Letters from the past

August 27, 2003 12:34 PM

Past Voicesserves up a collection of old letters, postcards, diaries and memoirs. Some are matter-of-fact: "While I am thus writing, I will tell you of an instance which happened 3 or 4 days ago. Two men were shot to death for desertion.", while some chronicle amazing historical events: "I heard two of the Germans shouting ' don't shoot we are bringing you some cake.' They were told to go back, but they would not, they came right up to our trenches."
posted by mr_crash_davis (10 comments total)

John McCutcheon's Christmas in the Trenches (mp3) tells the christmas truce story in a way that makes me weep. I've been looking for some corroboration of the story for a while; thanks for the link, crash.
posted by weston at 1:08 PM on August 27, 2003

Great find, m_c_d. Thanks.
posted by me3dia at 1:30 PM on August 27, 2003

Really good. Thanks.
posted by plep at 1:38 PM on August 27, 2003

[this is good]
And weston, thanks for that MP3...great song.
posted by thebabelfish at 1:55 PM on August 27, 2003

*joining chorus* Very valuable firsthand accounts. Thank you.
posted by onlyconnect at 1:58 PM on August 27, 2003

Tres Bien.
posted by namespan at 2:39 PM on August 27, 2003

Love it love it love it.
posted by LittleMissCranky at 2:56 PM on August 27, 2003

very cool.
posted by blissbat at 3:53 PM on August 27, 2003

Fantastic. Best line in the links you passed over was... The regiment on our left sang "While Sheperds Watched," Tipperary and the National Anthem. They had hardly started the second verse of God Save the King when the Germans disliking either the tune or words aimed a bomb at the singers, it fell short however not hurting anybody.
LMFAO
As they say.
posted by seanyboy at 3:56 PM on August 27, 2003

excellent, mr_crash_davis, excellent. thanks.
posted by madamjujujive at 9:26 PM on August 27, 2003