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Khaki Chums Christmas Truce Cross, St Yvon, Belgium

Khaki Chums Christmas Truce Cross, St Yvon, Belgium


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Khaki Chums Christmas Truce Cross, St Yvon, Belgium

At Christmas 1914, over the 24th/25th December, a truce was held here between the 1st Battalion the Warwickshire Regiment and the 7th Bavarians in which Bruce Bairnsfaher took part. The Khaki Chums (The Association of Military Remembrance) Cross was placed here on the 85th Anniversary of the truce and in December 2003 it was replaced by the current wooden cross. Since about that time the habit of placing footballs at memorials in the area began. The practice even extended to Messines (Mesen). Date: 2015

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Media ID 23373002

© Holts Battlefield Collection / Mary Evans

2003 2015 24th 25th 85th Anniversary Area Association Battalion Bavarians Began Bruce Chums Current Extended Footballs Habit Held Ieper Khaki Memorials Messines Placing Practice Regiment Remembrance Replaced Since Truce Warwickshire Ypres Yvon December


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> Europe > Belgium > Related Images

> Europe > United Kingdom > England > Warwickshire > Related Images

> Historic > World War I and II > Battlefields

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EDITORS COMMENTS
This evocative photograph captures the Khaki Chums Christmas Truce Cross standing proudly against the backdrop of St Yvon Church in Belgium. The tranquil scene belies the historical significance of this location, where in December 1914, a remarkable event unfolded. During the 24th and 25th of that year, a truce was held between the 1st Battalion of the Warwickshire Regiment and the 7th Bavarians. Among the British soldiers taking part in this unprecedented moment of peace was Bruce Bairnsfaher. The Khaki Chums (The Association of Military Remembrance) Cross was first placed at this site on the 85th anniversary of the truce, in December 2003. Since then, a unique tradition has emerged: the placing of footballs at memorials in the area. This practice has even extended to Messines (Mesen), another significant site of World War I history. The wooden cross was replaced by the current one around that time. The image of the cross, bathed in the soft light of the winter sun, serves as a poignant reminder of the unexpected camaraderie that emerged between enemies during the darkest days of the Great War. The footballs at its base symbolize the spirit of unity and hope that transcended the trenches, offering a glimpse into the humanity that lay beneath the uniforms of the soldiers on both sides.

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