A set of Christmas cards sent by British soldiers during the Great War show what life was like at this time of the year on the front line.
The cards, which depict servicemen in battle or during downtime in the trenches, were sent by members of the forces to their loved ones who remained at home.
One of them - sent by Private J Schneider - shows a soldier smoking a pipe and clutching a rifle with a bayonet, as a huge Union flag flutters in the background.
'Happy Christmas and may we all meet in the new year': Greeting cards from British troops during First World War give glimpse of life on the front line
Set includes card sent by Grenadier Guards from the battlefield
About six million troops were mobilised by Britain during the conflict - the largest volunteer army in history - and more than 700,000 died
Two billion letters passed through the British Army Postal Service
By Clemence Michallon For Mailonline
19 December 2015
Daily Mail
A set of Christmas cards sent by British soldiers during the Great War show what life was like at this time of the year on the front line.
The cards, which depict servicemen in battle or during downtime in the trenches, were sent by members of the forces to their loved ones who remained at home.
One of them - sent by Private J Schneider - shows a soldier smoking a pipe and clutching a rifle with a bayonet, as a huge Union flag flutters in the background.
Another bears the name of the First or Grenadier Regiment of Foot Guards, also known as the Grenadier Guards.
In it, a soldier points a rifle in the reader's direction above the inscription: 'I am sending you this to wish you a pleasant Christmas'.
Another card, in black and white, was drawn by British artist Rene Bull, who also illustrated children's books.
The card at the top, depicting a soldier smoking a pipe while holding a rifle equipped with a bayonet, is one of many sent by British soldiers to their loved ones during the First World War. The card on the bottom was drawn by British illustrator Rene Bull, who also worked on children's books. Men were allowed some downtime in the trenches, during which they could write home
A hundred years ago, British troops had already spent more than a year in the trenches when they wrote home for Christmas 1915
Soldiers, who are depicted having a hot drink in the trenches, spent five days a month on the firing line on average. The rest of the time, they had other duties in the ditches
Britain mobilised approximately six million men during the First World War and more than 700,000 died.
By Christmas 1915, the soldiers had spent more than a year in the trenches.
They lived in the ditches day and night, crossing the no man's land that separated them from enemy troops when an offensive was launched - and spent about five days a month on the firing line.
The rest of the time, they remained on alert for a potential attack coming from the other side.
Their days were cadenced by meals and rations as well as by other duties, which included cleaning the trenches, tending to their weapons and patrolling.
Men were also allowed some downtime, during which they could write to their families and loved ones.
Two billion letters and 114 million parcels passed through the British Army Postal Service during the First World War.
A special sorting office, called the Home Depot, was built in December 1914 in Regent's Park, in London.
It was five-acre large and was reportedly the largest wooden building in the world at the time according to Royal Mail.
The Home Depot had 2,500 employees, the majority of which were women. They sometimes processed up to 12 million letters and one million parcels every week.
The cards, which depict servicemen in battle or during downtime in the trenches, were sent by members of the forces to their loved ones who remained at home.
One of them - sent by Private J Schneider - shows a soldier smoking a pipe and clutching a rifle with a bayonet, as a huge Union flag flutters in the background.
'Happy Christmas and may we all meet in the new year': Greeting cards from British troops during First World War give glimpse of life on the front line
Set includes card sent by Grenadier Guards from the battlefield
About six million troops were mobilised by Britain during the conflict - the largest volunteer army in history - and more than 700,000 died
Two billion letters passed through the British Army Postal Service
By Clemence Michallon For Mailonline
19 December 2015
Daily Mail
A set of Christmas cards sent by British soldiers during the Great War show what life was like at this time of the year on the front line.
The cards, which depict servicemen in battle or during downtime in the trenches, were sent by members of the forces to their loved ones who remained at home.
One of them - sent by Private J Schneider - shows a soldier smoking a pipe and clutching a rifle with a bayonet, as a huge Union flag flutters in the background.
Another bears the name of the First or Grenadier Regiment of Foot Guards, also known as the Grenadier Guards.
In it, a soldier points a rifle in the reader's direction above the inscription: 'I am sending you this to wish you a pleasant Christmas'.
Another card, in black and white, was drawn by British artist Rene Bull, who also illustrated children's books.
The card at the top, depicting a soldier smoking a pipe while holding a rifle equipped with a bayonet, is one of many sent by British soldiers to their loved ones during the First World War. The card on the bottom was drawn by British illustrator Rene Bull, who also worked on children's books. Men were allowed some downtime in the trenches, during which they could write home
A hundred years ago, British troops had already spent more than a year in the trenches when they wrote home for Christmas 1915
Soldiers, who are depicted having a hot drink in the trenches, spent five days a month on the firing line on average. The rest of the time, they had other duties in the ditches
Britain mobilised approximately six million men during the First World War and more than 700,000 died.
By Christmas 1915, the soldiers had spent more than a year in the trenches.
They lived in the ditches day and night, crossing the no man's land that separated them from enemy troops when an offensive was launched - and spent about five days a month on the firing line.
The rest of the time, they remained on alert for a potential attack coming from the other side.
Their days were cadenced by meals and rations as well as by other duties, which included cleaning the trenches, tending to their weapons and patrolling.
Men were also allowed some downtime, during which they could write to their families and loved ones.
Two billion letters and 114 million parcels passed through the British Army Postal Service during the First World War.
A special sorting office, called the Home Depot, was built in December 1914 in Regent's Park, in London.
It was five-acre large and was reportedly the largest wooden building in the world at the time according to Royal Mail.
The Home Depot had 2,500 employees, the majority of which were women. They sometimes processed up to 12 million letters and one million parcels every week.
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