General Chat

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-30433729

One of these men left us an extraordinary account of the spirit of this fraternisation. His name is Louis Barthas, a cooper in Aude departement before the war and a corporal during the four years of the conflict, which he survived.

Barthas wrote: "Shared suffering brings hearts together, dissolves hatred and prompts sympathy among indifferent people and even enemies. Those who deny this understand nothing of human psychology. French and German soldiers looked at one another and saw that they were all equal as men."

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/christmas-truce-of-1914-letter-from-trenches-shows-football-match-through-soldiers-eyes-9942929.html

A First World War soldier’s account of the Christmas truce of 1914 has been released for the first time, chronicling “one of the most extraordinary sights anyone has ever seen”.

Captain A D Chater was serving with the 2nd Battalion Gordon Highlanders when peace came briefly to the English and German trenches on the Western Front.

His letter to his “dearest mother”, describing the famous moment former enemies risked their lives to walk out into no-man’s land to wish each other a happy Christmas and play football, has been released by Royal Mail with his family’s permission.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04n67xq
There are now no living veterans of WW1, but it is still possible to go back to the First World War through the memories of those who took part. In a unique partnership between the Imperial War Museums and the BBC, two sound archive collections featuring survivors of the war have been brought together for the first time. The Imperial War Museums' holdings include a major oral history resource of remarkable recordings made in the 1980s and early 1990s with the remaining survivors of the conflict. The interviews were done not for immediate use or broadcast, but because it was felt that this diminishing resource that could never be replenished, would be of unique value in the future. Among the BBC's extensive collection of archive featuring first hand recollections of the conflict a century ago, are the interviews recorded for the 1964 TV series 'The Great War', which vividly bring to life the human experience of those fighting and living through the war.
Dan Snow narrates 'Voices of the First World War', a new oral history, which will be broadcast in short seasons throughout the commemorative period.

The Christmas Truce
In a special programme for Christmas Day, Dan Snow looks at the few hours of impromptu ceasefire that took place between 24th and 25th December 1914. According to veterans' recollections, in several places along the Western Front German and British troops mingled in No Man's Land and some even played football. Drawing on the recordings of soldiers' memories in the archive collections of the Imperial War Museum and the BBC, Dan examines what actually happened and the myths that built up around the truce.

In the Daily Mail today were some letters from soldiers on both sides , talking about the 1914 Christmas truce.

One of them was written by a distant cousin (5th cousin once removed) of mine, William Loasby.

"Handshakes and haircuts

I walked across to my man and shook hands, I asked him how he liked it. ‘Terrible, I wish I was back in Germany’ (in Good English!). I wanted a souvenir so I took my knife out of my pocket and he let me cut a button from his coat. I could only give him a few old biscuits from my pocket.
On Xmas Day I called up my friend the German and we met again halfway. Now out steps a German officer and comes up to me. The officer says, after shaking hands, and in Good English: ‘Are you all English in front there and no French?’
I answered: ‘All English, no French.’ He replied, ‘I thought so,’ then said, ‘Ten Frenchman don’t make an Englishman.’
I thought: ‘Compliments.’ He weighed me up and down, gave me six cigars, some chocolate, shook hands again and turned about, went back to his trench. The other chap gave me a knife as a souvenir.

Lance-Corporal William Loasby, 2nd Northamptonshire Regiment.

Sadly William was killed just a few weeks later, on 11th january 1915.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2882774/Letter-reveals-cross-dressing-German-troops-panto-British-soldiers-World-War-truce-WOMEN-S-clothing-looted-French-farmhouse.html

Newly-discovered letters from the trenches reveal that British servicemen were entertained by their German foe, who dressed up in women's clothes and caused 'much merriment'.

Continued.

Wednesday 16th Sep 1914.
I have never spent and imagine that I can never spend a more ghastly and heart-tearing 48 hours than the last. Not a moment in which to write a word in my diary. We have been fighting hard ever since 8am on the 14th and have suffered much. At about 6am atMoulins we hear a good deal of firing going on and shells begin dropping about. We are then on the road moving north.

The Queen's have been re-directed to the north-east some little time before and we are head of the Brigade. The 2nd Brigade is already engaged and we are sent to the high ground to the left to assist them. As we go we get some six shrapnels at us but mercifully are not touched. We reached the shelter of the high ground which rises quickly and steeply from the plain and then we advance over the crest and take up our position in a wood, ready to move out when required. Shrapnel and rifle fire fairly heavy. The first casualty is my mare who was shot in the head. Nothing very bad at present and she is able to go on carrying my stuff.

Though I do not ride her. The General and Staff and CO and I watched the fight in the neighbouring valley in front.
It is a high ridge opposite, i.e west of us, that we have got to go for and nasty work it will be. Jenkinson, the Brigade Major, is killed, poor fellow, and soon afterwards we begin to suffer in the wood, chiefly from ricochets. We get several men down with small wounds, and then as C Company goes to attack, Lieutenant M T Johnson of A shot through the body. We hope he is not mortally wounded, but feared he is. C, D, and A Companies go out, leaving B in support.

Swarms of the Germans on the ridge, rather massed. Our guns opened on them at 1800 yards, and one can see a nasty sight through one's glasses. Bunches of Germans blown to pieces.
We again suffered some casualties and eventually had to retire, or rather the Companies which have gone out have to come back to our ridge again. Here we stay firing and being fired at for some 8 hours and then another effort. Meanwhile our guns are having a huge duel. Not much success, and Germans are too numerous to really push back properly. Richards is hit in the arm and leg. Nothing very bad I fancy. Several men killed.

At dusk we are ordered to move up the valley towards the T ofTroyon, which we did. As D Company was leading the wood a melanite shell burst at head of 1 Platoon. Poor young Vernon and a few men were knocked out. Vernon mercifully and miraculously not killed. On we go. It is now too late to be fired at by rifle fire and we go on well, but in the dark C and A Companies go ahead, and D lost touch. Most annoying. On reaching the ridge at the head of the valley we find only B and D companies, and as we were looking for the others, shots rang out and we were soon at it again. Short and sharp. Germans withdrew.

I have a horror of a night firing. One is so very likely to kill one's own men, and from wounds I have seen since, I am sure some of them were hit like that on this very occasion. The Brigadier and his staff came along and rode right past us, and in a few minutes they were fired on. General and Staff Captain of an Brigade Major, and one or two NCOs and men have got away, the rest were missing the next morning and have just been found by some of our search parties some distance ahead of our position.

They have been fed by the Germans and looked after, but have been there for two days. We then spent the night in trenching our position, and at dawn a force of enemy was seen advancing. One of the officers called up to us that he wished to speak to an officer, but after the episode at Landrecies with the Guards, we weren't having any of that. I have no doubt that they really did wish to surrender but they must do it properly as one man did this morning and march up with his hands above his head and no arms upon him. So we opened fire, and although we lost some men we wiped them out at 200 yards, and there they lie in front of us.

