CHRISTMAS IN THE TRENCHES
Oh my name is Francis Tolliver, I come from Liverpool
Two years ago the war was waiting for me after school
From Belgium and to Flanders, Germany to here
I fought for King and country I love dear.
Twas Christmas in the trenches and the frost so bitter hung
The frozen fields of France where still no Christmas songs were sung
Our families back in England were toasting us that day
There brave and glorious lads so far away.
I was lying with my mess mates 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 in harmony
The cannons rested silent and the gas cloud 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 thing sang was Stille Nach tis Silent Night says I
And in two tongues one song filled up that sky…
There's someone coming towards us now the front line sentry cried
All sights were fixed on one lone figure trudging from their side
His truce flag like a Christmas Star shone on the plane so bright
As he bravely trudged unarmed into the night.
Then one by one on either side, walked in to No Mans 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 football game we gave them hell.
We traded chocolates, cigarettes and photographs from home
These sons and father far away from families of their own
Ton Sanders played the squeeze box 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 began to settle back to war
But the question haunted every heart that lived that wondrous night
Whose family have I fixed within my sights.
Twas Christmas in the trenches and the frost so bitter hung
The frozen fields of France were warmed, the 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 forever more.
Oh my name is Francis Tolliver, from Liverpool I dwell
Each Christmas comes since World War I have learned its lesson well
For the one who calls the shots won't be among the dead and lame
And on each end of the rifle we're the same!
PERFORMED BY John McDermott
MAY PEACE COME TO US ALL ONE DAY,
AS TODAY STARTED BACK HERE:
CHRISTMAS IN THE TRENCHES 1914 -
COUSINS - IT HAPPENED ONCE,
MAY IT HAPPEN AGAIN – PEACE AND NOT WAR!
In 1995, I started collecting these mostly German WW1 photos, others of mine and some on/off the internet. So to share them and for educational purposes I made these 3 slide shows of these rare photos; AT EACH END OF THE RIFLE, WE'RE THE SAME #1 #2 #3. To show that we are all, really part of the “Same Human Race” at the any end, of any rifle.
I hope that you find these interesting:
Oh what a lovely war! Christmas Truce:
Sainsbury's OFFICIAL Christmas 2014:
Info on the Christmas Truce of 1914 =
MAY PEACE COME ONE DAY TO US ALL!
"Each Christmas comes since World War I have learned its lessons well.
For the one who calls the shots won't be among the dead and lame and on each end of the rifle we're all the same..."
The Duke of Cambridge
PRAY FOR PEACE!
with Love from Sir Richard...
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