Bo'NE&s uar'.r'd .cm,IgrMAs D{ TtrETTTEI\CIIES"

Privrte Bpbtrt Diok6on, of ttre A rgyn a-ndfulrenrhnd llfutrlendecs, writilg bsne to lucruole !n Bo'uesa, rsdsr dste 2"/t& Deoembec'rJF:-"I *m di{l a}ivo a,rrl hicki-ng, "ttl

-t} Sot €dt of h€dith. I rmeived your parcei sd rrg'ht'*rrd I mry te{l you it oaroB st tho propor trmc,at rro rhad no biead fo our tes- I ehaJed tlrocekes n-ifh mv ohum, and wo wero the happre'stpair in rhe treocho for two ni4hta aftarxarri.s.I ooent mv Cb,rictnxs in tJre tronches. w emuld hear- 6e Germsna ehoutilg 1pd e'girtg8lI ftc.t maht Mct o{ thern am spoot go99I'.nglialr, ond they dhoun€d for ts to c.omo h&ll-\'rot. 'Ono of or:r oecgmie woot s.nd m€t aGdnrsrl, and oxohange; -

Tho Gt'r-rrna nid ho hrd be'n iu Ghssorv for fotr -vea,rs,aod he *& *r*y to be tigC-*,iag sg:&irBt Britoi:1.Thsr a,bout, forrv Gesrnens osme out of tha$h'6ach€.r anC e k* of our chape wer* out enidrncd thc;. Thsv bed€ tn *ll '-.\ Merrv Chljet-rnasr' cnd gavo tn fagt emd crhocolate. Ttey a,ilaaid t&oy \r€rrr 'fed I',' aad wiahod tlKt s'qr w&6over. -\ot s $ot sar 6red lhat &y."Cpzd$- 9:6lr, t5, p-5

CI{B,I$TUAS IN fiIE TRENCEES.Prir.*e JobD B.t+erDrt 605i B Ccv.. Arzvl I

*o{Sut*ierliad Higbl.rdrE. rnitias ti . ir-iiJ!u -q!'D6, uldcr dra€ && Drcclebxr, lglit. srr-"Ycu roero rtin€: tlt t ib. Hirfi..d'r*-Fqtta. hr,v.o b€cD &rn"g good rorlr, .aa t "gr;.r c{rr?'D t&IrI thr€ er'o yGry ar'13 If.--.. lgig tr6win out;.I-thirh t&cy .re {t *lp;t-;t-fid;:Uu trsofis rre only rbout 600 yardr fmrn tlieG*mrx, rld oa ftrLtrn Eve-re couH Leerthem .houtiDg to rrc 'A ltrcnrv Glric*ml' iner good hglilh G 16 st..& ouratva. Ooe efthe G*rrs aboutGd to. oae of otrr dru.'Come orci h'cc,' sld b. dcutcd br€t. 'Co;;hl'[-not4 '.od. I.riH ncct yon ' ?hc [*o mclhdf-vrt bcfr'a tbe tro {i1- o{ trolghci.b€ok h.tldt ead er*rrgad drdr ari. TbsGerm,a grrt{ .hin 5leid-tipl}cd 'fgr' for ---c'no$ea*-' r $a ln m r il {,- Ei'*uo*ioC'.r $qi.rcr irf rr i! '{e rmc iff:tP*g*.,.ia* *-s:,-*!r

ithe bcttcr of thu irr e tuala Tbe ooly S.i.is icbrt d,odr tcq ir g€od-c6.d is thii b{ Igur,. th€ 'Jrck Jobamc.' I ailEc it .ll drht:but Dhc E€.tlcr ir vry- oeid oui bcc.. rrtb -th€frd. Yos an ftc- wbt it will be like yi{tri.ho kilt', but rc df ju.* hrvc !o dick it till th.3rcod wa,tJra ocu rph. I x lettlr dItihc rd.of tbc lo'Dil chr'p a yorr o&to. -

$ F.y rg-.ii & vcr-v litc'you. - \F€ -; diralFEg w6a"

I llo'*' t5, ?'3

,.I, 1''I I)I.R'S ],ETTTR.