Poor devils. Later on the enemy's guns enfiladed us. We were told we were to hang on at all costs, and at all costs it had to be. We lost severely and it was a very bad business.
We were cheered on about midday by a message from Field Marshal French to say that we of the 1st Division had saved the situation and by holding on had allowed the crossing of the river to be made. Since then we have been under fire of all sorts, rifle fire from snipers, shell from enemy, shell (bursting short) from our own guns and we have not lacked experience.

I am thankful that I and my particular friends have not taken a knock yet, but there is lots more to come. However, we have done and shall continue to do, please God, what we have to do and that is all about it. The sights were ghastly. Wounded crying all night for help and no one to help them. The doctors have done all they can, but the casualties are ever heavier than they can easily cope with. We have had a good few German prisoners and many Germans wounded have come through our hands, poor fellows, absolutely done and half-starved.

I am certain that given a reasonable excuse they will surrender en bloc. Our total casualties are Yeatman and Johnson killed, Richards and Vernon wounded, and of the R & F 18 killed, 76 wounded and 122 missing, of whom I trust many may be found alive and well, as one must always lose some in the dark.
Here I sit outside our headquarters trench in the sun. The rain which we have had without a break for the past two days has now stopped and the world should look glorious.

The battle has stopped here for a bit although in the distance we can here the 2nd English Army Corps guns and their battle generally. As I say all should be nice and peaceful and pretty. What it actually is is beyond description. Trenches, bits of equipment, clothing (probably blood-stained), ammunition, tools, caps, etc etc, everywhere. Poor fellows shot dead are lying in all directions. Some of ours, some of the 1st Guards Brigade who passed over this ground before us, and many Germans. All the hedges torn and trampled, all the grass trodden in the mud, holes where shells have struck, branches torn off trees by the explosion.

Everywhere the same hard, grim, pitiless sign of battle and war. I have had a belly full of it. Those who were in that South Africa say that that was a picnic to this and the strain is terrific. No wonder if after a hundred shells have burst over us some of the men want to get back into the woods for rest. Ghastly, absolutely ghastly, and whoever was in the wrong in the matter which brought this war to be, is deserving of more than he can ever get in the world. Everyone very cheery and making the best of things. Men of course wonderful, as T. Atkins always is. I must try and write to mother now.

[Captain John Banks Jenkinson, psc, Rifle Brigade, is buried in Vendresse British Cemetery. He had been Brigade-Major of 3rd Brigade since April 1913, and was aged 33].
[Lieutenant Mervyn Taylor Johnson joined the regiment in 1907 and was aged 28. He happened to be in England on leave from 2nd Battalion when war commenced and joined 1st Battalion. He is also buried in Vendresse British Cemetery].
[Captain Marwood Edwards Yeatman, 30, was a Sandhurst graduate and a 1st Class Interpreter of Russian. He joined the regiment in 1903. Yeatman has no known grave and is commemorated on the Memorial to the Missing at La Ferte sous Jouarre].

The Battle of the Aisne
7- 10 September 1914
Elements of the British Expeditionary Force which took part in this engagement:
Cavalry Division
Gough's Command: 3rd and 5th Cavalry Brigades
I Corps: (Haig): 1st and 2nd Divisions
II Corps: (Smith-Dorrien): 3rd and 5th Divisions
III Corps: (Pulteney): 4th Division and 19th Infantry Brigade
This battle includes the tactical incidents
> the passage of the Aisne
> the capture of the Aisne Heights including the Chemin des Dames

Subsequent to this battle was
> the actions on the Aisne Heights, 20 September 1914
I Corps: (Haig): 1st and 2nd Divisions plus 18th Brigade attached from 6th Division
II Corps: (Smith-Dorrien): 3rd Division
> the action of Chivy, 26 September 1914
The 1st South Wales Borderers
This section of the Long, Long Trail will be helpful for anyone wishing to find out about the day to day activities of the army.

Coverage
This is not a unit war diary but a personal report, attached to the diary as an appendix. It covers the period in September 1914 as the battalion advanced from the Marne to the slopes above the Aisne. It comes from one of the officers of the battalion and makes for very sobering yet inspiring reading.

Wednesday 9th Sep ,1914.
Battle of the Marne. Push off again to take the bridge at Nogent, which after some delay we find to be an occupied by enemy. Our cavalry, which has already crossed, is fired on by the R. A. Silly asses. It is quite obvious that they are not the enemy. Advance again north. Sound of large battle on our left, i.e. west. We find 18 cavalry wounded by our guns. The officer of R. A. responsible ought to be shot in my opinion. We move north and still north and finally bivouc at Le Thoulet. All the villages are broken and signs of the retreating enemy are met with everywhere. Dead horses, graves, etc.

Nasty sights. An occasional hole where a shell has dropped and with perhaps some blood about it. There is a certain amount of fighting with our advance guards and the Germans, and we see ambulances come back full of wounded. However one is accustomed to such sights. A most excellent dinner which our interpreters managed to get. Bacon, tea, eggs and fresh bread, which we have not seen for some five or six days. Everyone feels very much better.

Tursday 10th Sep 1914.
2nd Brigade advance guard. 1st next, and ourselves last. Consequently a late move. Get off at 8am, raining, very nasty. Get news at 10:30 that the Germans, who are retiring from west to north-west, are crossing our front and we push on. Our Divisional cyclists come in for it and are shelled at 1,000 yards. Several killed and wounded, about 20. General Findlay, C RA., 1st Division, hit on the head by shrapnel bullet, was not dead when last we heard. Push on and come nasty close to high explosive German shells about the village of Frise, where we halt. To hospital - Baker (only temporary, probably), Steward (ditto), and Travers (probably to England). Orders the come to move to Sommelans and billet, which we do. On the way we pass over the ground on which the Sussex had a nasty half - hour; many dead and wounded. However, the enemy has been pushed back which is the main point. Find on arrival at Sommelans that the interpreters have given us a very good meal. Bread, eggs, potatoes, and jam, with “6 good bottles” as the French would say. Searched the farmhouse in which we fed and found a large washing-tub. All hands on to boil water and at 10 pm a glorious bath. I was exceedingly dirty I am sorry to say. Just before turning in comes news of a General Findlay’s death. Poor fellow.
Brigadier-General Noel Douglas Findlay, CRA 1st Division, is buried in Vailly British Cemetery.

Friday 11th Sep 1914.
We had orders to move past 6am in a northerly direction, but at 4am come orders saying that we must push off East at once. On the move at 5am, 3rd Brigade leading and ourselves as advance guard. Plenty of dirty thick woods to go through. Finally arrive atVilleneuve. Here we get information that the reason of our change of direction is that the French Army on our right defeated at German Army yesterday evening and that we are to arrive on the flank of the retiring and panic-stricken Germans. However as we only march about 10 miles and go into billets, there does not seem to be much truth in the story. What do we know? Nothing! We are expecting a mail today. Haven't seen one for last 10 days. Everything goes well with us. Mail and supplies arrive, but too late to dish it out completely, so we put it on the transport wagons again and load up.

