Christmas letter from the trenches 1914

Frederick James Davies, from Lampeter, Wales, a private in the 2nd Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers, wrote home about giving “cigs, jam and corn beef” to the frontline enemy during the celebrated impromptu ceasefire, which saw some soldiers play football.
 
He told his mother how both Germans and British soldiers climbed out of their trenches in northern France to exchange gifts and messages of goodwill. He had “a good chat with the Germans on Xmas day,” he wrote, in letters recently donated to the Imperial War Museum. “They were only fifty yards away from us in the trenches. They came out and we went to meet them. We shook hands with them,” he wrote. “They also gave us cigars but they didn’t have much food. I think they are hard up for it. They were fed up with the war.”

He described coming out of the trenches “since Sunday for a few days rest. It’s nice to have a night’s sleep from the wet but we still sleep in our clothes but I am happy through it all. It’s no use being otherwise”.

He added: “Don’t you worry about me. You buck up till I’ll come home”, before signing off “with best love from your loving son Fred”.

12/24

                     This is beautiful ! Merry Christmas to you and your family.

                         Love Joe..............

...and a reminder that war is between the politicians and the profiteers, not the ordinary people who just want a quality life for their family...

And if Christmas reminds us of nothing else, it should be a reminder that Christ was a man of peace who believed in a message of love, acceptance and generous spirit. 

Many religious leaders of multiple faiths also taught peace and love.

What a moment in history!  I wish more people would say, enough! 
Merry Christmas to all my friends here.  May your dayss be of peace and love and compassion.
Love Betty

Thanks Shelagh for your post.  "Peace on earth and good will toward men" has a literal meaning.

It is Christmas day and I hope you all will enjoy this day of celebration.