Imagine you are Freddie. Write a letter to your family telling them about the football match.
Trigger Questions / Words
- What presents did you receive?
- Who were they from?
- What happened when you went to man your post?
- Where did you have a joint burial service?
- What game did you start playing?
- When were you encouraged back to your trenches?
British Royal Army,
The Western Front.
25/12/1915
Dearest Mum and Dad,
It is with feelings of great joy and pleasure I write to you these few lines to wish you all a happy Christmas and to tell about the most extraordinary thing that happened today, Christmas Day.
We woke up at 6 o’clock and had a hot breakfast for a change. We received gifts from Princess Mary that consisted of tobacco, a pipe and a Christmas card.
When we got out to man our posts, a German man stood up out of his trench and put down a Christmas tree. I got out of our trench and went over to shake his hand. Soon, more men came over and we tried to have a conversation. We then had a joint burial service for the dead. After that, a chair was placed in the middle of No Man’s Land and a German who was a barber started to give haircuts.
I saw a football fly out of nowhere and it landed beside Will. He passed it to me and I threw it to a group of Germans. We then decided to start a football match! I was in goal as usual, and I was living my dream, playing for England! My old teammates, Lacey, Will and little Billy, were by my side.
It was a fast, furious game, part football, part ice-skating. Goalposts were marked with hats and there was no referee or no account of the score.
When the game came to an exhausted end, we were encouraged back to our trenches for a carol service. It has been a wonderful day.
Looking forward to receiving a letter from you soon.
I remain dear mother and father
Your loving son,
Freddie.