Saturday 12th Sep 1914.
Move at 5:30am. Reddie tore a coverlet belonging to the house and Madame arrived three different times in tears to see me about it. Reddie offered her 5 Francs, which she refused, much has Silas Wegg refused Mr Boffin’s offer. However, it was all settled at last. Our Brigade does advance guard to 1st Division. We march north-east. En route we get authentic news that the French are victorious again and that the Germans retire in disorder. Good business! We go via Fere-en-Tardenois, Loupeigne, Mont Notre Dame toBazoche, where there is a good battle going on by the sound of guns and rifle fire. Welsh leading, Gloucestershire, Queen's and ourselves in rear. Welsh and Gloucester line high ground north of Paars, but nothing comes of it. It appears to be the 2nd Division on our left about Cereuil who are driving back the German force and we are too late to co-operate on the 2nd Division 's right and turn the Germans left, so we go into billets at Vaucere, and as it is raining as hard as it can well do we are thankful for a roof, although personally I spent that part of the night not spent in writing messages, orders, etc in sleeping in it upright chair. I am always reminded on these occasions of Pecksniff’s night ride in the coach to London, with Anthony and his son as companions. Dickens says then that one's legs get in one's way and are tiresome, and so it is. One kicks, etc, but to no purpose. The rest of the mail is opened. Nice parcel from mother of food and tobacco and several letters. Hope to get another mail soon, but they have not been running well lately. However, no grumbling allowed. We are lucky to be in a house on such a night is the general opinion of the headquarters mess. Very tired.

Monday 14th Sep 1914.
As there is only one road by which the whole 1st Division can push on, it takes some time and we get orders not to move to 9am. At about 8 it is discovered that the bridges over the River Aisne have been so damaged that we cannot even move at 9, and as a matter of fact we move at 2pm. When we do move it is not for very long. We crossed the river with shells dropping around us. The Germans have destroyed most of the bridges and are shelling or trying to shell the ones they have left, hoping to catch us on them. However, we cross and line a ridge to the north of Bourg. The cavalry pushes out and we billet in Bourg. Find a very nice house in which a good dinner and to bed on the floor with Homfray. I refused to spend another night sitting up and say so plainly. Another mail arrives with several letters for me. Very nice. Orders to move at 5am.
[Lieutenant Homfray was killed in action near Ypres on 11th November 1914 and is buried in Sanctuary Wood Cemetery].

( more to follow)

About the 3rd September the enemy appears to have changed his plans and to have determined to stop his advance South direct upon Paris; for on the 4th September air reconnaissances showed that his main columns were moving in a south-easterly direction generally east of a line drawn through Nanteuil and Lizy on the Ourcq. On the 5th September several of these columns were observed to have crossed the Marne; whilst German troops, which were observed moving south-east up the left bank of the Ourcq on the 4th, were now reported to be halted and facing that river. Heads of the enemy's columns were seen crossing at Changis, La Ferte, Nogent, Chateau Thierry and Mezy. Considerable German columns of all arms were seen to be converging on Montmirail, whilst before sunset large bivouacs of the enemy were located in the neighbourhood of Coulommiers, south of Rebais, La Ferte-Gaucher and Dagny.

I should conceive it to have been about noon on the 6th September, after the British Forces had changed their front to the right and occupied the line Jouy-Le Chatel-Faremoutiers-Villeneuve Le Comte, and the advance of the 6th French Army north of the Marne towards the Ourcq became apparent, that the enemy realised the powerful threat that was being made against the flank of his columns moving, south-east, and began the great retreat which opened the battle above referred to.

On the evening of the 6th September, therefore, the fronts and positions of the opposing armies were roughly as follows:




ALLIES.
6th French Army.-Right on the Marne at Meaux, left towards Betz.
British Forces.-On the line Dagny-Coulommiers-Maison.
5th French Army.-At Courtagon, right on Esternay.
Conneau's Cavalry Corps.-Between the right of the British and the left of the French 5th Army.

GERMANS.
4th Reserve and 2nd Corps.-East of the Ourcq and facing that river.
9th Cavalry Division.-West of Crecy.
2nd Cavalry Division.-North of Coulommiers.
4th Corps.-Rebais. 3rd and 7th Corps.-South-west of Montmirail.
All these troops constituted the 1st German Army, which was directed against the French 6th Army on the Ourcq, and the British Forces, and the left of the 5th French Army south of the Marne. The 2nd German Army (IX., X., X..R. and Guard) was moving against the centre and right of the 5th French Army and the 9th French Army.
On the 7th September both the 5th and 6th French Armies were heavily engaged on our flank. The 2nd and 4th Reserve German Corps on the Ourcq vigorously opposed the advance of the French towards that river, but did not prevent the 6th Army from gaining some headway, the Germans themselves suffering serious losses. The French 5th Army threw the enemy back to the line of the Petit Morin river after inflicting severe losses upon them, especially about Montceaux, which was carried at the point of the bayonet. The enemy retreated before our advance, covered by his 2nd and 9bh and Guard Cavalry Divisions, which suffered severely. Our Cavalry acted with great vigour, especially General De Lisle's Brigade with the 9th Lancers and 18th Hussars.

On the 8th September the enemy continued his retreat northward, and our Army was successfully engaged during the day with strong rearguards of all arms on the Petit Morin River, thereby materially assisting the progress of the French Armies on our right and left, against whom the enemy was making his greatest efforts. On both sides the enemy was thrown back with very heavy loss. The First Army Corps encountered stubborn resistance at La Tretoire (north of Rebais). The enemy occupied a strong position with infantry and guns on the northern bank of the Petit Morin River; they were dislodged with considerable loss. Several machine guns and many prisoners were captured, and upwards of two hundred German dead were left on the ground. The forcing of the Petit Morin at this point was much assisted by the Cavalry and the 1st Division, which crossed higher up the stream.
Later in the day a counter attack by the enemy was well repulsed by the First Army Corps, a great many prisoners and some guns again falling into our hands. On this day (8th September) the Second Army Corps encountered considerable opposition, but drove back the enemy at all points with great loss, making considerable captures. The Third Army Corps also drove back considerable bodies of the enemy's infantry and made some captures.

On the 9th September the First and Second Army Corps forced the passage of the Marne and advanced some miles to the north of it. The Third Corps encountered considerable opposition, as the bridge at La Ferte was destroyed and the enemy held the town on the opposite bank in some strength, and thence persistently obstructed the construction of a bridge; so the passage was not effected until after nightfall. During the day's pursuit the enemy suffered heavy loss in killed and wounded, some hundreds of prisoners fell into our hands and a battery of eight machine guns was captured by the 2nd Division. On this day the 6th French Army was heavily engaged west of the River Ourcq. The enemy had largely increased his force opposing them; and very heavy fighting ensued, in which the French were successful throughout. The left of the 5th French Army reached the neighbourhood of Chateau Thierry after the most severe fighting, having driven the enemy completely north of the river with great loss. The fighting of this Army in the neighbourhood of Montmirail was very severe.
The advance was resumed at daybreak on the 10th up to the line of the Ourcq, opposed by strong rearguards of all arms. The 1st and 2nd Corps, assisted by the Cavalry Division on the right, the 3rd and 5th Cavalry Brigades on the left, drove the enemy northwards. Thirteen guns, seven machine guns, about 2,000 prisoners, and quantities of transport fell into our hands. The enemy left many dead on the field. On this day the French 5th and 6th Armies had little opposition. As the 1st and 2nd German Armies were now in full retreat, this evening marks the end of the battle which practically commenced on the morning of the 6th instant; and it is at this point in the operations that I am concluding the present despatch.