i

A nioe: irr 1lir" :""rs Grxrri rles<r'i!:rnT

thJ 'iSir,ri.'mas Trnir'" in a letlpr giren- irii" ''n=**l; --itys'-I was raikirg- +'b a Ger-

",.}' ":"t *'.r. i.i,:' v..'l:s in lrrrrti<'n' ,ry'c<v.ul,l sl,*'*r k il,'llnql;.-h l anli c l lt.ll;r *-Jl('n

,fr.i'tt.{ ",t i,tt iLe rtjtL l' $-o1:ld h'e cr('r' FIo

;lii i";; ru.rn tir.s' tir'te. f renrlr-ka'I 1)r rttif llr. "*"": o't t ir g ihe h-onst' of i i now , 'r-n'li" "ri,iji i,.-t .t'"." l>'.,ten i:- '*':t-o lir-kiniIiir,l

',-"^,

^ r',:; * 1o tl.r it. TleS *ai'i

"Jley;i;.,. ;;ii;"s lir.d r'r -.t 'Th"i *" ll-::: illn.r u-cll ofi rs q'e lm. iln'l jlil-rt\ ir'' rv('r !'r

"tl.',,-r-.'n i^*'.

--1 rlunk tI:t' (iernta':rs rrre tirerii;tli...,;;.i n"i '. *l't.': i" n'n riiJn't si:orili,=,-- I rtust. say *>nre of thorn rrer€ \'€rTy

iri.r. f..fi.rl-r,-o.,a'Ai't nol rlho\i :ruv hatre<!'

iijril,'it' "t,.t-e.,

lue tltiuk lheY ."n-\ 1-cn-(1-]' totu]lt..

Lo"r.n"r rs Sr! t5 f5

was .the wor*t I hare }sd yet' I oupposetou wouid €€e €ome oi the letters the eold-iers have put in the papers about gefhirg outof their trenches st the lfew Ycar and i"oingorer to lho Geiman trenches ald glvirgorer to . lho Geiman trenches ald glvirgthem fa$ and things. FVeIl, it is a.lot ofmt. The mso. who put thdt- nese. 1!,

-tb.e

RT.+CKBURN SOI;DT,}IR. ON TEEGER,UAN AND'BR,ITJSE I'R,A.TI.R.IiIS-

rNG' *A letten has j ust- iieen rsceived fm"r Pte'

e.ll,i;"-h, -I{.i.f-- q.'d Battalioq maohire

*"rr Gti"", whers he describ€g the life init" tr.,.* n-it. IIo speaks of the parcel he;;; ;;- t;; Iear's njs'ht in. tho f,rcrchee'iT; ;;;J ti. .r'.ii't* and the 'Tags"rii .isit. .Ifrr sals he wuuld hs've srittensooner", but he had just come gut of. thetrenchee a.ft€i being in them for-rrin€ da'ys'ald they $€ns up to tfie kleee in water andnru.d. Ii@reetfug*-t€L*MrDorrsotts-to-jsndv.ttta.ts Lo - {had" -eee'a

\Fi+ti€--Errd. -effiiTfl.*5tt-=5f'tliei fl.oi1tl - ff e( P-te. Lynch) met them coming ont of thoi.le::ches the morniog ha. n'as soing ii. Itrebnd a ohat with Curran.- Spea-ki:rg of tle.New Ycan teetivitie€, Pte. Lynch' erpremesbbe hope tl*t t liis friends in tLe old coul'trv had a go:d t-lne at Jhe New Year, "fhar"e had i"oy u, bad ori.e mlself, but tbie

pipers heve nsver been in the frrrng line:ysi. .We eirn handly put our head' abovs thstop of tho tronch'

- neYer mind getiing ort

of- them, end fln Germa.o-q are in the bameprxrtlon.

