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This extract from the battalion diary covers an extraordinary period in December 1914. The original diary is held at the National Archives in piece WO95/1730. Crown Copyright, produced here with permission.

13 December 1914

"F" Lines
Germans have adopted a trick of firing volleys (by 3 or 4 men) at the loopholes and were a little more active in shelling where they thought our guns were.

14 December 1914

The 24th Infantry Brigade were withdrawn today and the 25th Brigade take over "D" Lines in addition to their own. One Company from each Battalion of the Brigade is now in Brigade Reserve. In the case of the battalion, A Company from the right moved into the farm house known as Corner Farm (near the R in Rue du Bois) while the battalion HQ was removed from the dugout near the support trenches into Corner Farm.

Orders received that from midnight 14/15 Dec, the Brigade is to adopt a more aggressive attitude to give the enemy the impression that the trenches are held in great strength, etc.

During the afternoon of the 14th the opportunity was taken to exercise 1st reinforcement and 3rd Battalion men in rapid fire, and bursts of rapid fire were kept up against enemy's trenches. The gunners also vigorously shelled the enemy. The first result of this was to keep down the German sniping which had lately become too active.

15 December 1914
This activity continued throughout the 15th. Activity on the part of patrols at night rather hampered by appalling state of ground and trenches. Trenches and dugouts in some places collapsed. Trenches nearly up to thighs in muddy water and liquid mud. Rain falling at intervals during the day and all efforts to improve the trenches seem wasted.

Orders received to change dispositions in the trenches, owing to withdrawal of 24th Bde towards Armentieres. 3 Companies in the trenches and 1 Company in Brigade Reserve at R in Rue du Bois. Battalion HQ moves back from the dugout to a farm on Rue Tilleloy.

16 December 1914

Nothing special. Our rate of fire, particularly artillery, being kept up uniformly throughout the day.

17 December 1914
A draft of 1 officer, 2 NCOs and 91 riflemen joined the battalion. One of the riflemen was wounded while marching into the trenches. A small proportion of these men (3rd or 4th Bns) have never fired a rifle! Others (2nd Bn) have been at Mons and were wounded. Some 1st Bn men amongst them.

18 December 1914
4.15pm. During an attack by the 23rd Infantry Brigade against the German trenches opposite Neuve Chapelle, the battalion was employed in demonstrating against enemy's trenches opposite its lines. The 7th Division on battalion's left also attacked German trenches. General activity along the lines of 7th and 8th Divisions.

19 December 1914
Nothing special to record. Bursts of heavy rifle and MG fire opened on the enemy during the day. Our artillery shell vigorously.

20 December 1914
As for 19th. Rumours of projected German attacks on 23rd Brigade.

21 December 1914
5pm. On withdrawal to Brigade Reserve billets at Fort d'Esquin the three Companies in the trenches are relived by two Companies of the 13th London Regiment and one Company of the Lincolnshire Regiment, leaving one Company in local reserve at R in Rue du Bois and one Company at M in Rue Masselot.

22 December 1914

Fort d'Esquin
10.15am. Orders from Brigade for the battalion (together with all units) to stand to arms at once. Said to be on account of an Indian Division being heavily pressed, but more likely to be something nearer than that. Lines of advance from the battalion HQ and the two Companies in local reserve to the Rifle Brigade trenches reconnoitred by officers, in case we require to support them.

German brigade seen moving behind Aubers by one of our aeroplanes.

Battalion casualties up to date:

= 30 = 95 [to date] after 5 weeks desultory trench operations and little to show for it
* No 8363 Rifleman Bell went out to join his standing patrol in front of B Company's trenches and apparently stumbled against a German picquet. [Later:] On Christmas Day when communing with Germans, Rifleman Bell was reported as wounded and captured by them and not far behind their lines.

23 December 1914

"E" Lines
4.15pm. Marched out to trenches again in relief of Lincolns. Battalion occupies "E" Lines this time with HQ on Rue Tilleloy near junction of Rue Masselot and Rue Tilleloy. Draft of 64 NCO's and Riflemen joined the bn in the trenches. The report by the Company officers on these drafts up to date is:

Physique: fairly good
General efficiency: fair/Special Reservists indifferent
Musketry: not up to standard. Regular reservists rusty and Special Reservists could not work their bolts well but improved with special instruction in the trenches. Some cases where Special Reservists had only fired Table A.
Equipment: good, same as regular army. Some men had -----
Discipline: very poor.

