British High Commission in Ghana marks the 1914 'football truce'
The British High Commission will on Saturday 6th December in Lome, Togo play a friendly match to mark the centenary of the famous 'truce game'
1914 football truce between the British and the Germans
To mark the centenary of the famous ‘truce game’ a friendly football match will take place on Saturday 6th December in Lome, Togo, between Diplomatic officials of the British High Commission, Ghana, and Togolese military. The ‘truce’ began when German soldiers started to sing Christmas carols. British troops responded and gradually both sets of soldiers moved out of their trenches and met in No Man’s Land near Armentieres, France. After exchanging stories and gifts, several games of football broke out. The Germans won 3-2, according to some soldiers, and the truce gradually came to an end in the same way it had begun - by mutual consent. Hostilities were officially resumed on Boxing Day at 0830 - ceremonial pistol shots marked the occasion. In some areas, however, non-aggressive behaviour lasted for days and, in some cases, weeks. The heart-warming tales of how football can break down the bleakest of barriers have been passed down through generations and illustrations of the events have become some of the most iconic of the First World War. The Duke of Cambridge, Prince William, who is President of the English Football Association, commented today; “It promises to be a powerful way to engage and educate young people about such an important moment in our history. We all grew up with the story of soldiers from both sides putting down their arms on Christmas Day, and it remains wholly relevant today as a message of hope over adversity, even in the bleakest of times.”