CHRISTMAS IN THE TRENCHES
(lyrics by J. McCutcheon)
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.
T’was 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 - T’is 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 said
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 into 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.
T’was 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.
WINNIE
Back on August 24, 1914, a Canadian soldier, on his way from
Winnipeg to serve in the First World War, was persuaded to buy a cub from
a trapper for $20 during a stop in White River, Ont.
Lt. Harry Colebourn named the cub 'Winnipeg' (or Winnie
for short), after his hometown, and took the animal overseas where it became
the mascot for the Fort Garry Horse Regiment. Winnie played with Canadian
soldiers during their off-hours in their encampment on the Salisbury Plains.
Colebourn later donated Winnie to the London Zoo, where
the bear inspired the creation of A.A. Milne's famous children's book character.
He intended to bring Winnie back when he returned to Canada in 1920, but
when he saw how much the bear was loved by children, he decided to donate
her to the zoo. Winnie was often allowed to walk freely on the grounds.and
passed away in July 1934 at the ripe old age of 20.