24 December 1914

Christmas Eve

"E" Lines
Nothing of importance occurred until 8pm when heralded by various jovialities from their trenches the Germans placed lamps on their parapets and commenced singing. Various remarks such as "If you're English come out and talk to us - we won't fire, etc etc" were shouted out on which our men came out and both British and Germans met half way between their respective trenches and conversed. A good many Germans spoke English well. They were well clothed, clean shaved. Good physique, rather inclining to extremes of age.

The following reports by OC 1/RIR to Brigade HQ on this curious situation: a "soldier's truce" were:

8.30pm. Germans have illuminated their trenches, are singing songs and are wishing us a Happy Xmas. Compliments are being exchanged but am nevertheless taking all military precautions.

Message from Brigade 9pm: following instructions from GHQ for information and necessary action begins: it is thought possible that enemy may be contemplating an attack during Xmas or New Year. Special vigilance will be maintained during this period.

11.45pm. germans before my regiment state they will not fire until midnight 25/26 unless we fore. No shot has been fired since 8pm. A small party of one Company met Germans half way and conversed. 158th Regiment, fine men, clean and well clothed. They gave us a cap and helmet badge and a box of cigars. One of them states the war would be over in 3 weeks as they had defeated Russia (!). A large number of Germans came out of their trenches, which appeared quite as strongly held as ours. Digging and erection of wire continued. All Companies have been cautioned to be doubly alert. German trenches still illuminated.

Message from Brigade 12.35am: no communication of any sort is to be held with the enemy nor is he to be allowed to approach our trenches under penalty of fire being opened.

25 December 1914

Christmas Day

"E" Lines
This situation continued right through the night. At dawn on 25th the Germans shouted out "Merry Xmas" from their trenches and danced and sang in front of their parapets.

Message from Brigade 8.40am: 8th Division message begins: so long as Germans do not snipe, there should be no sniping from our lines today but the greatest vigilance must be maintained as Germans are not to be trusted. Our guns will not be firing today unless asked to do so by infantry or unless German guns fire.

From OC 1/RIR to Brigade HQ 11.30am: progress report. All very quiet along my front. Has been no sound of sniping on either flank, even, for some time. Situation seems evolving into a kind of mutual armistice terminating at 12mn tonight. The instructions are being observed on both sides. Germans are moving about on their parapets doing odd jobs which seem quite harmless. At dawn this morning enemy came out on their parapets and cheered and danced and called out "Merry Xmas". Reconnaissance last night points to conclusion that enemy's trenches and advanced posts were strongly held apart from those who were fraternising and singing. Position in our trenches is - careful guard by those held on duty while allowing those off duty to relax. This seems to be the German attitude also. [Later] Germans are now walking up and down outside their trenches. Our men are mostly in their trenches: those out are in rear of their parapets. Actual communication with the enemy is forbidden.

It is very doubtful how one should regard this curious soldier's truce. The German soldiers themselves are probably simple minded enough about the thing but only time will show whether there is not something behind all this and whether we have not made a mistake in permitting this to take place.

The following notes are recorded.

1. The truce is sought entirely by the enemy

2. The enemy have asked for two days of this which has been refused by the officers of the battalion in the firing line

3. The neutral arrangements is that if either side construct works or carry out such repairs to works that the other consider not playing the game they will fire shots over the other side's heads

4. Captain O'Sullivan commanding B Company of the battalion will fire his revolver as 12 mn tonight at which signal the truce ends.

Only a few shots fired by the enemy, after the midnight signal was fired by Captain O'Sullivan from our trenches. Shortly before midnight a party of Germans came over towards B Company's trenches ands was ordered back.

26 December 1914

"E" Lines
During the morning of the 26th, the enemy fired very few shots. Some of our sentries were above their parapets and the germans throughout the morning appeared to have no intention of opening fire on us.

4.45pm Battalion on relief by Lincolnshire regiment moved into Divisional billets by Laventie station.

11.45pm. Telephone message from Brigade that a German deserter to the 13th London regiment states that a German attack along our whole front was premeditated for 12.15am. Battalion ordered to turn out and take up a position at La Flinque crossroads. Men were placed in adjacent farms near by and awaited further orders. Our guns opened a vigorous fire for about 20 minutes and that appeared to be all that happened.

27 December 1914

Laventie
At 7am, battalion received orders to move back to billets. remainder of the day spent in scraping off the trench mud and making up for lost sleep. The deserter who caused the alarm unfortunately did not fall into the battalion's hands.

28 December 1914

Laventie
Battalion went up to Divisional baths in Estaires by Companies as before. Baths duly appreciated.

29 December 1914

"E" Lines
Marched out to trenches again. Nothing special to record for three days.

This page is dedicated to the memory of Rifleman 3/9001 George Smyth, who was killed in action on 30 December 1914. He had landed in France with the battalion on 6 November 1914.

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