History with its flickering lamp stumbles along the trail of the past, trying to reconstruct its scenes, to revive its echoes, and kindle with pale gleams the passion of former days. ~Winston Churchill

25 March, 2011

Wartime Christmases

It's not anywhere near Christmas, but I like these pictures too much to wait another nine months. It's the 25th, anyway! Here a few photographs from Christmases in World War Two, and then also Vietnam. It's great to see the happy faces and creativity in these, just brilliant.

Pictures again courtesy of the Australian War Memorial-- they really are quite great with featuring compelling photographs!



Christmas in Papua New Guinea, 1942. A group of American soldiers with a tree that looks like it's made out of palm tree leaves, and decorated with cigarette cartons and medical cotton wool. Source


Christmas in Italy, 1943-- RAAF [Australian Air Force] pilots on their way to post Christmas parcels. Source



Another Christmas in New Guinea, 1943, with a Santa Claus arriving at a field hospital with presents for the patients. Source



Christmas in Vietnam, 1967. Australian soldiers decorating a Christmas Rubber Tree. Source


Christmas in Vietnam, 1970. Young army cook sharpening knives to carve Christmas hams. Source


One more Vietnam Christmas, 1971. Soldier hanging Christmas puddings to mature. Apparently he'd spent his free time for weeks before Christmas working on them! Source

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