I*rtl"r f3$tx 15,'P'5

iliss Gn tts. V+theson, fJil Lnrxui. -{ra: a^rhle" da.iesh0er of llr M*rthr"sur-. b<ot rndsh<s npa,shs,nt, T\'{;t Ha.in -Sbeet, receivedthi.s rpek a lstte fn:nr n eoldier wbo w.qsih€ recigi€nt of s gidt of tobscco wlr.ictr sleIsd $Jrt:s,l.re€' rrit} S:lfta by other ArmadaleIadi€E-

Ttro writer-Fle- Ge<rrgre R. 8e11, of theSemnd Scots Gns.rd,J- Fritin* on 6ti Jarr1r'ary, sqrq:-f r.ieftr to th^r.n k yon ior t.he r-rce1r's<n o{ ir'rtrt^r o ryhich -rcm qe:rt ont to ih€l'r.ont, fflrd rhieh t'ell i,o [1r! to re€is€- ll'enn b*r'jl6 y$rJi F.rt rrnd col<l .nqat}.es l.€Jejntt no'rd, .hnt ls f aur s S anLsrn*n f crr.npn.ttr rnrll .-hr.ul iL I tnlong to the Dtn-rl,ae distrit-t- Wn rre in a. rest \i-li.'rt forfotx dsli ard gr* ting' e hit of t}o mud ofiorrr c.iotlit t.-- I suppoee you w'ill heve gotnll the Christnllrs 8n{l Ne*- Twr feeliritie<past by ,&js time. lfo nevt':. lner it rasthe festive xasn out !e.rt. EverytLingr.en t orn as usua.l. \Yith b€st wjslee endthe.nLing. you ver5 mrx$., for your gift. -Youn retl pootfulJy, Gprge 3o11.

.

G.*rtes tE 56Ar* t5,3.5

t

OEN,ISTMA,S IN TgE TR.EITCIIE&

INTER.ESTTNG LEITE& FBOM FAI,KIR^K'SOI.DIEA.

Al iotcrediag deeonp,tioa o{ hov CbrictncruT)rv wg ooeot

-iu rha trcnc5a ir coltrjaed in. lir,t i frio r Frlrrirk rolic, Corporel Pr1;rick Ues, of tlo 9"d B*trlion--9f .too Arg-yF."a- Srtti""U"a fUgtUaan Writing to bir

"ifu- he roys:-" I wg rraksood is tae morn'iit?-iri"tl" "*i-o ot o.e "t mv rotri-er aingtnf'fioi. kiDd ead g€ctl€ rrg Ehe-' r- 8ot ouiu *v'ars-og, r.n6 rhea hrd m 8o for trt€rxi"l6 ii *ar tighl *ou{lh ior the Gcrmarr toG ;- 1tey iorc vorY quet.o+ q+uPsrl)"t.-I didn'' t boer ani of tbeir 'ciumingU"t,J Oig rr-t. I gol uil-e w-stcr, rnd 'it€rrome frrn- qot the lile tLrt€<l A.t lc.r L:r! t'r€;dc.. o.riu rornd, *.,oog w ith e- oorgPelt r9dr{nom Dl.lr5ed bv I'ommy r b€.t tfleDd ul El]€

tre,riJl l'-h" tit-)-""i tl:t ws- set t,oo Doucih

of it. W; toeet€d tho ofiicer o'nd tho-rergorut'."d *ith"d lhern botb -c. morry Chtir*og'

;*iH ; tffi #if ?'["#n fi T; r.'oii]f,ii'.loinq untit dinnor-time, and &€n Fo strrt€d;';* di;;;;;dt. It-wso't vctY hrld 'tin-rte.'oond"llrry oi tiunej rrtiorr-ir'€{' porrto€t'crrrois, bernr, rnd SnYJr d @ordr ncur:/.lore*ing eftq beirf bsetbd Aft€r th't wo D'{le lrice orp o{ tac'-'1-mif*iti i-. tfi* w.berr I tell vou tirttle Grrmrns eicb"osod tle corndineai"- od. fA"ro.!on. tiimrtly afiar {ri-B!€r r prry ol rnomrra lroeu on o{r idt' ratmS gc-*uiol s llihev wrntod to soe* to rr- Sorna or our obrlarr".tit io"tf- *.y t" thcm, ald rers. rpcrling tot:lr€m- Some of the Germrns co$ld tp€4 'c'g-lirh- rr:d ono of tbecr bad torts€d ln ulrssoti""'r.* t".." It ir sid lrrt roe€ -of-. flrborr hnd i four-r'eile Fi{t tbcn' bG I d(b-'l

"e,i ;t. It it tnre, Aou€S' thrt tb€y ttn1:{

erchrnsod il€sd'dre€s L couvGlrrt- r r'r tlrtffii:';"d-;;. or m" fcllowe got fX". *4ci;.err' frorn tb€s. Afi€r tbrt bit of b*;:G;*- p."t, -o hrd ter. llrd bv bb.r 6E€".ne it w:r drr! rad to tera not being 'JorOIcdritrtr hradbell-riogdr (riSomen)'- ro -r'ood ad;la- rhi-. Of ;dr;;G, we h^d to loool ouriii ruiil m

-Lep rbim wrrm- Aft€r !br!.IlXt-Gt - oiv-[6k, h rrrt eLotrio lifhtrwioobrd o6.

