ALL IS CALM: The Christmas Truce of 1914

I have been looking forward to this show since I discovered that it was coming to Rosebud. With Remembrance Day a little over a week away, I really want this review to do justice to the story so it’s a long one.

We attended the Friday evening show which makes for a bit of a late drive home, so we made the decision to stay the night and drive home in the morning. We secured a room at Banks and Braes, as I have been dreaming of staying there since I first toured the place about a year ago. The high ceilings, ornate furnishings, luxurious draperies, and the wood flooring all contribute to the rich lush feel. We stayed in the ‘Scott Suite’, which was not only beautiful, but was stocked with all things Scottish including interesting Scottish themed books. The family that runs this B and B went out of their way to make sure that we were comfortable and well fed. If you attend an evening show, and are thinking of staying the night, I highly recommend that you check out Banks and Braes. Each suite has a different theme, and the décor is truly exquisite. It’s worth popping in next time you’re in Rosebud as they are happy to show off any rooms that are not occupied. The main floor alone is worth seeing with so many antiques, collector items and handcrafted pieces. There are several other Bed and Breakfast establishments in Rosebud so there is plenty to choose from. This place just spoke to me. I did a little research online and all the accommodations look lovely. Ideally, I would like to arrange for a stay at each of them over the next few years.

My first introduction to WW1 history was when I read Vimy by Pierre Berton. His description of life in the trenches stuck with me. Of course, I have always been horrified at the loss of life and saddened at the thought of having to see a loved one go off to war, but up until I read this book, I had never taken a moment to think about the actual conditions they were in for weeks and months on end. They faced unrelenting heat or bitter cold, feet in boots that would never dry out, deprived of sleep, and any semblance of normalcy, quiet or privacy. I have seen movies and documentaries about WW1 since I read ‘Vimy’, but it is the words within that book that first come to mind.

Like many of my friends and peers, I knew both of my grandfathers had served in WW1. My paternal grandfather served for just under 3 years. He was wounded several times while in France and due to his long list of injuries, he was discharged and returned to Canada on a hospital ship at the age of 24. He was discriminated against his whole life because of his disabilities. I tell you this, not because it is a unique story, but quite the opposite. So many young men, boys really, returned home wounded physically, emotionally, never to be the same, or did not return home at all. There are no kind wars. WW1 was no exception, but there was a day. A day when soldiers saw each other as people. A day when they quite literally let their guard down and connected and rejoiced with people who had been their enemy only the day before. This is the setting and the story of All is Calm.

The play is inspired by the true story of the Christmas Truce of 1914. This unofficial truce took place in several locations along the western front. The trenches of opposing sides were so close in places that they could hear the voices of their enemies. This sometimes forged a feeling of not only familiarity but even a sense of comradery. A quick google search reveals that there were other times and places where the fighting stopped for a brief exchange between soldiers, but this one was different. There had been calls for a ceasefire from a group of British suffragettes as well as from the Pope himself. Unfortunately, the officials were firmly committed to their stance that there would be no ceasefire and the fighting would continue through the Christmas season. That Christmas they were only about five months into the war. Many believed it would be a short war and that the fighting would be over before Christmas. As the fighting went on there was a growing sentiment of ‘live and let live’ among some of the soldiers on the

By Peter Rothstein

Western front. The firing slowed down and then stopped. As the sounds of war were silenced, the fear of the enemy subsided long enough for some to step forward.