Although I deeply regret to have had to report heavy losses in killed and wounded throughout these operations, I do not think they have been excessive in view of the magnitude of the great fight, the outlines of which I have only been able very briefly to describe, and the demoralisation and loss in killed and wounded which are known to have been caused to the enemy by the vigour and severity of the pursuit.
In concluding this despatch I must call your Lordship's special attention to the fact that from Sunday, August 23rd, up to the present date (September 17th), from Mons back almost to the Seine, and from the Seine to the Aisne, the Army under my command has been ceaselessly engaged without one single day's halt or rest of any kind. Since the date to which in this despatch I have limited my report of the operations, a great battle on the Aisne has been proceeding. A full report of this battle will be made in an early further despatch. It will, however, be of interest to say here that, in spite of a very determined resistance on the part of the enemy, who is holding in strength and great tenacity a position peculiarly favourable to defence, the battle which commenced on the evening of the 12th instant has, so far, forced the enemy back from his first position, secured the passage of the river, and inflicted great loss upon him, including the capture of over 2,000 prisoners and several guns.
I have the honour to be,
Your Lordship's most obedient Servant,
(Signed) J. D. P. FRENCH, Field-Marshal,
Commanding-in-Chief,
The British Forces in the Field.

Hi Joy, thank you for your link.

The Battle of the Marne
7- 10 September 1914
Elements of the British Expeditionary Force which took part in this engagement:
Cavalry Division
Gough's Command: 3rd and 5th Cavalry Brigades
1 Corps: (Haig): 1st and 2nd Divisions
II Corps: (Smith-Dorrien): 3rd and 5th Divisions
III Corps: (Pulteney): 4th Division and 19th Infantry Brigade
Sir John French's Second Despatch
The second Despatch of Field Marshal Sir John French, Commander in Chief of the British Armies in France and Flanders. Printed in the Second Supplement to the London Gazette of 16 October 1914. It covered the retreat from Le Cateau to the far side of the Seine and the dramatic turnabout and epic Battle of the Marne.
War Office, October 18th, 1914.
The following despatches have been received by the Secretary of State for War from the Field-Marshal Commanding-in-Chief, British Forces in the Field :-
17th September, 1914.
In continuation of my despatch of September 7th, I have the honour to report the further progress of the operations of the Forces under my command from August 28th.

On that evening the retirement of the Force was followed closely by two of the enemy's cavalry columns, moving south-east from St. Quentin. The retreat in this part of the field was being covered by the 3rd and 5th Cavalry Brigades. South of the Somme General Gough, with the 3rd Cavalry Brigade, threw back the Uhlans of the Guard with considerable loss. General Chetwode, with the 5th Cavalry Brigade, encountered the eastern column near Cerizy, moving south. The Brigade attacked and routed the column, the leading German regiment suffering very severe casualties and being almost broken up.
The 7th French Army Corps was now in course of being railed up from the south to the east of Amiens. On the 29th it nearly completed its detrainment, and the French 6th Army got into position on my left, its right resting on Roye. The 5th French Army was behind the line of the Oise between. La Fere and Guise. The pursuit of the enemy was very vigorous; some five or six German corps were on the Somme, facing the 5th Army on the Oise. At least two corps were advancing towards my front, and were crossing the Somme east and west of Ham. Three or four more German corps were opposing the 6th French Army on my left. This was the situation at 1 o'clock on the 29th, when I received a visit from General Joffre at my headquarters. I strongly represented my position to the French Commander-in-Chief, who was most kind, cordial, and sympathetic, as he has always been. He told me that he had directed the 5th French Army on the Oise to move forward and attack the Germans on the Somme, with a view to checking pursuit. He also told me of the formation of the Sixth French Army on my left flank, composed of the 7th Army Corps, four Reserve Divisions, and Sordet's Corps of Cavalry. I finally arranged with General Joffre to effect a further short retirement towards the line Compiegne-Soissons, promising him, however, to do my utmost to keep always within a day's march of him. In pursuance of this arrangement the British Forces retired to a position a few miles north of the line Compiegne-Soissons on the 29th. The right flank of the German Army was now reaching a point which appeared seriously to endanger my line of communications with Havre. I had already evacuated Amiens, into which place a German reserve division was reported to have moved.


Orders were given to change the base to St. Nazaire, and establish an advance base at Le Mans. This operation was well carried out by the Inspector General of Communications. In spite of a severe defeat inflicted upon the Guard 10th and Guard Reserve Corps of the German Army by the 1st and 3rd French Corps on the right of the 5th Army, it was not part of General Joffre's plan to pursue this advantage; and a general retirement on to the line of the Marne was ordered, to which the French Forces in the more eastern theatre were directed to conform. A new Army (the 9th) had been formed from three corps in the south by General Joffre, and moved into the space between the right of the 5th and left of the 4th Armies. Whilst closely adhering to his strategic conception to draw the enemy on at all points until a favourable situation was created from which to assume the offensive. General Joffre found it necessary to modify from day to day the methods by which he sought to attain this object, owing to the development of the enemy's plans and changes in the general situation. In conformity with the movements of the French Forces, my retirement continued practically from day to day. Although we were not severely pressed by the enemy, rearguard actions took place continually.
On the 1st September, when retiring from the thickly wooded country to the south of Compiegne, the 1st Cavalry Brigade was overtaken by some German cavalry. They momentarily lost a Horse Artillery battery, and several officers and men were killed and wounded. With the help, however, of some detachments from the 3rd Corps operating on their left, they not only recovered their own guns but succeeded in capturing twelve of the enemy's. Similarly, to the eastward, the 1st Corps, retiring south, also got into some very difficult forest country, and a somewhat severe rearguard action ensued at Villers-Cotterets, in which the 4th Guards Brigade suffered considerably.

