Hulse Christmas War Letter Analysis - Assignment Example

Hulse Christmas War Letter Analysis January 11, Introduction Edward Hulse is portrayed in his letters as a man of great charm and friendly, he was killed in the battle and his letters show his judgment of men and the turmoil of war and the soldiers in the field. He was among the first soldiers who enrolled for the war and hence was in the field since the beginning, he fought alongside soldiers who were killed during the first few months of the war. Morale Morale implies determination and self-drive. Soldiers in a battlefield are expected to have a drive in them so as to produce results, morale and inspiration in the field may come from a number of different figures like an authoritative leader, team-work, and discipline among others. In letters written by Hulse to his mother, the soldiers are seen determined, hardworking and impatient in the first months when preparing for battle, in his first letter he enthusiastically explains to his mother about their work in the mobilization of machinery and the soldiers readiness to set them in motion at any time, he talks animatedly about their position and the strengths of the British and French forces and fleet as compared to the German side.1 In his second letter he hinted of the start of the battle and talks about delivering a lecture to his platoon, he reminded them of their duty to their country, discipline and the treatment of all inhabitants with kindness. This is a depiction of a good leader setting an example for his fellow countrymen and giving them the necessary confidence and attitude to carry into the battlefield. As a leader he vows to set an example in his home or abroad when serving his country and king.2 The weather conditions in the field were wet and dreary, at first it hot and the temperatures inconveniencing, however the battalion and all its soldiers were fit and healthy raring to go on. These conditions changed after some time and the hot temperatures gave way to cold winds and rainfall, the poor weather conditions kept on deteriorating with heavy rains and sheets of snow and sleet. The trenches that had been dug in the fields would often flood and this would be uncomfortable and would dampen the soldiers and their drive.3 Due to the unpleasant conditions in the trenches and poor sanitation, the soldiers would get sick quite often due to the dampness that followed. The author got sick with dysentery and had to be lifted from the trenches with a high fever and barely conscious.4 These poor conditions saw the French hospitals overflowing with the soldiers who were sick due to the incessant rain and cold. This would not work well to improve their morale while working in damp conditions. The soldiers would also spend a lot of time in the trenches digging and draining water and this would demoralize them coupled with the hostile conditions. The soldiers would sometimes go for hours maybe even days without food due to the presence of the ever pressing enemy, this resulted in hungry, weak and weary soldiers who would barely put up a field in the field. The soldiers were scattered and fatigued and in danger of losing their morale due to the continued persistence of the enemy. This did not just affect the British soldiers but the Germans as well, the author explains this in his letter about the German privates and soldiers that they would pick up who looked thin and hungry and would seem excited when told they were being transferred to England.5 There was persistent death and some soldiers would go missing due to being killed in the battle or taken by the enemy, this coupled with sickness and poor conditions did not work well for some soldiers most of whom had enrolled from prestigious universities and had not experienced the blunt of a battlefield.6 Most soldiers were killed during the first battle and the author even states that none of the original members of the old platoon were surviving excluding himself and one other.7 The new soldiers and sentries were lazy and undisciplined, some of them would disobey direct orders from their superiors and the sentries would neglect their duties of patrol until reminded. This was also depicted by the German officers who were founded dead and their soldiers dead in the trenches to show that they would not follow their officers because they did not like them and they wanted to be driven not commanded or led8. Respect and obedience to authority is the driving force in any field and especially in a war where the discipline of soldiers is commanded. The soldiers are more moralized if they respect their superiors. Lack of morale was all round even with the German soldiers; they were tired of the war as it was evidenced in their conversations during Christmas and the truce that was established, the soldiers would often wonder why they were fighting each other when they had families at home to be taking care of. This doubt of the cause of the fighting among them would make them reluctant and hence a truce was established even for just a day and they admitted to firing due to superior orders which they could not disobey.9 The German soldiers were also perceived to be out of supplies and would fire less and harmless shrapnel as compared to before. The morale benefit of staying active and hurting the enemy and the small exploits that sustain the spirit of the army in the field seemed to be lost on the soldiers as the time went by. Treatment of prisoners In every war there are casualties and prisoners.in his letters the author does not talk much about the prisoners. However, he described the German prisoners as thin and haggard and they would always complain of hunger. The prisoners, who were thin and weakly, would be given food at the base camp and those who were wounded would be treated in the French base hospitals. During the Christmas truce, the German officers also confirmed to the British officers that they had been treating their prisoners well and feeding them. During the Christmas truce there was prisoner swapping and the soldiers held joint burial ceremonies sympathizing and mourning on both sides.10 The soldiers would share information with the prisoners who would be anxious to know of their fate, the prisoners would ask if they were to be transferred to England to which they would look relieved and excited when answered in the affirmative. They included deserters who would come in unarmed and were well received and sent on to the headquarters so as to be sent to London like the deserter in the New Year.11 The British officers would take nothing from the prisoners or deserters and would leave their papers and other effects exactly as they had captured them or entered their trenches. The deserters would be accompanied to the headquarters and the author was proud to have sent his friend in the headquarters a New Year present while saving the receipt for his mother. Conclusion The WWI had devastating effects on the countries that were involved, however the much damage was done to the soldiers who had been lied to by their politicians to enlist in the army and fight for their countries, the soldiers would then face dire conditions in the field under authoritative officers. The soldiers lived in trenches hiding from the enemy who they later came to find that they had a lot in common. During the Christmas truce the soldiers from both fronts fraternized and exchanged pleasantries. The soldiers maintained that the conflict and fighting was futile and they would cease firing if the other soldiers would not fire. The army commanders tolerated the truce between the soldiers but eventually orders were released preventing its continuation or reoccurrence but taking no steps to punish any of the men who took part in the truce. The soldiers saw it as a holiday and even exchanged gifts. Hulse in his letter has depicted the events that preceded the truce and the dreadful conditions that the soldiers were living in, he explained the events of the truce and its effect on the soldiers and then what happened after the truce up until his demise. The letters help the reader understand the different experiences of war and the value of freedom. Bibliography Hulse, Edward Hamilton Westrow. Letters Written from the English Front in France between September 1914 and March 1915. N.p.: Privately printed, 1916. Crocker, Theresa Blom. "“A Remarkable Instance”: The Christmas Truce and Its Role in the Contemporaneous Narrative of the First World War." 2012. Read More