As part of my continuing research regarding the contributions of South African troops in WW1, and the impact on South Africa, I am reminded about Christmas Day 111 years ago in Belgium.
Cold temperatures and both sides needing a break from trench warfare, they decided to meet in no man’s land, exchange some gifts and have a football match.
This is a famous photograph, located by the memorial of the opposing troops together in Christmas Day.
What struck me at the memorial location is how close to each other the opposition trenches were to each other.
Visitors leave soccer balls at the memorial site.
You can read an interesting article on the is story on the Imperial War Museum website, The Story of the Christmas Truce