Christmas Truce of 1914, World War I – For Sharing, For Peace
Peace at the war front on Christmas day during World War I. A century ago. A real story. An inspiration. Christmas is for sharing. By Sainsbury’s.
Presenting the new Sainsbury’s Christmas advert. Made in partnership with The Royal British Legion. Inspired by real events from 100 years ago.
This year’s Christmas ad from Sainsbury’s – Christmas is for sharing. Made in partnership with The Royal British Legion, it commemorates the extraordinary events of Christmas Day, 1914, when the guns fell silent and two armies met in no-man’s land, sharing gifts – and even playing football together.
The chocolate bar featured in the ad is on sale now at Sainsbury’s. All profits will go to The Royal British Legion and will benefit the armed forces and their families, past and present.
To watch a short film of the story behind the Christmas ad: http://youtu.be/2s1YvnfcFVs
To watch the making of our Christmas ad: http://youtu.be/Jx3pQWbysmM
To find out more about the ad: www.inspiration.sainsburys-live-well-for-less.co.uk/about-our-christmas-tv-ad/
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.
Find out more about the Christmas Truce and Football Remembers here:
http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/remembrance/christmas-truce
