Christmas Truce of 1914 (England and Germany), World War I

Peace at the war front on Christmas day during World War I between England and Germany.

A century ago.

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An inspiration.

Christmas is for sharing.

Game of Truce commemorates WW1 football match
18 December 2014

On Wednesday night the spirit of the First World War Christmas truce lived on as the British and German armies played a 100th anniversary football match to mark the Christmas Truce of 1914. The match saw the British Army edging out their German counterparts, the Bundeswehr, by a single goal. All proceeds from the match will be donated to the Legion and the German Military's equivalent charity.

The match was jointly organised by the Football Association as part of its Football Remembers campaign, and Army HQ with sponsorship support from Team Army and Aldershot Town.

It honoured the spirit of the 1914 Christmas Truce using the international language of football as a fitting commemoration to the men on both sides who spent Christmas 1914 in the trenches but came together along the Western Front to joke, share whisky and schnapps and kick a ball about in no-man's land. It has come to represent a fleeting moment of humanity in a four-year conflict that killed more than 16 million troops and civilians.

Game of Truce teams

The game began with a rendition of 'Silent Night' as well as the national anthems of both countries and a minute's silence. Over 2,500 people turned out, including football legend Sir Bobby Charlton, FA Chairman Greg Dyke and Head of Army, General Sir Nicholas Carter.

Head of the Army General Sir Nick Carter was also at the game, where both sides were led out by flag bearers and mascots wearing military uniforms from 1914. "I think it shows the enduring ability of sport, and soccer in particular, to bring together factions and tribes and different people who are competing against each other, in a way that has comradeship right at the heart of the game."

British Army Team Captain Keith Emmerson said: "We are always proud to put on the Army shirt, no matter how many games you play, but especially tonight. We are all here for the rest of the Armed Forces, not just us as an army football team, but we're representing all of the Armed Forces."

The captains of the teams, British Army Sergeant Keith Emmerson (right) and German Armed Forces Master Sergeant Alexander Hess (left) shake hands prior to kick-off

The match wasn't about the final score but for the record, the British Army won 1-0.

The Legion is a firm supporter of sport within the military and is delighted to be a beneficiary charity from the Christmas Truce football match. The match is assisting the Legion to engage with a new generation of supporters and carry the Legion's message of comradeship to a broader community. Through commemorative events such as the Christmas Truce match, we are passing on the torch of Remembrance onto a younger generation ensuring there will always be a living legacy to those who sacrificed their today for our tomorrows.