My Darling Ciss ⏎ ⏎ We are down for our rest again and I have just received your welcome parcel & three letters & papers. You will scarcely believe it but nevertheless it is true we had an extraordinary Christmas on Xmas Eve the Germans who hold Xmas in great style started giving us songs and shouting little bits in English and of course we retaliated and on Xmas day the most funny thing happened, we noticed a white flag going up and then one German getting up on the trench and advanced towards us, and of course we began to do likewise as did more of the Germans and we began to exchange Xmas greetings and jokes, and all sorts they were giving us fags and drinks and a bit of small [?] and showing us photos of their wives and sweethearts and telling us they were fed up with this war, and wanting us to post letters for them as seemingly they are not allowed to write they were saying the Germans were in Warsaw and that the Russians were finished, but of course we listened to all and said nothing and before we parted for our trenches again we had agreed that we would not shoot at each other that day and we kept our word there wasn't a shot fired that day, but next day our artillery opened as did theirs and so bought to a close the most unheard in any proceedings I believe in the annals of history. They were Saxons it would have been a different take with the Prussians, of course this happened with the Regt in front of us. I couldn't say if this occurred all along the line but I don't think it would, so you will see we had not a bad Xmas at all but the funny thing is we are carrying on the same as usual looking for each others blood again. Well dearie it wasn't so bad as it had been in the trenches this time it was proper Xmas time frost and snow and the ground as hard as nails but of course it will just be the same as usual once the thaw sets in. You were asking me if the stockings would do to cover my knees or if we would be allowed to wear them. I don't know whether we are allowed or not but we use anything to keep ourselves warm some have drawers others long stockings and all of us boots and puttees, I assure you we don't look like the peaceful Highlanders you see at home, the stockings you sent are just the sort I wanted I can pull them up at night to keep the cold out. ⏎ ⏎ I got a shock when I saw the contents of the parcel "two puddings struck my eye" I had forgotten all about my favourite and am just dying to get them heated up to find out the taste again. Tell Jim Stall I have not come across the Wiltshire Regt again I think they have gone to some other position so might never see them at all. I had a letter from my Leith pal and he is still in hospital in Manchester and by reading his letter he seemingly never received [?]. ⏎ ⏎ I hear Frank Brookes is getting on all right but I couldn't tell you whether his leg is amputated or not, they know nothing about it here, only that he is getting on all right. Pte Grant and my other pal are still well, Grant's brother who was wounded over a month ago has joined us again and we make a lively school well Ciss here they are shouting for letters so must close ⏎ ⏎ Your loving Husband ⏎ ⏎ Jim ⏎ ⏎ PS love to all will write tomorrow.🏁

My Darling Ciss ⏎ ⏎ We are down for our rest again and I have just received your welcome parcel & three letters & papers. You will scarcely believe it but nevertheless it is true we had an extraordinary Christmas on Xmas Eve the Germans who hold Xmas in great style started giving us songs and shouting little bits in English and of course we retaliated and on Xmas day the most funny thing happened, we noticed a white flag going up and then one German getting up on the trench and advanced towards us, and of course we began to do likewise as did more of the Germans and we began to exchange Xmas greetings and jokes, and all sorts they were giving us fags and drinks and a bit of small [?] and showing us photos of their wives and sweethearts and telling us they were fed up with this war, and wanting us to post letters for them as seemingly they are not allowed to write they were saying the Germans were in Warsaw and that the Russians were finished, but of course we listened to all and said nothing and before we parted for our trenches again we had agreed that we would not shoot at each other that day and we kept our word there wasn't a shot fired that day, but next day our artillery opened as did theirs and so bought to a close the most unheard in any proceedings I believe in the annals of history. They were Saxons it would have been a different take with the Prussians, of course this happened with the Regt in front of us. I couldn't say if this occurred all along the line but I don't think it would, so you will see we had not a bad Xmas at all but the funny thing is we are carrying on the same as usual looking for each others blood again. Well dearie it wasn't so bad as it had been in the trenches this time it was proper Xmas time frost and snow and the ground as hard as nails but of course it will just be the same as usual once the thaw sets in. You were asking me if the stockings would do to cover my knees or if we would be allowed to wear them. I don't know whether we are allowed or not but we use anything to keep ourselves warm some have drawers others long stockings and all of us boots and puttees, I assure you we don't look like the peaceful Highlanders you see at home, the stockings you sent are just the sort I wanted I can pull them up at night to keep the cold out. ⏎ ⏎ I got a shock when I saw the contents of the parcel "two puddings struck my eye" I had forgotten all about my favourite and am just dying to get them heated up to find out the taste again. Tell Jim Stall I have not come across the Wiltshire Regt again I think they have gone to some other position so might never see them at all. I had a letter from my Leith pal and he is still in hospital in Manchester and by reading his letter he seemingly never received [?]. ⏎ ⏎ I hear Frank Brookes is getting on all right but I couldn't tell you whether his leg is amputated or not, they know nothing about it here, only that he is getting on all right. Pte Grant and my other pal are still well, Grant's brother who was wounded over a month ago has joined us again and we make a lively school well Ciss here they are shouting for letters so must close ⏎ ⏎ Your loving Husband ⏎ ⏎ Jim ⏎ ⏎ PS love to all will write tomorrow.🏁