大象传媒

It鈥檚 one of the most iconic images of World War One. Soldiers, who were trying very hard to kill each other only hours before, stood in no man鈥檚 land and shook hands. The Christmas truce of 1914 has assumed legendary status yet it did happen for all that, and men from Wiltshire told of their part in it during a 大象传媒 TV documentary in the 1960s.

Walter Scott Shepherd was a retired Lt Colonel when he returned to Fleurbraix in 1968. With him was retired Regimental Sergeant Major H J Wilkins.

They told the 大象传媒 how, on Christmas Eve, they saw candles adorning Christmas trees in the German lines, only yards away.

On the morning of Christmas Day, Colonel Shepherd recounts how an early mist offered an opportunity to repair trench parapets. When the mist lifted quickly, exposing the Wiltshire soldiers to the enemy, who were repairing their trenches as well, neither side fired.

That tense moment led to paces into no man鈥檚 land, extended hands to shake, and exchanges of cigarettes and photographs.

The Christmas truce only lasted days and deadly combat resumed with the New Year.

Location: Salisbury, Wiltshire SP1 2EX
Image: Captain Shepherd and RSM Wilkins in 1968

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