As we come towards Christmas again, the myth/legend/tale of the Christmas Truce will rise again in the media.
The idea that the Christmas Truce was widespread has itself become widespread – this is far from the truth – read about some of the reality here
On March 21st 1918 Germany launched the Spring Offensive which would see huge losses on both sides and major gains by the Germans until mid-summer – read about it here German Spring Offensive 1918
Exhibition from 16 April to 26 June 2018 – www.lichfield-cathedral.org/peace/consequence-of-war
Research into a new volume of the Tutbury Book of Remembrance has started. The aim is to document the men listed on the WWI Roll of Honour – find out more here
This is a new website being developed over the next few months for the Tutbury Book of Remembrance – the original website can be found here
Tutbury lost four men from the village during the Battle of Passchendaele – read about it here
The legend of the 1914 Christmas Truce is well known – less well know is that it only happened in a few places. For most servicemen on that Christmas day, fighting and dying continued. The first soldier from Tutbury to die in WWI was William Edgar Priestley of Cornmill Lane, aged 22, 2nd Bn Grenadier Guards – killed by a sniper on Christmas Day 1914.
His death was not unique, rather it was one of many during the “Christmas Truce” – read about the reality of Christmas Day 1914
The 2nd Edition of the Book has now gone to the printers and will be available after Christmas. Copies will be given free to local libraries, museums, schools etc. and it will be available to buy at printing cost – £12.50 plus P&P
