The Christmas Truce on the Front of Saxon XIX. Armeekorps

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5. KGL. SÄCHS. INFANTERIE-REGIMENT 'KRONPRINZ' NR.104 (from the Le Gheer road to the vicinity of the railway line) held its sector with its I. and/or II. Bataillon; III. / IR 104 was detached with Regiment von Rühle at Frelinghien as described below. At Christmas the IR 104 sector lay opposite 1st East Lancashires of 11th Brigade and partly opposite 2nd Monmouthshires of 12th Brigade.

Sector of IR 104
Above: Sector of IR 104.

The first volume of the published history of IR 104 (published in 1925) describes events here in an extremely guarded tone, and hints at the significantly less festive experience of their neighbouring sister regiment IR 181.

"On the first day of the holiday [Christmas Day] the Englishmen opposite us tried to exploit the peaceful mood with a fraternisation gathering between the trenches, which was prevented by the timely intervention of officers in the regimental sector. At other places along the front, trusting German soldiers who heeded the requests of the English were taken into captivity. Only a short truce was agreed for the burial of a number of the dead from the November fighting who still lay between the lines. This benefited both parties and was an act of reverence to fallen comrades." [Wolff, Das Kgl. Sächs. 5. Inf.-Regiment 'Kronprinz' Nr.104 vol.I p.122]
Infantrymen of 2. Kompagnie / IR 104 in their first rudimentary trenches in November 1914
Above: Infantrymen of 2. Kompagnie / IR 104 in their first rudimentary trenches in November 1914. Despite the poor reproduction quality of this photo from the published regimental history, both a profusion of homemade woollens and rags tied around the top of marching boots (sported by the man partially hidden behind the post) are discernible. The resulting scruffy appearance is highly reminiscent of the famous British photos of the Christmas Truce.

Sources from both British battalions unanimously agree that a burial truce and fraternisation occurred here on Christmas Day, quite possibly following the example of events in the IR 106 sector. We have not yet seen any account which purports to explain exactly when and how the 'ice was broken' between IR 104 and their opponents.

According to Lieutenant (later Brigadier) C.E.M. Richards of 1st East Lancashires, the battalion staff took part in the fraternisation (much to his disgust) and he received orders that evening to prepare a football pitch in No Man's Land for New Year's Day. Needless to add, this highly irregular order was never carried out.

Tragically Private Palfrey and Sergeant Collins of 2nd Monmouthshires were both killed by snipers in No Man's Land on Christmas Day, possibly due to the less friendly attitude of the neighbouring IR 181. According to Richards, hostilities recommenced that evening, and there are no accounts of fraternisation here after Christmas Day. However the war diary of 1st East Lancashires describes subsequent days as 'all quiet' and only indicates that sniping had resumed on the 31st.

The Monmouthshires were relieved by 2nd Essex on the evening of Christmas Day.