' It morirtcd of r tob'.co. trD'ritrh c mall hole in tlre Il4 rDd r grersed. rrgrun rtrsb. So ettd.d my ftrrt, u'ld l- hopcrrv lrt, &rirlmrc Dry in thc ironde!"'

cloaefig t5 Jcul. t5, +'4

3

Corporal 'MiIIeo alsotmk ,nart in ;the trrrc ou e lrristmss r doy.It ;a^s, ho pays, brtrught abou t by ths 'Gor-mcl aoldiers.iiwho, on Ch-ristmas moriDinS.eedt -ona of f,heir nunbor with a pLiteh: nd'horchief, iecrffi to lJ:o Bfitish trepr;testo ask if thev would ,aglt.o to o tnace' tlibtdcy. Ttre f,rrioe was ngreed upon, andl.botJreides buried their ds:rd betrsotu the h''s4thes-lfhev ta,lked hud crhatted to oaerlr otihe.r.,,i &.'f rienrllwr MrBt of the Gerueri eoil-quibo friondlyl Mmt of thediart, Osrporal Millerr tu,mo iaeq\ed torbo lpell ecluca,lnd, aqf cout{ .tal.kta Bne.UFik onlinany eubjcch. Oh f,,hs I

tdre Germo,n. i*ildiery, lre coneidore, anewilllrrrit

Colt-t*ot 5 F.ls F, P.5

A BATHGATE MAN'SNXCITING TIME.

Soiee sad u-nd terrilbld srrer:taclec are to bo Ie,-'el in Fl.rnde.rs. 'fbe Bri.tish one ols oc- |c*iion o<tnpied :r fttn<,.h tmuc.I is ttrs qven- Iilrx. A t tiawl. t}'e next'mornirs. dome of Ithe men were iron'i.fierl to flnd deid bodi-es of I.}'rnnchmon *tt 6urried in the trenches. The Imen had been buried whsr€ thev had faUsa. I

Tht ene.mlis trenchee were nol far dista.at I

-alxrut 4(J yarde--and thev could bs heard ItalLins, play:ns niout$. 6armnnfums. anti Isiuging euafchee of etir:.gs. On Cbrirtnras Il]av nractica"lv :ro firils wac <lore. Ono cf Ithe (iernlins ricrlsois€a i, Gotdoo Eiehlasd- |€r. It ap pe.rrrs thet the men had worked k> Igethcr il a jewelJerrs ehcr1., i-n Saucrh;ohdl IStr\*t. Cil'rAgo$'. Tbo German. sboutcd I"that he wished he wus bock i!, SBuchi€hd I IStreeti" I. t+ --..- ^-. lI --- -r/ --, -L r t_r r-r- I;- It w56 orr New Yoar'e Day that nrbortts

I got a jab with tho bayoret.- The Gsrma:nshad .r,ttar.ked our trelbhos, but we repuleed

. Lhpm. I! g.as. obt trqo tfr.at tbo GeimansI $rer€ pimr Hhob. Thpv were cood mr.rk+men, irpeciallv thq sDi;€re. If -on; put hi6linger abcre tlro .gke of tle trench- therslr-a.6 o gt:ir\'€. da.nger.* {t Uo-'qS -ghot. off,,

