1916 An Alphabet from the Trenches World War 1 Buchanan-Dunlop M. K. Wardle

Published in 1916 by Hodder and Stoughton. An increasingly scarce publication put together by two officers of the Leicestershire Regiment during World War 1, both with distinguished military careers. I've seen only one other copy available for sale online. Captain Mark Kingsley Wardle, who went on to attain the rank of Colonel, was awarded the M. (Military Cross) and the D.

(Distinguished Service Order)'for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty' during a'daring reconnaissance' on the Western Front. He was wounded three times during the Great War and received a Mention in Despatches. The ink inscription on the half title page suggests that this was the personal copy of Wardle's elder sister, Agnes. Lieutenant Colonel Archibald Henry Buchanan-Dunlop OBE has been described as'the man who "stopped the First World War"... It is said he led the men over the top to revel in some festive cheer with the enemy', that he was instrumental in the famous Christmas Truce of 1914. In a letter Buchanan-Dunlop sent to his wife, he wrote, Even out here this is a time of peace and goodwill. I have just spent an hour talking to German officers and men who have drawn a line half way between our left trenches and theirs and have all met our men and officers there.

We exchanged cigars, cigarettes, and papers. They are jolly, cheery fellows for the most part and it seems so silly under the circumstances to be fighting them. It's clear from the remainder of the letter that Buchanan-Dunlop did not take credit for the truce - a testament to his character - but letters sent from fellow soldiers name him as the cause. I've listed some other books which may be of interest.

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