THE CHRISTMAS TRUCE OF 1914.

This story was about The Christmas Truce o 1914 !escribe by Arthur Co"a" #oy$e.It ha%%e" i"
&or$! &ar I' war betwee" the (erma" a"! )ritish. Starti"* i" some %$aces o" Christmas E+e a"!
others o" Christmas #ay. The story be*i" were the so$!iers sitti"* arou"! the ire. They are writi"* a
$etter to their !earest o"e at home.
SO,#IER 1- (to audience) Christmas #ay' 1914. #ear mother'
SO,#IER 4- (to audience) My !earest Ma**ie'
SO,#IER .- (to audience) My *oo! o$! %a$ (eor*e'
SO,#IER /- (to audience) My $itt$e sister C$ara'
SO,#IER 1- It is /-00 am i" the mor"i"* a"! most o our me" are as$ee% i" their !u*outs.
SO,#IER 4- 1et I cou$!"2t s$ee% beore writi"* to you about my wo"!eru$ e3%erie"ces about e+e"ts
ha%%e" !uri"* Christmas E+e.
SO,#IER .- To te$$ the truth' what ha%%e"e! to me seems a$most $i4e a !ream' a"! i I ha!"2t bee"
throu*h it myse$' I wou$! scarce be$ie+e it.
SO,#IER /- 5ust +isua$i6e- &hi$e you a"! your ami$y sa"* caro$s beore the ire a"! eat Christmas
!i""er there i" ,o"!o"' I !i! the same with e"emy so$!iers here o" the batt$eie$!s o Fra"ce7 )ut the
o"$y !iere"t was that you ha+e roaste! tur4ey or !i""er a"! or us' we 8ust o"$y ate bur"e! ish a"!
wi$! boars.
SO,#IER 1- As I wrote beore' there has bee" +ery serious i*hti"* here e+e" !uri"* the "i*ht. The
irst batt$es o the war ha+e e"!e! but ma"y !ie! a"! both si!es ha+e he$! bac4 u"ti$ re%$aceme"ts
come to su%%ort us here. So we o"$y s%e"t our time most$y i" our tre"ches a"! waite! or bac4u%.
SO,#IER 4- )ut what a terrib$e waiti"* it has bee" as we waite! i" ear7 Fear o 4"owi"* that a"y
mome"t a"y missi$es mi*ht $a"! a"! e3%$o!e besi!e us i" this ra"sac4 tre"ch' 4i$$i"* or i"8ure!
se+era$ me". A"! i" this !ay$i*ht "ot e+e" !are! to $it our hea!s abo+e *rou"!' or ear o a s"i%er2s
bu$$et.
SO,#IER .- A"! the rai"9it has a$$e" a$most !ai$y. O course' it co$$ects ri*ht i" our tre"ches'
where we must bai$ it out with %ots a"! %a"s. A"! with the rai" comes the mu!9a *oo! oot or more
!ee% which ma4es it !iicu$t or us to s$ee% !uri"* "i*ht time
SO,#IER /- It s%$atters a"! stai"e! e+erythi"*' a"! co"sta"t$y suc4s at our boots. E+e" our eets
become $i4e a ro* s4i". O"e "ew recruit *ot his eet stuc4 i" it' a"! the" his ha"!s too whe" he trie!
to *et out98ust $i4e i" that America" story o the tar baby7 ,uc4i$y he !i! "ot si"4 i"to the mu!.
SO,#IER 1- Throu*h a$$ o this' we cou$!"2t he$% ourse$+es rom ee$i"* to curious about the
(erma" so$!iers across the way. Ater a$$' they must be ace! the same !a"*ers as we !i!' a"!
s$o**e! about i" the same mess.
SO,#IER 4- &hat2s more im%orta"t' their irst troo%s were o"$y :0 yar!s rom ours. )etwee" us $ay
the ;o Ma"2s ,a"!' bor!ere! o"$y the both si!es by barbe! wire9so c$ose e"ou*h that we sometimes
hear! their +oices.
SO,#IER .- O course' we hate! them +ery much whe"e+er they 4i$$e! our rie"!s. E+e" some us
try to a+e"*e their rie"!s !eath. )ut i" other times' we 8ust ma4e 8o4e! about them a"! a$most e$t
we ha! somethi"* i" commo".