Co*t - tL l..laF tB' F6

4

25tA ,'Decbr$c (Obciamar Dly' Fbidry)- -, -W-endisrred ta. Ct"-iti"t* o the rig*rt cf the- 25rd'sdt ast iai. o <rn*ee" rtrte-cl mult ia *ro dobrS-llool* ovec bb i.tb o{ o!& to tbe plrron' a*tl't'qi b il&c tb't* lxr*rf*at, tdiEg trFto ttc *nod in vr4cri' "Wo'ilr'oied to relitvo6" 13tb-ttty Jf..cA"n'ti',*ter trrlda ebouta mila awld sr Cbisto.d fve- Whon we gut&ere tbe Garsrarr &eil csnd€s c mmc otheq-*rit o burnitnr 8'[ afodc dnb trencbea. Webd -e wbite 6 xcit, 'aft, ecin's it wrs Ctrniet-uE€; go bal c ong. Boeoe shoubed " AXJ."- Ctr;ra"* tt oie. to fu ernmy, e-nd t*ny

-.*.d us ead ri$ad tx oac- One of tih'eircfioers oass ov€r b th€ be* seC- cb'outed to ua-<ho of o.* scrute u.ent d"€r to Lln rvit&out Irur. The offie 6boof- bdn& Eif,h lirn rld&;a u" Iad bbsn everr yriu in Lo-ndon' andl.oved Englrcd, atd he r*s fuh+iDg teoelx€ tt€bad to. -IIc Asitud over 'tbrt h€ dian't Yrantm to fire orr tL{na. and'ii?y'*or dn't fire o usfor cwo devs. orr bow 8sroe4 end gove aohetr- IId s.c ehe roat tb photb. sIrd t*ooiea.rB €,r,d tf,ev tben n*rted. Wo bgre beenF;i&; sba*- h fniat srd s tAo b..k eftb" t""#'E dll d.r- *d tbc4rya btft k€PifiiiL. grd *r a,-

-ixr+ hG b€ctl fuod- 'fr"

Lt"'f."n s6dns rrd cmlr ls wcg- Tb€g ht'.. h.- @r€ tiDaills lfl* r'ige6- tbo egt.ca-m,er to hoec ecie* wt oofo {.r t+- Gt€ r:gl-mcut. a^rd '.[rc b6.b.a rcY 'bYftre iesv c ou IsIt, t{* ir L lr lnY. tIrx6 E.; i-&ffi a ol* rlrnl* irl *!6 si'rfhdder-I w Cep bc6id. tbo pJ*o@ strg€lqt'r * l-t *..nde-iilr.;f Le"ir rfnid to lG akhtf ;;; *.ttd"jnn'if L*;s rfrr;a tp lG dirbtof -o' *idr t.ba refimr. IIo 'i r vety dowrtbtroke. bclancinY b -&Hrhrch, cad tre bee re-

-*dird fcr. &re',ir. .Fc;brrd CftrirFl* Mto*,yr .od ,Laric'Sfudtt\r rne fr diing b-J*-' II- IEJ *!*r ,r*nr= lti+ rrrrri.p-'Ud

C,o-z-e-(ie- /3 l/u-x tllT, p.!(;u*{\*\-+..^-F.- d tlt4)

..;

F'ORBII}I}EN TO FRATERNISE. I

--+-NEW GEBMAN ORDER"

f1e German military authorities haveforbidden their solcliere

- to fraternise with.the soldiers of the Allies, a-c was tlone in theamazing and unofficial Christmas trutno.'fhe Rotterdam corrcsDondent of the " I'eie-f,-raph " . quotes the f'Vorwerts " as stati-rgthrt aa ord€r has becn issued to this effect-.Ttc Getmal paper, howcver, publishes aletter from a soldier describing what tool<place on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Ite Vriter 6ays; " Suddenlv from iheenemv hurrahing 'was heard, air<I, sulplised,we came from our mouseholes und sarv theEngllsh advancing torvards us, waring whitecigarctto boxes, handkerchiefs, and towels.Thel' had no rifles. with them, and thereforewe kuew. it coulA only be a greeting andthat it was all right. We advauccd to-wardcthenr about halt'-wav. 'We were onlv Bbout200 tni'tres from eich other. l'he ireetinstook placc in tbc prescncc of office?s froriboth sidee. Cignrettes, cigars, and lnrnyof her things were exchanged, and even sr:r1i-shots of bpth sides wcre taken-

"Thc English began playing with a foot-ball thcy

*had with ihdm." On darknes.qdesceuding both eides returned to theird-rawing-moms, having promised that forthe next three davg of the holidnys theyrvould

