement of Canadian troops in the Christmas truces that sprung up after the well documented truces that occurred in 1914. Since the First Canadian Contingent did not arrive in the theater of operations until February 1915 they were not involved in the first Christmas experience in the trenches.

In researching in general about the Christmas truce in 1914 an article about the Canadian experience came to light indicating that the continuation of small ad hoc Christmas truces continued after 1914 and that the Canadian experience specifically with the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry indicates that sometimes the “live and let live” attitude towards each combatant side prevailed on this singularly symbolic day:

The official version of events according to the war diary of the uncle’s military unit, the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry – stated that the Germans tried to interact but that no-one responded to it.

Yet the letters Private MacKinnon wrote home to his sister tell a rather different story:

‘Here we are again as the song says. I had quite a good Xmas considering I was in the front line. Xmas eve was pretty stiff, sentry-go up to the hips in mud of course. … We had a truce on Xmas Day and our German friends were quite friendly. They came over to see us and we traded bully beef for cigars. Xmas was ‘tray bon’ which means very good.’

Dr Weber added: “The letter was a fantastic find and clearly demonstrates that there was an attempt to downplay these small-scale Christmas truces when they happened.

“Officers had to report to higher chain of command so had an interest in downplaying events in the official version in their war diaries.”

As of writing this blog there are no insights from a soldier’s perspective to offer but a review of the war diary entries are as follows

December 25, 1915:  Battn. as yesterday – Everything very quiet tonight and all day. Very little firing but no liberties were taken by either side.

December 25, 1916:  Position same. Lieut. P.G. Might admitted to hospital. Enemy seems to have much water in his trenches. Patrol reports all quiet.

December 25, 1917:  Christmas Day. No training today. A Christmas Dinner of Turkey and [Pork?] was arranged for all the men of the Battalion, and everything was done by the Officers to make the men comfortable for this occasion.

Of course, the war ended in November 0f 1918 but the 18th Battalion was part of the Occupation Force and crossed into Germany in the Bonn area on December 17th. As the conflict was over the War Diary expounds about that Christmas:

December 25, 1918:  “A MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL” Christmas day dawned bright and clear, with just a touch of snow upon the ground, which gave the vicinity a very “Christmas like” appearance. The members of the Battalion where in excellent spirit and thoroughly prepared for anything the day might bring forth. The Officers of the Battalion had made every preparation for a fine Christmas Dinner and the men were awaiting it with a very keen anticipation. At the appointed hour the tables in the different Company Mess-Rooms, especially selected for the day, were teeming with good things to eat, and they assuredly presented a most pleasant sight.

“A” Company Mess-Room was located in a large hall in the Northern section of the town [Allner, Germany], “C” Company enjoyed its dinner in a picturesque theater in the centre of town, while “D” Company had theirs in one of the schools the town affords. “B” Company, being on duty as outpost Company had arranged to have dinner in one of the schools in the village of Brohl.

Each of the different Mess-Rooms was decorated in a most pleasant and “Christmas like” style and tended to heighten the then very high spirit of the men. The Tables were loaded with Apples, Oranges, Nuts, Ginger-ale Cakes, etc. and from the serving table in the rear came most appetizing odours of Turkey, meats, vegetables, Christmas Plum Pudding, and other items to be served as the dinner progressed.

The men took their places as the tables in a very business-like manner, the different platoons being kept together, and then began what was to be their first Christmas dinner and also, in all probability their last one in the German territory. Lieut. Col. L.E. Jones and the Staff Officers and the Officers of the different Companies were in attendance at each of the dinners of the Companies and during the progress of the dinner Lt.-Col. Jones made a short speech [strike out done to following words:  very short little] of good will, wishing the members of the Battalion a “Very Merry Christmas” and every prosperity for the coming year, which as he remarked would be one year never to be forgotten by any one present or by the world in its entirety, being the Anniversary year of the Ending of the war. He again complimented the members of the Battalion upon their share of the conflict and expressed himself as being more than pleased with their conduct past and present. At the close of his address the men express their appreciation of his remarks by rising and giving him three of the most hearty cheers and a “Tiger”.

At the close of the dinner the faces of the men showed, very glowingly, their entire satisfaction Altogether the occasion was carried off in an excellent manner and it will be one that will never be forgotten by any of the members of this battalion.

2 O.R.s on leave and 3 O.R.s returned.

Obviously Christmas 1917 and 1918 did not lend an opportunity for the Battalion to be tempted to fraternize with the enemy but at least in 1915 and 1916 Christmas Day was quiet. Note that a “major operation” was planned for after Christmas Day in 1916.

It will be interesting to see if any evidence similar to Private MacKinnon come to light