HULSE CHRISTMAS WAR LETTER ANALYSIS - Assignment Example

Hulse Christmas War Letter Analysis To begin with I should say that his letters describe beginning of the World War One, when Germany got an ultimatum from Britain. Edward Hamilton Hulse, whose letters I am going to talk about, was born in 1889. He served in Coldstream Guards from 1912 and was a model soldiers honor. He was transferred to the Scots Guards in 1913. He is known for the Battle of the Aisne and at Mons, which happened in August 1914. His letters, written from the English front are chronicas of the war`s earliest months from the point of view of the young officer of the British Army.

Edward Hulse was in the heart of the war, however these letters were not written to be published, and they were directed only to his mother. Hulse got a promotion in March 1915, but several days later his life ended at Neuve Chapelle where the newfound Captain was ready to help his Commanding Officer.The young soldier was waiting for the start of greater army activity, however soon he realized it does not contain any romantics. Hulse did not describe in his letters the most important plans, he even did not want to show if he was afraid or tired.

During the following months he got the full impression of war: fire, dead friends, hospital. However the most surprising thing he saw fighting on the Western Front was so-called Christmas Truce.Sir Edward Hulse, being a lieutenant of the 2nd Scots Guards, described this occasion in the following words “It was absolutely astounding, and if I had seen it on a cinematograph film I should have sworn that it was faked”1. At this period the forces of the British Army were sure that the German`s desire is to destroy everything, which did not follow their expectations.

This impression was ruined in the mud of Flanders, where the forces were placed during the winter. We feel he is tired, when he says how they walked miles to the trenches and got extra work, however he finds it amusing, that they “are going to give the enemy every conceivable song in harmony”2.It seems that he was busy; it seems that he was rushing, despite the detailed story, however it was able for him to found time for his mother. The Christmas Eve was not mentioned with fire and fighting like the previous December days.

This day even heard the songs of the members of both trenches. The truce was agreed upon between the soldiers of German and British armies, and No-Man’s Land was chosen, our narrator says Christmas was celebrating in many areas of the Western Front. The letter from 28 December is full of different emotions – from surprise for hearing the songs, watching photos and offering the sigarets to first distrust to German (who came “unarmed”, as Hulse says).This day started with collecting the victims and dead of both armies.

This activity truly required a stop of fire and “no shot was fired all day”3.The dead of both German and English forces were buried near Lille during common requiem.However, Hulse describes how he was waiting the treachery of anemies and then discovered "they had stood to arms all night and thought we were going to attack them"4.The forces have presented gifts, foremost food, for their “neighbors”. They decided to give each other some time to return to their own camps and trenches and not to start attack before a special signal, which might mean that the cease fire was over.

It happened after the midnight came5. In the next letter Hulse wrote it was “a very welcome respite”6. It is quite interesting that world`s history does not know another precedents of such truce, so the winter event of 1914 can be deservedly called unique.References:" Christmas 1914 and World War One", 2014. HistoryLearningSite.co.uk. Hulse, Edward Hamilton Westrow, 1916. “Letters written from the English front in France between September 1914 and March 1915” archive.org/details/letterswrittenfr00hulsrich.