No Man's Land

Based on an actual happening in 1914.

 

I'd been cleaning out the attic

And the gables in the roof,

Which were dusty, full of cobwebs

And a horror, tell the truth,

There were boxes, wooden chests

And mouldy papers overall,

'Til the ceiling couldn't take it,

It was bowed, about to fall.

 

So we shunted all this detritus

Until it filled the space

We had cleared on the landing

To gain access to the place,

'What on earth are we to do with it?'

My wife said in despair,

'We'll have to burn the lot,' I said,

'Except that old box chair.'

 

I remembered the old box chair

From my Grandad's, Arthur Oates,

It was taken from a hallstand

Where we'd hung our hats and coats,

It was made of polished oak, and sat

So proudly, just inside,

My father must have brought it home

When my Grandfather died.

 

Later, when we'd finished sorting,

Burning, and so on,

I lifted up the lid to see

What treasures I had won,

My gas mask from the second war

That looked like Mickey Mouse,

Was sitting still within that box,

So many years had passed.

 

I tipped out scarves and ancient gloves

That still lay buried there,

My sister's broken China Doll

The type that had no hair,

And at the bottom, going brown

And brittle, somewhat dank,

My Grandad's faded diary,

With Number, Name and Rank.

 

I read it through that very night,

I sat there in the gloom,

And there the 'War to End all Wars'

Unfolded in my room,

It left me pensive, sitting there

For now I understood,

Those many journeys made to France,

My Grandad's bitter moods.

 

In 1914, Christmastime

He'd lain there in his trench,

The ground was hard and white that morn,

The atmosphere was tense,

The Germans in their trenches were

Just fifty yards away,

He heard them bursting into song,

They Caroled forth that day.

 

The strip that they called 'No Man's Land'

Lay under recent snow,

The bodies of the slain lay there,

No Christmas would they know!

A note came from the German side

A ceasefire, honour pledged,

Allowing each to venture out

Unharmed, bury their dead.

 

My grandfather had watched in awe

As slowly, German heads,

Rose up above their parapets,

Dispersed their fear and dread,

He climbed on out himself, and wandered

Over No Man's Land,

When the advancing Boche had smiled,

He shook a German's hand.

 

They wished a Merry Christmas each

These soldiers who were foes,

They were just men in uniforms

That day, as Jesus knows,

'We have no wish to kill you now,'

One said, 'nor you kill us,

So why shoot on this Christmas Day,

I'm you - you're one of us!'

 

They all exchanged small gifts that day,

Cigars, chocolate, tobacco,

They spoke in English, and in French

In accents loud, staccato,

They laughed and joked and passed around

Snapshots, from hand to hand,

They even played scratch football

Cheered and laughed, in No Man's Land.

 

My grandfather then wrote at length

Of one young lad, a Hun,

Blonde haired, blued eyed, his name was Franz

He seemed a friendly one,

They promised, they would find each other

When the war was done,

And drink to peace with Schnapps and Gin,

Scotch Whiskey, one for one.

 

That day the guns lay silent, then

They filed back to each trench,

Catcalled and whistled, bandied jokes,

Those soldiers were just men,

At midnight the ceasefire was off,

They all fired in the air,

No-one was hitting anyone

Across that land - 'Despair!'

 

But then the 'War to End all Wars'

Went grimly back on course,

The Officers made threats, and soon

Their orders lent them force,

My grandfather fired at a head

That bobbed in No Man's Land,

The Boche had fallen dead before

He recognised him - Franz.

 

I always thought my grandfather

Was grim, there was no light,

That animated him by day,

Or cheered his soul by night,

He spoke just once about the war

And said - 'War should be banned!

You'll never understand the horror,

There, in No Man's Land!'

 

David Lewis Paget

Reviews

[Silent Kim aka mizmetap..]

This is most touching. Those who declare war and believe war is the answer seem to forget that the the person you're aiming for is human just like you, they have a life and family too. Not to mention fear. I was touched by this in so many ways, it has given me prespective to war and it waste of life that comes with it.

[Tate Morgan]

It is the same all over again and again we live too short a lifespan and we communicate dismally Im afraid war will be our undoing

[Dan Bullock]

Such strength in the words and interestingly full of the courage, entwined with the reality and pain of war. I'm currently reading my great-grandfather's WW1 Diaries and also have done pieces of work on various WW and can understand, empathy and the general consensus here. Great writing sir, absolutely real.

[☮]

The way in which you tell stories and keep the rhyme relevant is amazing and powerful. I'm always entertained and impressed with the imagery, detail, history and passion inserted into your writing. Great piece.

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

I know that this narrative is based in truth. Whether or not it is completely factual as it relates to your grandfather, it doesn't change the humanity that stepped forth on that battlefield, singing forth in Christmas carols that the other side could understand despite being sung in a foreign language. Then, the first soldier stepped forward with a branch in hand bedecked with candles, simulating a Christmas tree. One by one, each man stepped forward, lay down his weapon, shook the hands of the men on the opposing side, and declared a truce in the name of Christmas.

Your words bring this moment to life again, a truth that none should forget.

Beautiful!

Linda Marie

[Valentine]

What a magnificent tale David..It seems I heard long ago of a truce back then but I am not positive which war it was. My grand father was in the first war..My dad was called to the second but was on a goverment job so they would not let him go..My brothes in the Korean war ..other family etc..To have found a box of memories that are so deep in thought and spirit would be facinating..Another great write..I almost cried at the ending as it remined me of something that happened to my brother in the Korean war..God knows war is so stupid..We all are His children..He does not see color, race, or nationality..This is a very special piece..lol and God bless you both..Valentine

[C.T. Bailey]

Alright...for me...this is real as it gets. Not to sound like a broken record nor am I offering up a flowery pagentry of speech regarding your writing...we all know the calibre of writer that you are. For me...this is your finest hour. Perhaps because I am an amatuer historian, perhaps because I can identify with the emotions your grandfather was experiencing...perhaps because the quality this write usurps any I have read. I have a new favorite.
Todd