Chapter three
The Christmas day truces was legible a series of unofficial event that ended the conflicts that occurred along the Western Front during Christmas 1914 where the Germans and the British had a game of football on no mans land and then shared their presents they got from home and sang Christmas carols. The soldiers would share what they received from home. The British received a tin with cigarettes/bullet pen and a letter from their love ones. The Germans received cheese from Germany.
A letter was sent from the front line to Britain. The letter was sent by Private H Scrutton from Essex. The letter said “ As I told you before our trenches are only 30 or 40 yards away from the Germans. This led to an exciting incident the other day. Our fellows have been in the habit of shouting across to the enemy and we used to get answers from them. We were told to get into conversation with them and this is what happened:-
From out trenches: “Good morning Fritz.” (No answer).
“Good morning Fritz.” (Still no answer).
“GOOD MORNING FRITZ.”
From German trenches: “Good morning.”
From our trench: “How are you?”
“All right.”
“Come over here, Fritz.”
“No. If I come I get shot.”
“No you won’t. Come on.”
“No fear.”
“Come and get some fags, Fritz.”
“No. You come half way and I meet you.”
“All right.”
One of our fellows thereupon stuffed his pocket with fags and got over the trench… The German got over his trench, and right enough they met half way and shook hands, Fitz taking the fags and giving cheese in exchange.” The letter was published in the Norfolk Chronicle on January 1, 1915.