White Mantle Over West Front
GRACIE FIELDS DELIGHTS R.A.F. UNITS Received Tuesday, 7.20 p.m. LONDON, Dec. 26. On the West Front enemy patrols east of tho Moselle dashed hopes of a truce similar to 1914 and kept the sentries and gun-manners unwaveringly vigilant, but fog and frost stopped all except essential movements and immobilised the air forces. The war zone is blanketed in a white mist, the roads are coated with ice and the trees are ghostly in their white mantles. Their Majesties’ Christmas cards were delivered to each serviceman as he enjoyed a near normal Christmas dinner. Many members of the Air Force donned beards to play Santa Claus at French children’s parties at which the children in one village sang, “We’ll Hang Out the Washing on the Siegfried Line” in French. Gracic Fields, temporarily returned from convalescence at Capri, delighted Air Force units with a series of concerts. She declared: “Let’s hope all this nonsenso will be over by next Christmas.” British and French troops exchanged gifts and joined in Mass and other religious services together.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MT19391227.2.59
Bibliographic details
Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 305, 27 December 1939, Page 6
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178White Mantle Over West Front Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 305, 27 December 1939, Page 6
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