Another New Year at War

Saturday 1st January 1916: So we begin our second New Year at war. The 6th Battalion report that it was not a particularly quiet or celebratory time for them. They were making two communication trenches passable, remedying the effects of water and ice on their collapsing sides in the early morning of yesterday and it rained again in the afternoon, undoing much of their good work. At midnight the New Year festivities comprised a short burst of rapid rifle fire by both sides, thus bringing in the New Year in a proper spirit of hate. Many steam whistles were heard blowing behind the enemy lines, no doubt in celebration. Ten minutes into the New Year two mortar shells of largest calibre were sent over but, thankfully did no damage.

Source: X550/7/1

New Year’s Day

Bailleul

Friday 1st January 1915: The commanding officer of 2nd Battalion has told us that there has been no repeat of the fraternisation with the enemy which happened over Christmas. The Battalion is once again in the front line near Fleurbaix and last night they heard the Germans singing songs and saw lighted Christmas trees on the enemy parapets. They evidently welcomed the New Year in by Berlin time because at 11 o’clock they rang bells in the villages behind their lines.

One or two of the Battalion’s companies decided to respond to the Germans’ festivities and did this to the tune of a burst or rapid fire from their rifles aimed at the enemy positions. Indignant yells were heard from across the way.

The 1st Battalion is behind the lines at the moment. It is billeted in the French town of Bailleul near the Belgian border and is in Divisional Reserve. The men are given exercise in the form of short route marches and drills.

Sources: X550/3/wd; X550/2/5; The Story of the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment (The 16th Regiment of Foot) Volume II 1914-1958