Day of peace in world gone mad
The second myth came about in France. During the British retreat from Mons, angels were reportedly seen in the sky protecting the retreat.
Finally, to the dismay of the British generals along the frontline in December 1914, British and German soldiers laid down their arms and celebrated Christmas together in a spontaneous gesture of peace. Only one of these myths - the last - was true.
It is now exactly 90 years since the 1914 Christmas truce along the frozen trenches of the western front.
On Christmas Eve 1914, the weather around the French village of St Yves was bitterly cold. That day, the 2nd Royal Dublin Fusiliers came out of the front line and moved back into brigade reserve near St Yves. They were relieved in the front line by the 1st Royal Warwickshire Regiment. During Christmas Eve, two Dublin Fusiliers were killed and one was wounded. Their names and cause of death did not even warrant a mention in the battalion diary.
Now, after 90 years, let me mention their names as a mark of respect. They were Pte Patrick McCarthy, aged 26, and Pte Thomas Delaney, both from Dublin. The next day was Christmas Day, which brought the truce. The Dubs’ battalion diary noted: “Very quiet day, no shelling or sniping heard (Christmas Day). Slight frost.” Sadly, during Christmas Day, the man who was wounded on Christmas Eve died. He was Private John Cashman, aged 19, from 23, Gerald Griffin Avenue, Cork.
Things were quiet over the next few days. On December 28, the 2nd Dublins went back into the frontline to relieve the Warwickshires and by that time the truce locally had ended and the killing had resumed.
So, in this week of myths and goodwill, let’s recall the dream born in a herdsman’s shed and the names of Privates McCarthy, Delaney and Cashman who were denied the chance to live that dream.
Tom Burke
7 Ayrfield Road
Ayrfield
Dublin 13