On September 3rd the British Forces were in position south of the Marne between Lagny and Signy-Signets. Up to this time I had been requested by General Joffre to defend the passages of the river as long as possible, and to blow up the bridges in my front. After I had made the necessary dispositions, and the destruction of the bridges had been effected, I was asked by the French Commander-in- Chief to continue my retirement to a point some 12 miles in rear of the position I then occupied, with a view to taking up a second position behind the Seine. This retirement was duly carried out. In the meantime the enemy had thrown bridges and crossed the Marne in considerable force, and was threatening the Allies all along the line of the British Forces and the 5th and 9th French Armies. Consequently several small outpost actions took place.
On Saturday, September 5th, I met the French Commander-in-Chief at his request, and he informed me of his intention to take the offensive forthwith, as he considered conditions were very favourable to success. General Joffre announced to me his intention of wheeling up the left flank of the 6th Army, pivoting on the Marne and directing it to move on the Ourcq; cross and attack the flank of the 1st German Army, which was then moving in a south-easterly direction east of that river. He requested me to effect a change of front to my right-my left resting on the Marne and my right on the 5th Army-to fill the gap between that army and the 6th. I was then to advance against the enemy in my front and join in the general offensive movement. These combined movements practically commenced on Sunday, September 6th, at sunrise; and on that day it may be said that a great battle opened on a front extending from Ermenonville, which was just in front of the left flank of the 6th French Army, through Lizy on the Marne, Mauperthuis, which was about the British centre, Courtecon, which was the left of the 5th French Army, to Esternay and Charleville, the left of the 9th Army under General Foch, and so along the front of the 9th, 4th, and 3rd French Armies to a point north of the fortress of Verdun. This battle, in so far as the 6th French Army, the British Army, the 5th French Army and the 9th French Army were concerned, may be said to have concluded on the evening of September 10th, by which time the Germans had been driven back to the line Soissons-Reims, with a loss of thousands of prisoners, many guns, and enormous masses of transport.


more to follow

http://blog.livesofthefirstworldwar.org/voices-from-the-christmas-truce/

Voices from the Christmas Truce

The Battle of Le Cateau and subsequent actions
26 August - 1 September 1914
...it is said by some that through the course of the entire war never were British troops as heavily outnumbered
(John Lucy, 2nd Royal Irish Rifles, in his autobiographical work 'There's a devil in the drum')
Elements of the British Expeditionary Force which took part in this engagement:
Cavalry Division
II Corps: (Smith-Dorrien): 3rd and 5th Divisions
4th Division
19th Infantry Brigade.

Falling back from Mons: Smith-Dorrien decides to make a stand
By nightfall of the 25 August 1914 the retreating II Corps was being closely pursued by the German First Army. I Corps was some way away to the east, and although the newly-arrived 4th Division was moving up alongside II Corps it was clear that the disorganised and greatly fatigued units faced a calamity the next day if the withdrawal was forced to continue. Corps Commander Horace Smith-Dorrien ordered II Corps to stand and fight. The units of the Corps were arranged in the open downs to the west of the small town of Le Cateau.
The main action in this battle did not take place at Le Cateau itself, but in the rolling country around Caudry.

Tactical victory
For long hours during the morning of 26 August, the British force, notably the field artillery, held overwhelming numbers of the enemy at bay and inflicted severe losses. British tactics were similar to those at Mons. The infantry produced intensive and accurate rifle fire, while the field artillery fired air-bursting shrapnel rounds on the unprotected enemy. Many field guns were fired at point-blank range over open sights. Some were withdrawn just as the enemy infantry closed in. For the second time in three days, the British force engaged withdrew just in time. Miraculously, the exhausted II Corps disengaged and withdrew towards the south during the afternoon. Smith-Dorrien's decision to turn II Corps around from retreat and to stand against the German advance at Le Cateau paid off handsomely. Heavy casualties were inflicted on the Germans and another delay imposed on their Schlieffen timetable. To the east, I Corps was able to move further away from the advance parties of the Germans. However, a rift grew between Sir John French (who had initially ordered a continuation of the retreat) and Smith-Dorrien as a result of this action. It was to have serious consequences in 1915.

Wrecked field guns and limbers, with dead men and horses strewn across the field. It has not been possible to identify the exact location or unit involved, but it is believed that it is at or shortly after Le Cateau.
Casualties
The total British casualties at Le Cateau amounted to 7,812 of all ranks, killed, wounded and missing.
38 field guns were lost.
Subsidiary actions which followed the main battle:
The Rearguard Affair of Le Grand Fayt, 26 August 1914
2nd Connaught Rangers (5th Brigade, 2nd Division)
The Rearguard Affair of Etreux, 27 August 1914
15th Hussars (1st Division)
2nd Royal Munster Fusiliers (1st (Guards) Brigade, 1st Division)
The Affair of Cerizy, 28 August 1914
5th Cavalry Brigade
The Affair of Nery, 1 September 1914
1st Cavalry Brigade
1st Middlesex Regiment (19th Brigade)
The Rearguard Action of Crepy en Valois, 1 September 1914
13th Brigade (5th Division)
The Rearguard Actions of Villers-Cotterets, 1 September 1914
3rd Cavalry Brigade
4th (Guards) and 6th Brigades (2nd Division)




The weary retreat continues
Over the course of the next week, the BEF continued the long slog of retreat, often fighting sharp rearguard ctions. Eventually the force was south of the Seine and effectively our of the battle line.
Senior officer losses
At Le Cateau
Lt-Col. Charles Brett, OC 2nd Suffolks
Lt-Col Alfred Dykes, OC 1st King's Own and
Lt-Col Edward Panter-Downes, OC 2nd Royal Irish Regiment
were all killed in action at Le Cateau. None has a known grave and all are commemorated on the Memorial to the Missing at La Ferté sous Jouarre.
Col. Frank Boileau of Royal Engineers and on staff of 3rd Division died on 27 August 1914 of wounds received on the days before this battle and is buried at Terlincthun British Cemetery.

In the subsequent clashes as the retreat continued
Lt-Col George Ansell, OC 5th Dragoon Guards, was killed on 1 September 1914 at Verberie and is buried in the French National cemetery in that village.
Lt-Col the Hon. George Morris, OC 1st Irish Guards, also died on 1 September 1914 in the woods near Villers-Cotterets and is buried in the Guards Grave there.
Lt-Col Ian Hogg, OC 4th Hussars, died the next day and is buried in the communal cemetery at Haramont.

Jumping ahead a bit now to 1919, thank you Tec for sending this to me to add to the Truce thread. What a fascinating story, why is it not better known?

The Kinmel Camp riots of 1919
Some of the most serious riots in British military history took place between 4 and 5 March 1919 in the Canadian Army Camp at Kinmel Park in North Wales.

Kinmel Park, just outside Abergele, was a transit camp for Canadians waiting to be repatriated to their homeland after their service to the British Empire during World War One and at the time of the riots held almost 15,000 soldiers.

Originally it had been intended to send the Canadians home directly from France but many of these men had relatives in the United Kingdom that they wanted to visit. This was understandable and, as it was unlikely that most of these men would ever be in a position to visit them again, transit camps were established across Britain in order to facilitate this desire.

Kinmel Park was a huge staging camp where troops of all regiments and military specialities were housed, the soldiers being accommodated according to the military districts of Canada from where they came rather than in the long-bonded regimental units that had seen them through the war years. The men did not know the officers and there was a clear mood or feeling of alienation in the air.

This, in itself, was enough to create problems but when, in late February 1919, it was learned that troop ships originally allocated to the Canadians had been re-allocated to the American forces - who had certainly not served in France for half as long as the Canadians - it caused understandable and huge resentment.

Then came the news that the Canadian 3rd Division - know to the military authorities as the Fighting Division - was to be given priority over other Canadian troops. The men at Kinmel were outraged, both at the implied slander on their reputations and on being once again pushed down the list for repatriation.

