Christmas in the Trenches

[macwilkin]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfdOOCOQ9sk

One of my traditions on Christmas Eve is play this song before attending Midnight Mass. May it serve as a reminder of all service personnel deployed around the world -- may they and their families have a silent night this evening.

Pax+

Todd

[NewGuise]

And then there's the film Joyeux Noel ... [longish mostly musical clip here]

[james a. husky]

In recompense, I commend to each of you, a Movie...

http://www.lewrockwell.com/gee/gee13.html

"A Midnight Clear"... portraying a Christmas "Truce" of World War II... The Follies of Man... Well worth the purchase on Ebay or your supplier of choice!!!

"God Bless Us, Everyone!"

Jim aka kiltiemon (On the other hand... sometimes, someone can only be "enlightened" by an absolute "Smackdown"... May God grant us, each, the grace to know when that is appropriate!)

[james a. husky]

I ask forgiveness for my failure to add:

"Merry Christmas" to EACH of you... May you realize and celebrate your blessings in life... and may that realization overcome your perceived trials!!!


Jim aka kiltiemon

[Tatonka]

Todd,
Thanks for that.
May the best of the season be upon you and your family.
Merry Christmas from this old grunt.
JT

[thescot]

Todd, that was a very nice Christmas present from you. I'd never heard the song, and, in my dotage, I find myself easily tearing up a bit with such poignant thoughts as this. I shall cherish its remembrance and endeavor to add it to my own Christmas Eve ritual from now on.

I wish you--and the other good fellows here--the very best of Christmas wishes.

And for your men in harm's way, I extend a prayer of well wishes and blessings.

[Lachlan09]

As a Great War soldier-sage once wrote about Christmas in the War:-

It was Christmas Day in the cookhouse
The happiest day of the year
And all the men were merry
Cos their bellies were full of beer,
Then up stood Private Shorthouse
His face as bold as brass
Saying “You can keep your Christmas pudding
And you can stick it up your ….Tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy,
Glad tidings of comfort and joy

[macwilkin]

As a Great War soldier-sage once wrote about Christmas in the War:-

It was Christmas Day in the cookhouse
The happiest day of the year
And all the men were merry
Cos their bellies were full of beer,
Then up stood Private Shorthouse
His face as bold as brass
Saying “You can keep your Christmas pudding
And you can stick it up your ….Tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy,
Glad tidings of comfort and joy

Then of course there is Robert Service's The Haggis of Private McPhee:

http://www.worldburnsclub.com/newsle...gis_mcphee.htm

T.

[Lachlan09]

Excellent poem Cajun - very vivid and lifelike !!

It was Christmas day in the harem
All the eunuchs were standing around,
And all the beautiful maidens
Were lying on the ground,
When up came the big, bold Sultan
And looked through his marble halls,
saying “What do you want for Christmas boys ?”
And the eunuchs answered ”….Tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy,
Glad tidings of comfort and joy !”

[Lachlan09]

Anyone know more WW1 songs ?

Here's a couple or three I know :-

I Wore a Tunic

(Tune: 'I wore a Tulip')

I wore a tunic, a dirty khaki tunic,
And you wore your civvy clothes,
We fought and bled at Loos,
While you were on the booze,
The booze that no one here knows.
You were out with the wenches,
While we were in the trenches,
Facing an angry foe,
Oh, you were a-slacking, while we were attacking
the Germans on the Menin Road.


Gassed Last Night

Gassed last night and gassed the night before,
Going to get gassed tonight if we never get gassed any more.
When we're gassed we're sick as we can be,
'Cos phosgene and mustard gas is much too much for me.
They're warning us, they're warning us,
One respirator for the four of us.
Thank your lucky stars that three of us can run,
So one of us can use it all alone.

Bombed last night and bombed the night before,
Going to get bombed tonight if we never get bombed any more.
When we're bombed we're scared as we can be.
God strafe the bombing planes from High Germany.
They're over us, they're over us,
One shell hole for just the four of us.
Thank your lucky stars there are no more of us,
'Cos one of us could fill it all alone.


Hush, Here Comes a Whizzbang

Hush, here comes a whizzbang,
Hush, here comes a whizzbang,
Now, you soldier men, get down those stairs,
Down in your dugouts and say your prayers.
Hush, here comes a whizzbang,
And it's making straight for you,
And you'll see all the wonders of no-man's-land,
If a whizzbang hits you.