It was the night before Christmas and all through house( the trenches,) nothing was stirring, not even a louse.
Then a German voice rang out loud and clear in the frosty air across No Man's Land.
Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht,
Alles schläft; einsam wacht
Nur das traute hochheilige Paar.
Holder Knabe im lockigen Haar,
Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh!
Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh!
Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht,
Hirten erst kundgemacht
Durch der Engel Halleluja,
Tönt es laut von fern und nah:
Christ, der Retter ist da!
Christ, der Retter ist da!
Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht,
Gottes Sohn, o wie lacht
Lieb' aus deinem göttlichen Mund
, Da uns schlägt die rettende Stund'.
Christ, in deiner Geburt!
Christ, in deiner Geburt!
Taken up by some Tommie's on the British side, the song echoed back across the lines to the German trenches.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9T4WB2zfmps
And thus the Christmas Truce began.
Somewhere in the North lands, a message about the truce was intercepted by a local reindeer herder, and before long an epic flight had been planned.
The objective was to deliver presents to children on both sides of the lines in safety whilst the peace held.
Thus it was that Santa Clause left behind his home and factory accompanied by only on wingman to deliver goodwill and harmony to one and all that Christmas eve.
Here we see Santa waving goodbye to Mrs Clause and Clipper's Elves( out on work experience exchange), and setting off with his Wing man, the redoubtable and intrepid famous pilot "Snoopy" of the RFC.
Delivering the presents this year would be a simple task.
Rob.
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