SO,#IER /- A"! "ow it seems they e$t the same way as we !i!.
SO,#IER 1- 5ust yester!ay mor"i"*9o" Christmas E+e #ay9we i"a$$y ha+e our irst *oo! ree6e.
Co$! as we were' we we$come! it with a mere smi$e because at $east the mu!s become ro6e" so$i!.
SO,#IER 4- E+erythi"* was co+ere! with b$a"4et o s"ow' whi$e a bri*ht su" sho"e o+er a$$. &hat a
%erect Christmas weather.
SO,#IER .- #uri"* the !ay' there was $itt$e shooti"* or ri$e ire rom either si!e. A"! as !ar4"ess
e$$ o" our Christmas E+e' the shooti"* sto%%e! e"tire$y. &hat a sur%rise7
SO,#IER /- It was our irst com%$ete si$e"ce i" mo"ths7 &e ho%e! it mi*ht *ra"t us a %eaceu$
ho$i!ay' but we !i!"2t cou"t o" it. &e2! bee" to$! the (erma"s mi*ht attac4 a"ytime i they catch us
o *uar!.
SO,#IER 1- I we"t to the tre"ch to rest' a"! $yi"* o" my cot' I !rite! to as$ee%. Ater a whi$e' my
rie"! was sha4i"* me awa4e' sayi"*' <Come a"! see7 See what the (erma"s are !oi"*7= I *rabbe!
my ri$e' stumb$e! out i"to the tre"ch' a"! stuc4 my hea! cautious$y abo+e the sa"!ba*s.
SO,#IER 4- I "e+er ho%e to see a stra"*er a"! more $o+e$y si*ht. C$usters o ti"y $i*hts were shi"i"*
a$$ a$o"* the (erma" $i"e' $et a"! ri*ht as ar as the eye cou$! see.
SO,#IER .- <&hat is it>= I as4e! i" bewi$!erme"t' a"! someo"e a"swere!' <Christmas trees7=
SO,#IER /- A"! so it was. The (erma"s ha! %$ace! Christmas trees i" ro"t o their tre"ches' $it by
ca"!$e or $a"ter" $i4e beaco"s o *oo! wi$$. I thi"4 they a$so ta4e a brea4 to e"8oy i" this esti+e !ay.
SO,#IER 1- A"! the" we hear! their +oices a ar si"* a so"*. (singing) <Sti$$e "acht' hei$i*e
"acht . . . .=
SO,#IER 4- This caro$ may "ot yet be ami$iar to us i" )ritai"' but o"e o our so$!ier 4"ew it a"!
tra"s$ate!- <Si$e"t "i*ht' ho$y "i*ht.= I2+e "e+er hear! o"e $o+e$ier9or more mea"i"*u$ tha" this
caro$' i" this ?uiet' c$ear "i*ht' a"! it was !ar4' sote"e! by a irst@?uarter moo".
SO,#IER .- &he" the so"* i"ishe!' the me" i" our tre"ches a%%$au!e!. 1es' )ritish so$!iers
a%%$au!i"* the (erma"s7 Hurm' why were they e"8oyi"* the si"*i"* o the (erma"s troo%.
SO,#IER /- The" o"e o our ow" me" starte! si"*i"*' a"! we a$$ 8oi"e! i". (singing)<The irst
;owe$$' the a"*e$ !i! say . . . .=Ahh' what a wo"!eru$ thi"*s to !o as it remai"s me o home.
SO,#IER 1- I" truth' we sou"!e! "ot "ear$y as *oo! as the (erma"s it was $i4e heari"* a crow! o
toa!s si"*i"* i" the rai"s. )ut they res%o"!e! to our si"*i"* with e"thusiastic a%%$ause o their ow"
a"! the" they a$so be*a" a"other. (singing) <O Ta""e"baum' o Ta""e"baum . . . .=
SO,#IER 4- The" we re%$ie!. (singing) <O come a$$ ye aithu$ . . . .=
SO,#IER .- )ut this time they 8oi"e! our si"*i"*' si"*i"* with the same wor!s i"
,ati". (singing)<A!este i!e$es . . . .=
SO,#IER /- )ritish a"! (erma" harmo"i6i"* across ;o Ma"2s ,a"!7 &ow' I "e+er thou*ht "othi"*
cou$! be more ama6i"*9but what came "e3t was more so.