Basic conditions
Conditions at Kinmel Park were very basic. The place was a sea of mud and strikes had held up the delivery of both fuel and food supplies. As a result the men were on half rations and as many had received no pay for over a month, even the delights of the canteens in Tin Town - a large, privately run establishment set outside the military camp - were beyond their means.

They were sleeping 42 to a hut in accommodation that had been designed for no more than 30. Men were taking it in turns to sleep on the floor and most of them had only one blanket to keep them from the cold of a north Wales winter. Several delegations were sent to the senior officers in the camp, protesting about conditions and the way the men felt they were being treated. Nothing was done.

Then, on 1 March 1919 there were rumours that tempers had boiled over and that one of the canteens in Tin Town had been looted. That same day some of the soldiers refused to go on a route march and Colonel Colquhoun, the camp commander, became very concerned.

It did not stop him going off to Rhyl for a social evening on 4 March and in his absence large numbers of muttering soldiers began to gather together in groups to sound off about the conditions they had to endure.

In the early hours of the morning, with tempers growing more and more frayed by the second, discontent finally spilled over into direct action.

Several leaders were appointed by the men, one of them being Sapper William Tsarevitch, and when some of the groups moved off to raid and loot the camp Quartermaster's Stores the call "Come on the Bolsheviks" was heard. Fires were soon started in Tin Town and the officers' and sergeants' messes were looted.

Officers quickly established a defensive perimeter and ammunition was issued to those soldiers considered to be trustworthy and loyal. The rioters had a few rifles but, in the main, they had to improvise weapons, strapping razors to broom handles or sticks.

Full scale mutiny
When 20 of the mutineers - because it was by now considered a full scale mutiny - were seized the rest simply charged the guardroom and set them free. Rifle shots were exchanged and, when casualty figures were later added up, it transpired that three rioters and two guards had been killed in the affair. Many others had been wounded or injured.

The rioting continued until 4.30 in the morning of 5 March when things seemed to fizzle out and the officers regained control of the camp.

In the aftermath of the mutiny - although the term riot is probably more accurate - 78 of the Canadians were arrested. Twenty-five were convicted of mutiny and sentences of between 90 days detention and 10 years' penal servitude were handed out by the military courts.

There was no great conspiracy to mutiny at Kinmel Camp, rather it was something that just happened due to a variety of different causes. Yet the military and those in command needed to fix or apportion blame, at the same time absolving themselves from fault.
As far as many in authority were concerned, despite the appalling conditions at the camp, one of the root causes was the growth of socialism.

Set in the context of the time, with recent communist revolutions and uprisings in Russia and Germany, it is relatively easy to see how they reached this conclusion. The fact that the officers did not ensure that the men knew their concerns were being heard and understood was conveniently forgotten.
Following the riots priority was given to repatriating the Canadian troops. The affair was, as far as possible, "hushed up" and by 25 March over 15,000 Canadians had been transported home. The tragedy is that it could not have been done earlier.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thank you again Tec.

Cooper~~I will look for the song and add it, unless you already have it and can add it ? thank you.

Shaun

Im just listening to Jeremy Vine, he has been commemorating the anniversary of WW1 all year.

A group called The Farm had a song called "All Together Now" I have listened to it for many years but had not listened properly to the lyrics. The group have just sung it, its, about the Christmas day truce. I only realised today.

Thinking of my Great Uncle Joesph Helm who died at the battle of the Somme.

( Continued )
First Victoria Cross actions
The bridges at Nimy were defended by the 4th Royal Fusiliers, the forward company being under Captain Ashburner. The battalion's section of two machine guns were under Lieutenant Maurice Dease. As the German attacks increased, all men of his section were killed or wounded and he took over a gun himself. He was wounded five times, and eventually taken to a medical dressing station where he succumbed. Private Sidney Godley took over a gun and kept it firing. He covered the withdrawal despite being wounded, and eventually dismantled and threw the gun into the canal just as he was taken prisoner. Both men were awarded the Victoria Cross. Godley died shortly after the Second War; Dease lies in St Symphorien cemetery outside Mons, along with many men and officers of his battalion.
Casualties
The total British casualties amounted to just over 1,600 of all ranks, killed, wounded and missing, during the Battle of Mons. Practically half of these were from just two battalions (400 of the 4th Middlesex and 300 of the 2nd Royal Irish, both of the 8th Brigade in the canal salient). German losses are said by official British sources to have been in excess of 5,000 but this figure is disputed.

The Battle of Mons
23 August 1914
British order of battle
• Cavalry Division (Allenby)
• 5th Cavalry Brigade
• I Corps (Haig): 1st and 2nd Divisions
• II Corps: (Smith-Dorrien): 3rd and 5th Divisions
• 19th Infantry Brigade
Inception
The first battle fought by the British Army against the Germans on the Western Front in the Great War came about simply because pre-war plans had placed the British Expeditionary Force in the way of the German advance towards Paris. This position had been agreed during pre-war discussions between the British and French Armies.
German troops entered Luxemburg on 2 August and moved into Belgium near Liege next day. The British Government declared war late on 4 August 1914, and by 22 August the four infantry divisions and one cavalry division of the British Expeditionary Force had disembarked in France and taken up their positions near the fortress town of Maubeuge, some miles south of Mons on the extreme left of the Allied line. General Lanrezac's French Fifth Army was on the right of the British.
By this time the German armies were moving en masse towards the west. Their plan had placed much strength on their right flank, which was by now streaming through Belgium with the First Army under von Kluck - the largest of their armies - wheeling round past Brussels to Ath and Mons. The British command quickly became convinced by cavalry reports, together with those by aerial observation, that German troops were closing in on Mons.

First clash
At dawn on Saturday 22 August 1914, "C" Squadron of the 4th Royal Irish Dragoon Guards, commanded by Major Tom Bridges, pushed out two patrols north from Mons towards Soignies and met the Germans for the first time. There is a memorial near the spot today. "C" Squadron commenced a reconnaissance along the road heading out from Maisières. Four enemy cavalrymen of the 2nd Kuirassiers emerged from the direction of Casteau.

They were spotted by the British and turned around, whereupon they were pursued by the 1st Troop (under Captain Hornby) and the 4th Troop. Corporal E. Thomas of the 4th opened fire near the chateau of Ghislain, the first British soldier to do so in the Great War. He was uncertain whether he killed or wounded the German soldier that he hit. Meanwhile, Hornby led his men in hot pursuit and charged the Germans, killing several. He returned with his sword presented, revealing German blood. There were other cavalry encounters with the enemy in the areas of La Louvière and Binche.

During the day and in rear of the cavalry screen, the British infantry took up a thin line of roughly entrenched positions along the Mons-Conde canal, following it round the pronounced salient to the north of the town, with the I Corps to the east echeloned back and facing north-east. 19th Infantry Brigade took up a position on the left of the British line. It was decided that, if pressure grew on the outposts along the canal, then the II Corps would evacuate Mons and take up a defensive position among the pit villages and slag heaps a little way to the south.

The Germans were apparently unaware of the presence of the BEF in this area until the skirmishes on the 22nd. By 9am on 23rd German artillery had been placed on high ground north of the canal.

