Original Message sent to the 1/13th (County of London) Battalion (Kensington) London Regiment referring to the unofficial Armistice on Christmas Eve 1914

Original ‘Message and Signals’ form (Army Form C. 2123), approx. 214 x 145mm., bearing a pencil written message, within a card mount inscribed, ‘Original message received by 1st Battalion in the trenches in Flanders referring to the unofficial armistice on Christmas Eve 1914 when the British and Germans left their trenches unarmed and met each other in friendly conversation between the two lines’, mounted in a glass-fronted frame, approx. 352 x 255mm., bearing brass label, ‘Presented to the Officers Mess 1st Bttn. by Lt. Col. H. J. Stafford, October 1928’, form stained, faded and worn, original pencil message barely legible £1500-2000

The reverse of the frame bears a typed transcription:

‘To: Kensingtons Trenches
Senders number: S 632
Date: 24. December 1914
In reply to number: S 163

On no account are our men to be allowed to hold any communication with the Germans AAA Take steps to stop it at once AAA They must not be allowed to approach our trenches on penalty of fire being opened AAA If they continue to do so you must open fire AAA

From: 25th Infantry Brigade
Time: 11.15 p.m.’