WWI Digest 373 Topics covered in this issue include: 1) Re: All Quiet on the Western Front by "Bill Ciciora" 2) Sunday, 24 December 1916, Plessis Belleville by "Marian Hollinger, Bradley Omanson" 3) Monday, 25 December 1916, Plessis Belleville by "Marian Hollinger, Bradley Omanson" 4) Re: Monday, 25 December 1916, Plessis Belleville by bucky@mail.prolog.net (Mary-Ann/Michael) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 24 Dec 1996 22:23:59 -0600 From: "Bill Ciciora" To: Subject: Re: All Quiet on the Western Front Message-ID: Every year, a friend of mine posts this in the Flight Sim Forum on Compuserve. I thought you'd all enjoy it. Christmas in the Trenches by John McCutheon My name is Francis Tolliver, I come from Liverpool Two years ago the war was waiting for me after school To Belgium and to Flanders, to Germany, to here I fought for King and country I love dear 'Twas Christmas in the trenches, where the frost, so bitter, hung The frozen fields of France were still, no Christmas song was sung Our families back in England were toasting us that day Their brave and glorious lads so far away I was lying with my messmate on the cold and rocky ground When accross the lines of battle came a most peculiar song 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 harmony The cannons rested silent, the gas clouds 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 they sang was "Stille Nacht", "Tis Silent Night" says I And in two tongues one song filled up the sky "There's someone coming toward us!" the front line sentry cried All sights were fixed on one lone figure trudging from their side His truce flag, like a Christmas star, shone on that plain so bright As he, bravely, strode unarmed into the night Soon one by one on either side walked into no man's 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 soccer game we gave em hell We traded chocolates, cigarettes and photographs from home These sons and fathers far away from families of their own Young Sanders played his squeezebox 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 prepared to settle back to war But the question haunted every heart that lived that wondrous night "Whose family have I fixed within my sight?" 'Twas Christmas in the trenches where the frost so bitter hung The frozed fields of France were warmed as songs of peace were sung For the walls they'd built between us to exact the work of war Had been crumbled and were gone forever more. My name is Frances Toliver, in Liverpool I dwell Each Christmas come since World War I, I've learned its lessons well That the ones who call the shots won't be among the dead and lame And on each end of the rifle we're the same. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 25 Dec 1996 11:48:58 -0800 From: "Marian Hollinger, Bradley Omanson" To: wwi Subject: Sunday, 24 December 1916, Plessis Belleville Message-ID: <32C1852A.2E0B@host.dmsc.net> Fine day. Up early and had dandy 3\4 hr. flight in a 110 hp "Baby" N. Did a continuous lot of aerial acrobatics. Found it great fun with a "Baby". Was granted 48 hrs. leave over Xmas and came in on 10:30 train. Arrived in time for luncheon with the Parkers. Saw Dr Gros and had 5 o'clock tea at Helens in p.m. Helped trim the Xmas tree there. Dinner with the Major and a French Comd't at the hotel and helped the Major trim their little tree for the youngsters in the evening. Seemed like being back in our dear old home. Wrote long letter to dear little Mother before turning in. *********************** from the diaries of E.C.C. Genet, Escadrille Lafayette ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 25 Dec 1996 11:54:05 -0800 From: "Marian Hollinger, Bradley Omanson" To: wwi Subject: Monday, 25 December 1916, Plessis Belleville Message-ID: <32C1865D.5713@host.dmsc.net> Fair day. Had Xmas tree assembly with Parkers in early a.m. Went to Morning service and Holy Communion at Amer. Church afterwards. Nice Xmas dinner at Hotel with Parkers at noon. With Dr & Mrs Weldham in early p.m. Took walk on way over to see Helen in p.m. Got to Harpers about 4:30 and stayed there for dandy Christmas dinner in the evening. Number of young folks there danced and had enjoyable time. Wish I was in U.S. with Mother this Xmas tho, perhaps its my last one. ********************** from the diaries of E.C.C. Genet, Escadrille Lafayette ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 25 Dec 1996 11:31:50 -0500 From: bucky@mail.prolog.net (Mary-Ann/Michael) To: wwi, Multiple recipients of list Subject: Re: Monday, 25 December 1916, Plessis Belleville Message-ID: <199612251631.LAA11534@pease1.sr.unh.edu> At 11:05 AM 12/25/96 -0500, Marian Hollinger, Bradley Omanson wrote: >Fair day. Had Xmas tree assembly with Parkers in early a.m. Went to >Morning service and Holy Communion at Amer. Church afterwards. Nice Xmas >dinner at Hotel with Parkers at noon. With Dr & Mrs Weldham in early p.m. >Took walk on way over to see Helen in p.m. Got to Harpers about 4:30 >and stayed there for dandy Christmas dinner in the evening. Number of >young folks there danced and had enjoyable time. Wish I was in U.S. with >Mother this Xmas tho, perhaps its my last one. Hhhmmmmm....2 diary entries and not a mention of dear Gert. Maybe the boy is finally waking up. I notice I'm not the only one on the computer this fine Christmas day. Got lots of neat stuff to make models with, but only 1 model an Airfix Dr.1 from our former exchange student from Iceland. Oh well, I guess the choices for kits in Iceland is rather limited! Well, with the new Dremel waiting to go, I guess it's time to finish the Macchi Nieuport Bebe and get on to the next project..whatever that is. Still thinking about the Fokker triplane in 1/72(revel kit) but am not sure what mood will hit me when I finally decide. A good Christmas to all and I hope you got all the modeling stuff you dreamed of. Mike Muth ------------------------------ End of WWI Digest 373 *********************