A tale of two Christmases: 1918 and 2011

All of us on the beach

We had a really lovely family Christmas this year. Eighteen of us gathered together in a large welcoming house, with log fires, warm comfortable beds and lots of good food. We had a lovely time just being together: going for walks, playing games, cooking in teams, and taking turns looking after baby Thomas. We aren't together all that often, and now that the children are older it is a lot of fun seeing them all getting along and contributing so much to the family in different ways.

When we got back from our week away, I had an urge to tidy up the attic. I came across some letters and diaries written by my French great-grandfather, Docteur Athanase Linard. He was called up to serve as a doctor in the First World War, and spent the best part of 4 years away from home, traveling from one place to another, setting up field hospitals, or following troops into battle. In the Somme, he was on horseback, at other times and places he traveled by train. He wrote letters - often daily, though we don't have them all - back to his wife Marie, and his three teenage daughters: Genevieve (my grandmother), Jeanne, and Madeleine.
 

Interrupted letter

I noticed some of the letters were written in December 1918 and I was curious why he was still away from  home (since the war was over), and how he spent his Christmas.

Postcard of Kreuznach

He seems to have been sent here and there - moving on at an hour's notice - in the weeks before Christmas 1918. He keeps referring in his letters to the fact that he hopes to be home on leave for Christmas, though he has given up hope of being 'liberated' (demobbed) because of what he refers to as the Germans 'causing trouble'. In the week before Christmas he is in Western Germany, in the Rhine valley - drinking Rhineland wine - in Mainz, , Langenlonsheim, Kreuznach, St Wendel.

As he says on the 19th Dec from Mainz: "Je fais de l’occupation et j’ai franchi le Rhin en vainqueur comme nos ancêtres il y a cent ans." (Just like our ancestors a hundred years ago, I've crossed the Rhine as a victor and now I'm part of the occupying forces.)

In every letter he refers to his hope of getting leave for Christmas and how much he's looking forward to seeing his daughters. It's not till the 21st that he gives up hope and tells them that he is to be serving at Mainz hospital for Christmas and until he gets demobbed.

On the 26th he writes a long letter home describing how he spent Christmas. This was his day:

Letter describing Christmas day

• 10am mass in the cathedral
• 1pm present distribution around the Christmas tree at the hospital for 100 wounded soldiers and 700 liberated french POWs with Mrs Rothschild (pearls the size of cherries in her ears) very busily involved in everything
• lunch for the above in two sittings of 400 each
• 2pm Generals Mangin ("petit, noiraud") and Marchand arrive
• Marseillaise is played
• Film show for everyone 

Despite being surrounded by so many people, I think Dr Linard felt alone - missing his wife and daughters, and not being home for Christmas. He enjoyed the day, but was no doubt making mental notes of things to write home about.  Writing on the morning of the 26th he even promises his girls a second letter in the afternoon. I am so thankful that in 2011 we are in peacetime, in plenty, and we could be all together as a family.

Leaving for Uni

When I went to University, my school trunk and I were dropped off by an elderly relative (Betty) at the door of the hall of residence, and I got on with settling in. But getting Ario off to Bristol has taken up most of my energies (mental more than physical) for at least the last week.

The living room assembly area

First there was assembling the kit. We relied on an 8 page list from a student website which covered the most essential items. Luckily we had vast resources of stored equipment to draw on - kitchenware, bedding, rugs, lamps, and even a washing basket, were donated by various parts of the family.

We fitted everything into the car - all except an old 18" TV which Ario had picked up in the street 10 days ago.  He also left behind a standing lamp, and a large hand woven rug. Mariam was a bit squashed in the back seat, and I had a box of cooking things in my legs, but apart from that we were fine. 

 A packed car ready for departure

 After a pancake and maple syrup breakfast, we got the bike onto the bike rack, and we were ready to go.

Leaving Marlowe Road

It was a lovely sunny day, and we got to Bristol for tea. The street is at the top of a steep hill and Ario's room has a fantastic view North east over the city and to the hills beyond. 

Harcourt Road, Bristol

Outside Harcourt Road house, Bristol

We spent the afternoon unpacking and chatting with housemate Ronan and his mother who were waiting for the second car to arrive with his dad and sister and the rest of his stuff.

We moved the furniture around, made the bed, realised we'd brought the single (not the double) duvet, and made lists of things that were needed (door hooks, door magnets, book ends). In the kitchen, several cupboards were already full of people's things.  There were 3 bottles of champagne in the fridge, at least 3 cafetieres, two toasters and an enormous assortment of knives and utensils.

 
The next day we left in the afternoon - Ario was itching to go to watch the football and get back to his friends. He was excited and looking forward to all the new experiences of university life. As we left, I gave him lots of good advice. Mariam said it was such a cool place she wanted to go to Bristol too. He wrote 'phone Mum' on his whiteboard so that he wouldn't forget. We got a big hug each and a cheerful wave.