Timeline
5.30am: Sir John French met with Haig (I Corps), Allenby (Cavalry Division) and Smith-Dorrien (II Corps) at his advanced HQ at a chateau in Sars-la-Bruyère, where he ordered the outpost line on the canal to be strengthened and the bridges prepared for demolition.

6am - 7am: German cavalry patrols encounter British forces in area of Nimy and Pommereuil; British cavalry patrols also go out and met with opposition at Obourg; shots are exchanged. 5th Division pushes its mounted troops and two battalions across to north side of canal at Tertre (1st Royal West Kent and 2nd King's Own Scottish Borderers of 13th Infantry Brigade);

9am: German guns are now shelling the canal bend line held by 8th and 9th Brigades; German infantry of IX Korps have advanced and are now closely engaged with 4th Middlesex at Obourg; attack against canal bend intensifies and Germans take heavy casualties.

11am: attack is spreading westwards; German III Korps now also attacking canal line at Jemappes but also take heavy casualties; Germans also close on canal at Mariette and Tertre: 1st Royal West Kents at Tertre forced to withdraw across canal.
Noon: German attack frontage has now broadened to St Ghislain and Les Herbieres and now stretches some 7 miles from Mons; soon after noon the Germans cross the canal at Obourg and

reach the line of the railway: the 4th Middlesex, now supported by 2nd Royal Irish Regiment, are now in a precarious position and under heavy attack;
2pm: German artillery begins to come into action against British 3rd Infantry Brigade of 1st Division; German cavalry is seen moving towards St Symphorien; 4th Royal Fusiliers is ordered to withdraw from Nimy and Germans cross canal.

3pm: British 3rd Division is now signalling that it is under heavy attack; Haig orders two battalions of 4th (Guards) Brigade to take over defence of Hill 93 (SE of Mons) from 3rd Division; reports arrive stating that French cavalry on the British right is also under attack and falling back;

3pm: 1st Royal Scots Fusiliers of 9th Infantry Brigade ordered to withdraw from Jemappes to Frameries; Germans cross canal here too;

3.15pm: German infantry is working around both sides of the 2nd Royal Irish Regiment near Obourg: a decision is taken to withdraw the battalion to hold a new line at Bois la Haut; the 4th Middlesex also withdraws.

7-8pm: renewed German attack against 8th Brigade: after an hour the brigade is ordered to withdraw to Nouvelles.

The Germans did not exploit their success in the canal salient as dusk fell. Instead, their buglers were heard to sound the 'cease fire'.

8.40pm: Sir John French orders II Corps to hold fast and strengthen positions during the night.


Late: news arrives that the French Fifth Army is going to begin a general withdrawal at 3am on 24 August; this is officially confirmed by French Conmander in Chief Joffre at 1am; it now appeared that Tournai had fallen to the enemy; that long columns of the enemy had broken through; and that a wide gap had opened up on the right between the BEF and Lanrezac's Army.

Sir John French had little option but to order a general withdrawal in the direction of Cambrai, and to try to re-establish contact with his allies. The great retreat from Mons is set to begin. The men of the "Old Contemptibles" were mystified by the orders to withdraw - they fervently believed that they had fought the Germans to a standstill at Mons and simply could not understand why they were marching away. Not one of them could have guessed just how much marching they would do over the next two weeks.

( more to follow )

Hi Joy, thank you for your link.

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Some British Army statistics of the Great War
The British Army of 1914 was very small in comparison with the mighty armies of continental neighbours France and Germany. It was considered as 'contemptibly small' by Kaiser Wilhelm II. But rapid expansion ensured that from mid-1916, it faced the main body of the main enemy on equal or better terms, in addition to providing winning forces in many other theatres. By 1918, the scale, firepower and tactical sophistication were all very much greater than in the early days. The statistics of it all would fill a very large book: here are a few key facts.

How big was the British Army of 1914-1918? 8.7 million men served at some time
Men from United Kingdom in army in August 1914: 733,514
plus recruited from England : 4,006,158
plus recruited from Scotland: 557,618
plus recruited from Wales and Monmouth: 272,924
plus recruited from Ireland: 134,202
plus Empire contingents sent to serve overseas:
From Canada: 418,035 of total 628,964 in arms
From Australian and Tasmania: 330,000 of total 416,809 in arms
From New Zealand: 100,471 of total 220,099 in arms
From South Africa: 74,196 of total 136,070 in arms
From Newfoundland: 10,610 of total 11,922 in arms
From West Indies: 16,000 This total to end of 1917
From other Dominions: 31,000
Total British Army servicemen available for deployment: 7,165,280
From the Indian Army and other 'coloured troops': 1,524,187
Total force available for deployment: 8,689,467


Where did these men serve? 5.4 million men served in France and Flanders (the Western Front)
Theatre of war: Peak strength (i.e. maximum at any one time) Total employed (i.e. saw service
in this theatre at some point)
France and Flanders: 2,046,901 5,399,563
Mesopotamia: 447,531 889,702
Egypt and Palestine: 432,857 1,192,511
Salonika: 285,021 404,207
Italy: 132,667 145,764
Gallipoli: 127,737 468,987
Other theatres: 293,095 475,210
How many soldiers of the British Army died in the Great War?
According to figures produced in the 1920's by the Central Statistical Office, total British Army casualties were as follows:
Total killed in action, plus died of wounds, disease or injury, plus missing presumed dead: 956,703 of which Royal Navy and RFC/RAF casualties were 39,527
of which, from the British Isles were: 704,803
and from Canada, Australia, India and other places: 251,900
Total British Army deaths in France and Flanders: 564,715 of which 32,098 died of disease or injury
Total British Army deaths on the Gallipoli front: 26,213
Total British Army deaths on all other fronts: 365,375


How many soldiers of the British Army do not have a known grave?
In March 2009, the totals from the Commonwelath War Graves Commission for the First World War are a s follows. These figures include all three services:
Buried in named graves : 587989
No known graves, but listed on a memorial to the missing : 526816, of which
- buried but not identifiable by name : 187861
- therefore not buried at all : 338955
The last figure includes those lost at sea.
So it is fair to say that about half are buried as known soldiers, with the rest either buried but unidentifiable or lost.
How many soldiers of the British Army were wounded in the Great War?
The enormous firepower of the armies of 1914-1918 guaranteed a high proportion of wounded to men in action. According to figures produced in the 1920's in the Official History of the Medical Services, total British Army wounded were as follows:
Total British Army wounded in action, plus other casualties (e.g. accidental): if a man was wounded twice he appears here twice: 2,272,998 Royal Navy and RFC/RAF casualties were 16,862
Proportion returned to duty: 64%
Proportion returned to duty but only for lines of communication, garrison or sedentery work: 18%
Proportion discharged as invalids: 8% i.e. approximately 182,000
Proportion died of wounds received: 7%