SO,#IER 1- <E"*$ish' come o+er7=as we sti$$ si"*i"*' we hear! o"e o them shout. <1ou "o shoot'
we "o shoot.= Ta$4i"* to us with bro4e" E"*$ish.
SO,#IER 4- There i" the tre"ches' we $oo4e! at each other i" bewi$!erme"t. The" o"e o us shoute!
8o4i"*$y' <1ou come o+er here.=
SO,#IER .- To our su%rise' we saw two i*ures rise rom the tre"ch' c$imbi"* o+er their barbe!
wire' a"! wa$4 u"%rotecte! across ;o Ma"2s ,a"! crossi"* our territory.
SO,#IER /- O"e o them ca$$e!' <Se"! a" oicer to ta$4.=
SO,#IER 1- The" I saw o"e o our me" $it his ri$e to the rea!y' a"! "o !oubt others !i! the same9
but our ca%tai" ca$$e! out' <Ho$! your ire.= The" he c$imbe! out a"! we"t to meet the (erma"s
ha$way.
SO,#IER 4- &e hear! them ta$4i"*' a"! a ew mi"utes $ater' the ca%tai" came bac4 with a (erma"
ci*ar i" his mouth7 <&e2+e a*ree! there wi$$ be "o shooti"* beore mi!"i*ht tomorrow 8ust or
to"i*ht as we were *oi"* to ce$ebrate Christmas with the (erma"'= he a""ou"ce!. <)ut se"tries are to
remai" o" !uty' a"! the rest o you' stay a$ert.=
SO,#IER .- Across the way' we ma4e out *rou%s o two or three me" starti"* out o tre"ches a"!
comi"* towar! us.
SO,#IER /- The" some o us were c$imbi"* out too' a"! i" mi"utes more' there we were i" ;o
Ma"2s ,a"!' o+er a hu"!re! so$!iers a"! oicers o each si!e' sha4i"* ha"!s with the (erma" we2!
bee" tryi"* to 4i$$ 8ust hours ear$ier7
SO,#IER 1- )eore $o"* a bi* bo"ire was bui$t' a"! arou"! it we mi"*$e!9)ritish 4ha4i a"!
(erma" *rey. I must say' the (erma"s were the %ro%er$y !resse! tha" us' with resh u"iorms or the
ho$i!ay.
SO,#IER 4- O"$y a cou%$e o our me" 4"ew (erma"' but more o the (erma"s 4"ew E"*$ish. I
as4e! o"e o them why that was.
<)ecause beore the war bro4e out' ma"y ha+e wor4e! i" E"*$a"!7= he sai!. <)eore a$$ this' I
was a waiter at the Hote$ Ceci$. Aerha%s I ha+e waite! o" your tab$e7=
<Aerha%s you !i!7= I sai!' $au*hi"* whi$e !ru"4.
SO,#IER .- O"e (erma" to$! me he ha! a *ir$rie"! i" ,o"!o" a"! that the war ha! i"terru%te!
their marria*e %$a"s. I to$! him' <;ot to worry. &e2$$ ha+e you surre"!er by Easter' the" you ca"
come bac4 a"! marry that *ir$.=
He $au*he! at my 8o4e!. The" he as4e! i I2! se"! her a %ostcar! he2! *i+e me $ater' a"! I
%romise! I wou$!.
SO,#IER /- A"other (erma" ha! bee" wor4i"* as a %orter at Bictoria Statio". He showe! me a
%icture o his ami$y a"! rie"!s bac4 i" Mu"ich. His e$!est sister was so $o+e$y' a"! I sai! I shou$!
$i4e to meet her some!ay because his sister seems "ice a"! maybe I ca" ma4e her my wie as I sti$$
si"*$e. He beame! a"! sai! he wou$! $i4e that +ery much a"! *a+e me his ami$y2s a!!ress.
SO,#IER 1- E+e" those who cou$! "ot co"+erse cou$! sti$$ ha+e a cha"ce to e3cha"*e *its9our
ci*arettes or their ci*ars' our tea or their coee' our cor"e! bee or their sausa*e. )a!*es a"!
butto"s rom u"iorms cha"*e! ow"ers' a"! o"e o our $a!s wa$4e! o with the i"amous s%i4e!
he$met7&ahh..&hat a 8oyu$ mome"t7
SO,#IER 4- Me myse$ tra!e! a %oc4et 4"ie ma!e by my ather or a $eather e?ui%me"t be$t rom
o"e o the (erma" so$!ier9a i"e sou+e"ir to show my ami$y whe" I *et home.
