Orders, Decorations and Medals

Six: Warrant Officer Class 2 A. V. Lovell, Rifle Brigade, whose account of the famous 1914 “Christmas Truce” was published in the Rifle Brigade Chronicle

1914 Star, with clasp (1231 L. Sgt., 3/Rif. Brig.); British War and Victory Medals (1231 W.O. Cl. 2, Rif. Brig.); General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Iraq (W.O. Cl. 2, Rif. Brig.); Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R. (6905166 W.O. Cl. II, Rif. Brig.); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R., 1st issue (1231 C.S. Mjr., 3/Rif. Brig.), polished, thus good fine or better (6) £400-500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Medals to the Cheshire and Manchester Regiments, Rifle Brigade and Royal Green Jackets formed by the late David Boniface.

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Alfred V. Lovell first entered the French theatre of war in early September 1914, as a Lance-Sergeant in ‘A’ Company, 3rd Battalion, Rifle Brigade, and it was in the same capacity that he witnessed the famous “Christmas Truce”. He later wrote home with an account of that remarkable event, a letter that was subsequently published in the Evening News on 2 January 1915 and afterwards in the Rifle Brigade Chronicle:

‘My dear parents - Christmas Day! The most wonderful day on record. In the early hours of the morning the events of last night appeared as some weird dream - but today, well, it beggars description ... Last night as I sat in my little dug-out, writing, my chum came bursting in upon me with: “Bob! Hark at ’em!”. And I listened. From the German trenches came the sound of music and singing. My chum continued: “They’ve got Christmas trees all along the top of the trenches! Never saw such a sight!”

I got up to investigate. Climbing the parapet, I saw a sight I shall remember to my dying day. Right along the whole of their line were hung little paper lanterns and illuminations of every description, many of them in such positions as to suggest that they were hung upon Christmas trees. And as I stood in wonder a rousing song came over to us; at first the words were indistinguishable, then, as the song was repeated again and again, we realized we were listening to “The Watch on the Rhine.”

Our boys answered with a cheer, while a neighbouring regiment sung the National Anthem.

Some were for shooting the lights away, but almost at the first shot there came a shout in really good English “Stop shooting!” Then began a series of answering shouts from trench to trench. It was incredible ... ’

Remarkable indeed, for the following morning Lovell was among those to meet the Germans in No Man’s Land. His letter continues:

‘I turned out this morning at dawn, still pondering upon the events of the previous night and wondering if this farce was still continuing ... Again I climbed on to the parapet and was staggered at the seeming audacity of our enemies. They were all out upon the earthworks, still shouting and singing, and waving cheery greetings across to us ... Already many of our chaps were going across to meet them. At first our officers remonstrated but nobody seemed to want to do any harm, and before very long we were all out in the open exchanging souvenirs and smoking each other’s cigarettes.

But before we could really feel on easy terms there were some gruesome tasks to be performed. English and German returned for spades, and between us we gave decent burial to those poor fellows who had fallen weeks previously, and who had, perforce, to be abandoned on the field. We had tried on several occasions to get out to those bodies and bury them by night, but such a procedure resulted in shots being exchanged, and a hasty return whence we came.

But today I stood shoulder to shoulder with a German and dug a grave for his late comrade. Crosses now mark the spots where for weeks there had lain three gruesome forms.

This business over, we turned to our conversation. At first we were rather chary about talking or chumming up, but after a while everyone seemed to know everybody else, and we laughed and joked and strolled about in a way that would have startled you good people at home ... And so we spent the day. As dusk came on we returned to our trenches, and here we sit, wonder more profound than ever holding us, awaiting what next may come.

Even as I write I can hardly credit what I have seen and done. This has indeed been a wonderful day.’

Lovell was subsequently awarded his M.S.M. ‘for valuable service in France and Flanders’ (London Gazette 17 January 1919 refers), and witnessed further action in Iraq (his MIC entry confirms).