How many soldiers of the British Army were sick in the Great War?
In every previous war, deaths and casualties to sickness far outstripped those from military action. By 1914 and beyond, medical advances and an increasingly well-organised medical chain of evacuation made sure this was not the case. The number of men evacuated to England from France and Flanders, who were suffering from an illness:
Year Officers Other ranks
1914 892 25,013
1915 5,558 121,006
1916 12,818 219,539
1917 15,311 321,628
1918 15,311 265,735
The proportion of men suffering from illnesses was very much higher in Palestine, Mesopotamia, Gallipoli and East Africa.


~~~~~~~~~~
Hope you can understand the above , it all got mixed up when C/Pd.

Edit; thank goodness it's come out ok.
Shaun

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/dec/18/first-world-war-truce-football-match-replayed-centenary

Thank you for your post Margee, I will see if I can get more info for you tomorrow.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

'No strict formations, just a kickabout': Ian McMillan's Christmas truce poem inspired by young footballers
Saturday 13th December 2014 9:32 am (first posted 10th December 2014)

Ian McMillan appeared on BBC Radio 4’s Midweek programme on Wednesday, talking about the poem he has written based on the work of over 300 young footballers from all 20 English Premier League under-12 teams, who have written poems about the first worldâ?ˆwar battlefields of Flanders.

The Poetry Society and Barclays Premier League worked together to co-ordinate the creation of the poem as part of the Football Remembers project. The poem was performed by young Liverpool FC players Tyler Morton and Seb Losa on Tuesday 9 December at a parliamentary reception.

It will be read in English, French, Flemish and German at the final international leg of the tournament next week.
Since 2011, the Premier League has held the under-12s Christmas Truce international tournament in Ypres, Belgium, developed to honour the Christmas truce football matches that took place on the western front in December 1914.

This year poets Simon Barraclough, Steve Ely, Chris McCabe, Nick Makoha, Deanna Rodger and Poetry Society director Judith Palmer accompanied the under-12s and helped them produce their own poems inspired by their visit, exploring their feelings about the first world war and the original Christmas truce football matches in 1914, where soldiers laid down their arms on Christmas Day to play football together.

Their poems were then distilled into the final piece by Ian McMillan.
McMillan said: “It's been exciting and humbling to work with the words proved by the young footballer/writers, proving once again that poetry is a real team sport!” Deanna Rodger, who was the poet-coach for Hull, Chelsea, Stoke and Leicester, added: “Walking around war memorials is emotionally and morally challenging as an adult; to see these sites through these young boy-footballers’ eyes brought a perspective of wonder and clever curiosity.”

The Game: Christmas Day 1914

It is so cold.

The lines of this poem are sinking
Into the unforgiving mud. No clean sheet.
Dawn on a perishing day. The weapons freeze
In the hands of a flat back four.
The moon hangs in the air like a ball
Skied by a shivering keeper.
All these boys want to do today
Is shoot, and defend, and attack.


Light on a half-raised wave. The trench-faces
Lifted till you see their breath.
A ball flies in the air like a moon
Kicked through the morning mist.
All these boys want to have today
Is a generous amount of extra time.

No strict formations here, this morning;
No 4-4-2 or 3-5-1
No rules, really. Just a kickabout
With nothing to be won
Except respect. We all showed pictures,
I learned his baby’s name.

Now clear the lines of this poem
And let’s get on with the game.
No white penalty spot, this morning,
The players are all unknown.

You can see them in the graveyards
In teams of forgotten stone;
The nets are made of tangled wire,
No Man’s Land is the pitch,
A flare floodlights the moments
Between the dugouts and the ditch.

A hundred winters ago sky opened
To the sunshine of the sun
Shining on these teams of players
And the sounds of this innocent game.

All these boys want to hear today
Is the final whistle. Let them walk away.
It has been so cold. The lines
Of these poems will be found, written
In the unforgotten mud like a team sheet.
Remember them. Read them again.

Ian McMillan

Evidently 1914 wasn't the only year that there was a Christmas truce.

The follwing is from a letter written by Frank St. Denis, a Canadian soldier:

"Christmas 1915. A wonderful moment of truce! We celebrated and fraternised with the soldiers of other countries, even with the Germans, as if we were a large family. Music and peace replaced the bombings...which will start again tomorrow. Why can we not always live in harmony?"

Frank was killed June 21, 1916.

Edit: This info came from a newspaper article published this week in a local paper. However I have since tried to confirm details and can find no record of this soldier.

The Death of Lieutenant Alexis Helmer

Lieutenant Alexis Helmer was an officer in the 2nd Battery, 1st Brigade Canadian Field Artillery and had become good friends with John McCrae. On the morning of Sunday 2nd May Alexis left his dugout and was killed instantly by a direct hit from an 8 inch German shell.

What body parts could be found were later gathered into sandbags and laid in an army blanket for burial that evening.
Alexis was 22 years old and a popular young officer. Before the outbreak of war he had graduated from McGill University with a degree in Civil Engineering. He was the son of Elizabeth I. Helmer of 122, Gilmour St., Ottawa, and the late Brigadier General R. A. Helmer.

Near to the 1st Canadian Brigade's position on the canal bank there was a small burial ground which had originally been established during the First Battle of Ypres in the autumn of the previous year, 1914. The Second Battle of Ypres began on 22nd April 1915 and by early May the burial ground also contained graves of French and Canadian casualties. It became known as Essex Farm British Military Cemetery.

Lieutenant Helmer was buried on the 2nd May. In the absence of the chaplain, Major John McCrae conducted a simple service at the graveside, reciting from memory some passages from the Church of England's 'Order of Burial of the Dead'. A wooden cross marked the burial place.

The grave has since been lost. Lieutenant Alexis Helmer is now commemorated on Panel 10 of the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing in Ypres; he is one of the 54,896 soldiers who have no known grave in the battlefields of the Ypres Salient.

Inspiration for the poem ‘In Flanders Fields’ by John McCrae
Major John McCrae, second in command of the 1st Brigade Canadian Field Artillery during the Second Battle of Ypres in April and May 1915.

It is thought that doctor John McCrae (30thNovember 1872 — 28th January 1918) began the draft for his famous poem ‘In Flanders Fields’ on the evening of the 2nd May, 1915 in the second week of fighting during the Second Battle of Ypres.

It is believed that the death of his friend, Alexis Helmer, was the inspiration for McCrae's poem ‘In Flanders Fields’. The exact details of when the first draft was written may never be known because there are various accounts by those who were with McCrae at that time.

One account says that he was seen writing the poem sitting on the rearstep of an ambulance the next day while looking at Helmer's grave and the vivid red poppies that were springing up amongst the graves in the burial ground.

Another account says that McCrae was so upset after Helmer's burial that he wrote the poem in twenty minutes in an attempt to compose himself.

A third account by his commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Morrison, states that John told him he drafted the poem partly to pass the time between the arrival of two groups of wounded at the first aid post and partly to experiment with different variations of the poem's metre.

John McCrae, was serving as a Major and a military doctor and was second in command of the 1st Brigade Canadian Field Artillery. The field guns of his brigade’s batteries were in position on the west bank of the Ypres-Yser canal, about two kilometres to the north of Ypres. The brigade had arrived there in the early hours of 23rd April.