SO,#IER .- ;ews%a%ers too cha"*e! ha"!s' a"! the (erma"s burst with $au*hter at ours. They
assure! us that Fra"ce was i"ishe! a"! Russia "ear$y beate" too.
SO,#IER /- &e to$! them that what "o"se"se' a"! o"e o them sai!' <&e$$' you be$ie+e your
"ews%a%ers a"! we2$$ be$ie+e ours.=
SO,#IER 1- C$ear$y they ha+e bee" $ie! too by the me!ia9yet ater meeti"* these me"' I wo"!er
how truthu$ our ow" "ews%a%ers ha+e bee" si"ce the estab$ishme"t.
SO,#IER 4- The (erma" troo%s are "ot <sa+a*e barbaria"s= $i4e we2+e rea! so much about. They
are 8ust me" with homes a"! ami$ies' ho%es a"! ears' %ri"ci%$es a"!' yes' $o+e to the cou"try.
SO,#IER .- I" other wor!s' they 8ust $i4e us.
SO,#IER /- &hy are we $e! to be$ie+e otherwise>
SO,#IER 1- As it *rew $ate' a ew more so"*s were e3cha"*e arou"! the ire' a"! the" a$$ 8oi"e! i"
or9I am "ot $yi"* to you9<The Christmas Tree so"*.=
SO,#IER 4- The" we %arte! with %romises to meet a*ai" tomorrow'
SO,#IER .- a"! e+e" some ta$4 about the ootba$$ match.
SO,#IER /- I was 8ust starti"* to wa$4 bac4 to the tre"ches whe" a" o$!er (erma" ho$! my arm.
<Oh my ,OR#'= he sai!' <why ca""ot we 8ust ha+e %eace a"! a$$ *o home>=
I to$! him *e"t$y' <That you must as4 your em%eror.=
He $oo4e! at me the"' si"cere$y. <Aerha%s' my rie"!. )ut a$so we ha+e to !o is 8ust to as4 our
hearts.=
SO,#IER 1- A"! so' !ear mother'
SO,#IER 4- !ear wie'
SO,#IER .- !ear o$! %a$'
SO,#IER /- !ear sister'
SO,#IER 1- Te$$ me' has there e+er bee" such a Christmas E+e i" a$$ history>
SO,#IER 4- A"! what !oes it a$$ mea"' it was"2t im%ossib$e to berie"!i"* with the e"emies.
SO,#IER .- For the i*hti"* here' o course' it mea"s u"!esirab$y $itt$e. #ece"t e$$ows those
so$!iers are' but they 8ust o$$owi"* or!ers $i4e us.
SO,#IER /- )esi!es' we are here to i*ht or our $a"!' a"! "e+er cou$! we !o!*e that !uty.
SO,#IER 1- Sti$$' "o"e o us ca""ot he$% ima*i"e what wou$! ha%%e" i the s%irit show" by us were
cau*ht by the "atio"s o the wor$!.
SO,#IER 4- O course' !is%utes must a$ways arise.
SO,#IER .- )ut what i our $ea!ers were to oer %eace i" e3cha"*e to sa+e their %eo%$es $ie>
SO,#IER /- So"*s i" %$ace o s$urs>
SO,#IER 1- Arese"ts i" %$ace o re%risa$s>
SO,#IER 4- &hy "ot a$$ war e"!s at o"ce>
SO,#IER .- )ut a$$ "atio"s say they wa"t %eace.
SO,#IER /- 1et o" this %eaceu$ Christmas mor"i"*' I wo"!er i we wa"t it ?uite e"ou*h.
SO,#IER 1- 1ours tru$y'
SO,#IER 4- 1ours !earest a$ways'
SO,#IER .- Si"cere$y'
SO,#IER /- &ith a$$ my $o+e'
SO,#IER 1- Mi4e
SO,#IER 4- 5ames
SO,#IER .- #e3ter
SO,#IER /- Sebastia"