The Christmas Truce 1914 - An Alternate Perspective. Rifleman Bernard Brookes and Chaplain John Esslemont Adams

With the furore surrounding the recent relase of the 2014 Sainsbury's Christmas television advertisement, a four minute long depiction of the Christmas Day truce of 1914, it seems a good time to post about an element of that day's events overlooked in the piece.

Whilst the advertisement depicts many events for which much evidence exists, such as the swapping of photographs and the singing of Silent Night, there is some debate on the exact nature of any football match, game or kickabout which may or may not have taken place.

However many events which definitely did happen involved Christian commemorations but were overlooked by the film makers. Most movingly accounts of a joint burial service of fallen men were recorded.  Here are a couple of the more detailed accounts:-

Bernard Brookes

 

Rifleman Bernard Brookes of the Queen's Westminster Rifles received permission to attend a mass at a nearby church which had been badly shelled. A priest had come from Armentieres to minister to the local population,

At 9 am as I was off duty I received permission to go to Mass at a Church which I had discovered whilst hunting for the missing men. This Church was terribly shelled, and was within the range of rifle fire, as was clearly proved by the condition of the wall facing the trenches, and no effort had been made to clear the wreckage, as to attempt this would have been fraught with danger. A priest, however, had come in from Armentieres to minister to the few people who were still living in the district. In this Church which would hold about 300, there were some 30 people, and I was the only soldier. It was indeed a unique service, and during a short address which the priest gave I was about the only one who was not crying, and that because I did not understand much of what was being said.

Towards evening the Germs became very hilarious, singing and shouting out to us. They said in English that if we did not fire they would not, and eventually it was arranged that shots should not be exchanged. With this they lit fires outside their trench, and sat round and commenced a concert, incidentally singing some English songs to the accompaniment of a bugle band. A German officer carrying a lantern came slightly forward and asked to see one of our officers to arrange a truce for tomorrow (Xmas day).

An officer went out (after we had stood at our posts with rifles loaded in case of treachery) and arrangements were made that between 10 am and 12 noon, and from 2.00 pm to 4.00 pm tomorrow, intercourse between the Germs and ourselves should take place. It was a beautiful night and a sharp frost set in, and when we awoke in the morning the ground was covered with a white raiment. It was indeed an ideal Christmas, and the spirit of peace and goodwill was very striking in comparison with the hatred and death-dealing of the past few months. One appreciated in a new light the meaning of Christianity, for it certainly was marvellous that such a change in the attitude of the opposing armies could be wrought by an Event which happened nigh on 2000 years ago

 

John Esslemont Adams

Chaplain Esslemont Adams of the 6^th Gordon Highlanders conducted a service near Fleurbaix following the collection of about a hundred dead British and German bodies from No Man’s Land. This was described by Second Lieutenant Arthur Pelham-Burn-

We then had a most wonderful joint burial service.Our Padre… arranged the prayers and psalm etc, and an interpreter wrote them out in German.They were read first in English by our Padre and then in German by a boy who was studying for the ministry.It was an extraordinary and wonderful sight.The Germans formed up on one side, the English on the other, the officers standing in front, every head bared.Yes, I think it was a sight one will never see again.

 

 

 

Esslemont Adams read the 23^rd Psalm, followed by the young German student:

The Lord is my shepherd: I shall not want
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
He leadeth me beside the still waters…

Der Herr is mein Hirt: mir wird nihts mangeln.
Er weidet mich auf einer grunen Aue:
Und fuhrt mich zum frischen Wasser

The chaplain then stepped forward to salute the German commander.  The Regimental History of the 6^th Gordons stated, `It was an impressive sight; officers and men, bitter enemies as they were, uncovered, reverent, and for the moment united in offering for their dead the last offices of homage and honour.’

 

Adams and the German commander exchanged gifts.  The German gave Adams a cigar.  He said that he did not smoke but would keep it as a souvenir (he brought out that souvenir at subsequent talks he gave in Aberdeen).  Adams gave the German a small card with a `Soldiers Prayer’ which he had kept in his cap.  On the one side it had the Lord’s Prayer.  On the other side the following prayer:

Almighty and most Merciful Father,
Forgive me my sins:
Grant me Thy peace:
Give me Thy power:
Bless me in life and death,
                              for Jesus Christ’s sake.

Amen

The Regimental Diary of the Gordon Highlanders recorded `It was an impressive sight, officers and men, bitter enemies as they were, uncovered, reverent, and for the moment united in offering for their dead the last offices of homage and honour.’

A British officer wrote in his diary, `Both sides have played the game and I know this (German) Regiment anyhow has learnt to trust an Englishman’s word.

At the end of the service Adams saluted the German commander. They shook hands and bade farewell.