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WW1 Christmas Truce Inspires Modern Peace Match
7 Nov
Summary
- German team visits Nottinghamshire to commemorate WWI Christmas Truce.
- Soldier William Setchfield from Newark may have provided a football.
- A modern 'Peace Match' aims to remember the importance of peace.
A football team from Germany is visiting Nottinghamshire, England, marking a historic commemoration of the World War One Christmas Truce. This event honors the spontaneous ceasefire that occurred on Christmas Day in 1914, when British and German soldiers met between their trenches.
A soldier from Newark, William Setchfield, is believed to have been present at one such truce and might have supplied the football used. For the centenary of the outbreak of war, a team from Newark played Emmendingen, its twin town, near the original truce site.
This upcoming "Peace Match" continues the legacy of remembrance, following a game held in 2014. Research into William Setchfield's story revealed his experiences, including a letter describing a "wonderful Christmas" with German soldiers. Historical accounts suggest a football was indeed played with during the truce.
Francis Towndrow, a local historian, emphasized the importance of remembering peace, especially given current global events. The match, held at the YMCA centre, includes a minute's silence and a playing of the Last Post, underscoring the solemnity and significance of the commemoration.