. not fire on "eoch other. lAis "promi6'was given as a word of honour, ind ei-terril.ed on both sides to the artillery as tellls the- cavalry and infaltry. Th; l'renchlay a little frirther eway, aid therefore didnot take pgrt ia this. {hey were under firethe wholc- of the drv bv dur ertillerv. Wewere able to n* 1 .lin-t the -dit" ofChristmas Dav ,ril,h gbsolute freedorn. Itwas a day of peace in war. lt is only Ipity that it wer not a decigive peacc."

t\*\"\i.'\ ildrt.*.r.r tgS!.\ ts,+.z

5

b

Ilrcctlt fi-otn lrr '\bcltlcetr Llnilctsit! rvcbsitc

http: / /u-ww.abdn.ac.uk/news /3906/

I)r'\\rclrcr's asscrti()11 that thc offlcial war rccorcls clorvnpiuvcci contittueci (.htisttnls

tnrccs lrftcr 19141 lr'as {ivcn a bexrsl rvhcn irc trai'cllccl to (lrrnrcia hst nr()nth t() ielii rlrorrt llrc:

rescrrclr lrehirrrl Ilr/lrr'.; l"ir.tt lltza and mcrrrioncrl clulin.q rt pulrlic lcclrrt.c thc rrttcmptcd (-ltrlslnr;rs

'llr.rct lrctsccrr (lcman anci (,rrurlian rr()()ps rt Yinr lliclgc in 191(r.

I Ic lrrrs aPlrroachcc] lfienvalcls lrl a nrcmbe r of thc iirrtlict'rcc rv]rosc rrnclc

ItonlLl\lacl.,ir.rron hucl bccn tlcplol ctl lt Vinry llirlgc xt thc tillc. 1\1rr:l.,lnltotr \\,ils the s()n (,i .r

Scot from l.cvcnsc:rt. ncar lilulclhousc in \X/cst ],othian. ancl nrct his Scortislt tcletircs fol thc

{hst tinrc rrhilst tminirru in llt-ttein lrcfote

bcing scnt to tlrc \\'cstcln l t:otrt.'l irc ol'flciel r ctsir.'tt oicrcnls

accolling t() thc \\'xr- cliltl of thc trnclc's

rrilitan iirit. thc llrinccss l)rtricia's(,rrutlrrrn I-itht lnfintrv saNtc(l thrt thc(lcrrnrrns tricil to irrtcllcl but that tro one

lcspon,,lcrl to it. \'ct thr' k ttcrs I)ri!rttIllcl.,irrnc.,rr n,Lotc homc to his sistcr-rcrll rr

r:rthcr r.iiftctcttt sfot'1 :

'l Icrc rvc ltrc lljilir] xs thc s()lrg sl\,s. I

hlrl qrritc lt good \nrrs t:onsidcring I u rs itr

thc front linc. \tnas c|c \\'xs Ir.cttv stift.

sclrtr\ !r) Llp t() thc lrips ilt tlrrtl ofct,rtLsr'.

... \\r c hltl rr ffgcc ()11 \n-ras l)lr and orrt-

( icman ilie n'-1s u crc clrritc ft icnclll . 'l hocrln-)c .)\ c1 t() scc lrs ancl s c ttlrlctl bLrll,, bccllirr cigars. \tlls s rr-* 'tLal bort' ,.r'hich nrertrrs

vcrt'l]oocl.'l)r \\'clrcr rcl,rlcrl: " l lrc lcttcr \\'a5 .r

lrntlstic Fin cl rrrd clcar.h'(lcrr()nst11rfcs lh?rt

thtrc uls rr1 lrttcnlpt to ckrttrplev thcsc

snrell sc:rlc (-hlistnr',rs ltuccs u,hcn thcr

happcnc.l. O1-ficcrs hrrri t() rclr()r't to hii:hcr,. h.riu , ,1 ,,'rnm,,n.l .,' lr r,l .rr llr( t( \r rrdou'npLrr,ilg clcrts ir thc oiilcial ycrsr()rr in

Lhcir rr'ar diarics."

Ronald MackinnonCouttesy of Gotdon MacKinnon , Canada

Souree: httui?,@ Retrieved 21 November 2014.