100 Years ago tonight At Christmas 1914 there took place in some parts of the British line what is still regarded by many as the most remarkable incident of the War - an unofficial truce. Our local battalion, the 6TH Gordon Highlanders were in the front line that night. In their ranks were there were many Cullen men . What happened that night and the next few days was quite remarkable in the horror of the 1st World War and without doubt some Cullen loons took part. Christmas Eve the Germans spent singing carols, and, the night being calm, they informed our men they did not intend to shoot on Christmas Day, asking at the same time that we also should refrain from violence. No shoot to-night, Jock!, Sing to-night! was one of the remarks they made on Christmas Eve. On Christmas morning, when the Gordon’s were at breakfast, a cry was raised that the Germans had left their trenches. Springing to arms, they could scarcely believe their eyes when they looked over the parapet and saw a number of the enemy standing in the open in front of their trenches, all unarmed. Some of the enemy shouted No shoot! and after a little, a number of our men also got out of their trench. Meanwhile the Colonel had come up on his daily tour of inspection, accompanied by the Padre, the Rev J Esslemont Adams, minister of the West United Free Church, Aberdeen. The Chaplain, looking up, observed the strange sight at the front trench, and drew the Colonels attention to it. Colonel McLean ran along the front line and ordered our men to come down, but they pointed out that more of our men further along were standing on the top, and that a number of the enemy were out on their side and gazing peacefully across. The Chaplain, who had followed the Colonel, said to him, Im off, sir, to speak to the Germans; maybe we could get a truce to bury the dead in No Mans Land. Coming to a little ditch, which ran along the middle of the field between the lines, he held up his hands and called out, I want to speak to your Commanding Officer. Does anyone speak English? Several German officers were standing together, and one of them said, Yes, come over the ditch. The Chaplain hurried forward, saluted the German Commander, and began to talk to him and his staff. Almost at the same moment a hare burst into view and raced along between the lines. Scots and Germans leapt from their trenches and joined in the eager chase. The hare was captured by the Germans, but more was secured than a hare. We have no record of what they told the Germans during that short time together but a lot of them talked of their home towns. Maybe just maybe, one or two Germans went back to their trenches and thought of a beach, a viaduct and a soup called Cullen Skink. The truce of God had been called, and the rest of Christmas Day was filled with peace and goodwill. Happy Christmas to all
Posted on: Wed, 24 Dec 2014 22:09:34 +0000
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