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Last Christmas Truce vet dies
The last known veteran of the 1914 Christmas Truce passed away in Scotland Nov. 21. Alfred Anderson was 18 years old on Dec. 24, 1914, when German soliders started decorating the area around their trenches. Soon, British and German troops were shouting yuletide greetings across no man's land. Then something even more remarkable happened - soldiers from each side exchanged gifts of whiskey, cigars and sausages. According to some accounts, German and British soldiers played a soccer game. Soon, an impromptu peace began breaking out, with enemies meeting to signs psalms, and helping to bury each other's dead.
Naturally, the high commands from both sides were appalled that their soldiers weren't playing fair. From that point on, artillery bombardments were ordered on each Christmas eve, lest more goodwill should break out.
The Christmas Truce has been celebrated in song by a Wisconsin folksinger John McCutcheon, who sang "Christmas in the Trenches:":My name is Francis Tolliver, I come from Liverpool.
Speaking when he marked his 106th birthday in 2002, Mr Anderson said: "We lived for each day during the war. At 106, I do much the same again."
Two years ago the war was waiting for me after school.
To Belgium and to Flanders, to Germany to here
I fought for King and country I love dear.
'Twas Christmas in the trenches, where the frost so bitter hung,
The frozen fields of France were still, no Christmas song was sung
Our families back in England were toasting us that day
Their brave and glorious lads so far away.
I was lying with my messmate on the cold and rocky ground
When across the lines of battle came a most peculiar sound
Says I, ``Now listen up, me boys!'' each soldier strained to hear
As one young German voice sang out so clear.
``He's singing bloody well, you know!'' my partner says to me
Soon, one by one, each German voice joined in harmony
The cannons rested silent, the gas clouds rolled no more
As Christmas brought us respite from the war
As soon as they were finished and a reverent pause was spent
``God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen'' struck up some lads from Kent
The next they sang was ``Stille Nacht.'' ``Tis `Silent Night','' says I
And in two tongues one song filled up that sky
``There's someone coming toward us!'' the front line sentry cried
All sights were fixed on one long figure trudging from their side
His truce flag, like a Christmas star, shown on that plain so bright
As he, bravely, strode unarmed into the night
Soon one by one on either side walked into No Man's Land
With neither gun nor bayonet we met there hand to hand
We shared some secret brandy and we wished each other well
And in a flare-lit soccer game we gave 'em hell
We traded chocolates, cigarettes, and photographs from home
These sons and fathers far away from families of their own
Young Sanders played his squeezebox and they had a violin
This curious and unlikely band of men
Soon daylight stole upon us and France was France once more
With sad farewells we each prepared to settle back to war
But the question haunted every heart that lived that wonderous night
``Whose family have I fixed within my sights?''
'Twas Christmas in the trenches where the frost, so bitter hung
The frozen fields of France were warmed as songs of peace were sung
For the walls they'd kept between us to exact the work of war
Had been crumbled and were gone forevermore
My name is Francis Tolliver, in Liverpool I dwell
Each Christmas come since World War I, I've learned its lessons well
That the ones who call the shots won't be among the dead and lame
And on each end of the rifle we're the same
1.12.05 13:48
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Scaramouche / Website (2.12.05 03:00) If he is truly the last go maybe we can learn from his time. Futbol is a world uniter... Even in conflict there are human things...maybe they bring us together... |