Christmas At War

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		During the First and Second World Wars people were often separated from their families - fighting on the frontline, undertaking important war work, or imprisoned in labour and prison camps. This separation seems to have become all the more marked around Christmas - it can be seen in many letters home from servicemen and women and in the reminiscences of those who lived during those times.

		Alan Potter An Australian NCO who served with 2/28th Bn in Australia; the Middle East and North Africa (1940-1942) and was a prisoner of war in Italy and Austria (1942-1945). Potter spent Christmas 1944 in a POW camp in the Austrian Alps. Conditions in the camp were harsh and prisoners received only erratic communications from their loved ones. The songs they sang at Christmas, to boost their morale, often left them longing for home. Listen to sound extract \| Read transcript

		Lieutenant W B P Spencer Wilbert Spencer served in the 2nd Battalion Wiltshire Regiment (7th Division). He fought on the Western Front from December 1914 until just before his death in action, at the age of 17, in the Battle of Neuve Chapelle in March 1915. His letters home reveal close family relationships, particularly with his younger sister Helen. See letter \| Read transcript © Every effort has been made to trace the copyright holders and gain permission for use of this document. We will withdraw it immediately on copyright holder's request.

		W L Britton Britton served with the ASC on the Western Front and in Salonika, 1914 - 1918 and wrote beautifully illustrated letters to his son Billie. A selection of Christmas themed letters can be seen below. Image 1 \| Image 1 (detail) Image 2 \| Image 2 (detail) Image 3 © Every effort has been made to trace the copyright holders and gain permission for use of this document. We will withdraw it immediately on copyright holder's request.

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Edward Ardizzone , The Front Line Village of
Fontanelice with an Officer in a snowsuit in
the foreground. IWM:ART LD 4932
© IWM

J E Foster, hand drawn postcard.
Department of Documents, 88/60/1