´óÏó´«Ã½

When we were in the desert the heat was overpowering and yet it was Christmas and we were missing our families, it didn’t seem like Christmas, the weather didn’t fit at all, we were used to cold, snowy weather, not this dreadful heat that sapped all our strength.

We were waiting for the ‘go’ which hadn’t yet come, we were waiting to see whether today or tomorrow would be the day we would recommence the fighting, and in the desert that was even more difficult than the normal fighting.

Here we were on Christmas Day, waiting, just waiting, and then, like in the First World War we heard singing and the German’s were singing carols and we joined in, and for that one day hostilities ceased. We talked with one another and shared whatever rations we had from home, home being Britain and Germany, and probably other countries as well, because by now we had other countries fighting with us, and against us.

It’s something I will always remember from my time in the war, even more so than the time when I was taken as a prisoner and lived on potatoes and not much else. That one act of compassion and brotherly love stays with you much longer than any act of aggression.

© Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.