Christmas at the Front - Photo Galleries

Image 1 of 5

Cover of Illustrated London News, January 9, 1915. A German soldier approaches his British enemies with a lantern and a small Christmas tree and organizes a cease fire.

Image 2 of 5

Christmas celebration at Internment Camp in Canada, W.W.I - 1916.

Image 3 of 5

Christmas morning, 1918, in McWharrie Ward, No. 2 Canadian Stationary Hospital, near Boulogne, France.

Image 4 of 5

A Christmas card issued by the Canadian Government.

Image 5 of 5

A menu for Christmas dinner 1916. Christmas Dinner 1916, Officers Mess, 169th Battalion (109 Regiment Overseas Battalion, C.E.F.), Bramshott Camp, England.

Image 1 of 11

Petty Officer Cook Bert Grant (left) and assistants preparing Christmas puddings. December 1941, Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Image 2 of 11

Private Fernand M. Bonneau distributing bread to children attending Christmas party sponsored by the 1st Canadian Army, Tilburg, Netherlands, 24 December 1944.

Image 3 of 11

Senior Welfare Officer Mary Scott of the Canadian Red Cross preparing Christmas basket for distribution to patients at No.10 Canadian General Hospital, R.C.A.M.C. 15 December 1944 / Tilburg, Netherlands.

Image 4 of 11

Preparations for Christmas dinner aboard HMCS Prince David. 25 December 1944 / Ferryville, Tunisia.

Image 5 of 11

Personnel of 42 Company, Canadian Women's Army Corps (C.W.A.C.), hosting a Christmas party for children, England, 19 December 1943.

Image 6 of 11

Children at a Christmas party sponsored by the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada, Elshout, Netherlands, 17 December 1944.

Image 7 of 11

Canadian soldiers enjoying a few drinks on Christmas Day at the front, Ortona, Italy, 25 December 1943.

Image 8 of 11

High School students help out during the Christmas rush at the Post Office during the Second World War. Ottawa, Ont., Nov 1943.

Image 9 of 11

General H.D.G. Crerar with St. Nicholas (Lieutenant H.J. Tingle) and children during a Christmas party at First Canadian Army Main Men's Mess. Tilburg, Netherlands. 24 Dec 1944.

Image 10 of 11

Personnel of No. 2 Motor Ambulance Convoy Detachment, Royal Canadian Army Service Corps (R.C.A.S.C.), displaying toys which will be presented to Dutch children during a Christmas party, Nijmegen, Netherlands, 20 December 1944.

Image 11 of 11

Royal 22e Régiment Museum, Ph3-172-407, R22eR sergeants celebrate their fourth Christmas in England in their Mess prior to the Midnight Mass parade, December 24, 1942, England, Canadian Military Photograph.

Image 1 of 8

Korean youngsters fed by the 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry. Private Steve Towstego on guard duty passes out a leg of chicken he had saved from his dinner. Dec. 25, 1950.

Image 2 of 8

First Christmas away from home for members of the 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry. From left to right: Sergeants J. Moore, Melnechuk and L.J. Fumano. Dec. 1950.

Image 3 of 8

An early Christmas dinner eaten in shifts so all the infantrymen of the brigade can enjoy a traditional dinner. Also shown are Brigadier J.M Rockingham and Major-general Jim Cassels. Dec. 1951.

Image 4 of 8

Members of the 25th Canadian Infantry Brigade sending Christmas greetings to Canada via NBC-TV. December 20, 1952, Korea.

Image 5 of 8

Brigadier J.V. Allard holding in his arms a little girl of the orphanage with her newly acquired Christmas toy. Dec. 24, 1953.

Image 6 of 8

Christmas dinner, 3rd Battalion, Royal 22e Régiment. Dec. 24, 1953.

Image 7 of 8

Santa Claus shakes hands with his companions in Korea. December 19, 1952, North Korea.

Image 8 of 8

Santa Claus stops at the 38th parallel to pose with soldiers Eddy Lacelle, Jean Boily and Georges Lafrance. December 24, 1952, North Korea.

Image 1 of 13

Soldiers of Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment Battle Group enjoy Christmas dinner at Forward Operating Base Ma'Sum Ghar, Afghanistan, on December 25, 2006.

Image 2 of 13

Corporal Demerchant hands two Christmas presents from Canada to Master Corporal Darren Lockwood in Afghanistan on December 25, 2006.

Image 3 of 13

A Canadian Armed Forces member from Task Force-Iraq decorates her camp in celebration of the Christmas season during Operation Impact on December 3, 2014.

Image 4 of 13

Able Seaman Danielle Delaronde and Private Chelsie Whalen onboard HMCS Regina decorate for Christmas while deployed in the Arabian Sea for Operation Artemis on December 14, 2012.

Image 5 of 13

Sailors of HMCS Toronto celebrate a Christmas mass on December 24, 2013 during Operation Artemis in the Arabian Sea.

Image 6 of 13

Members of the Canadian Air Task Force Lithuania arrive with gifts and goods for the Šiauliai City Baby's Orphanage in Lithuania on December 18, 2014 during Operation Reassurance.

Image 7 of 13

Canadian Forces members show off their 2010 Olympic mitts during a Canadian contingent visit for the Christmas holidays. December 25, 2009, Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan.

Image 8 of 13

LCol Blair receives a big hug from one of the students. This is the third year in a row that the Canadian contingent has supported the Institute for Special Children's Education, Mjedenica, in Sarajevo. Presents included individual packages with toys and candy. The group also donated a Christmas tree and ornaments. It was a very worthwhile and magical experience to see the excitement shown by these young children during our visit and it made our Christmas brighter, said LCol Blair, the Acting Task Force Commander. December 24, 2007, Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Image 9 of 13

A rare site of two Canadian subs sailing together into homeport for the Christmas holidays. Seen leading the pack is the HMCS Cornerbrook with the HMCS Windsor following. December 21, 2006, Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Image 10 of 13

The ship's company of HMCS Montreal gathered on the flight deck with honoured guests, including Her Excellency the Governor General Adrienne Clarkson on Christmas Day. HMCS Montreal is operating in and around the Arabian Sea as part of Operation Apollo, Canada's military commitment to the international campaign against terrorism. December 25, 2002.

Image 11 of 13

Mail arrives just in time for Christmas on HMCS Fredericton while on patrol in the Gulf of Aden. HMCS Fredericton is deployed on a six-month mission to the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden and Horn of Africa to conduct counter piracy and counter terror operations alongside our NATO and Coalition partners. December 25, 2009.

Image 12 of 13

Private Melissa Wiseman, a medic with 2 Field Ambulance stationed at Forward Operating Base Ma'sum Ghar gets into the spirit on Christmas morning and manages to get a call through to home on a satellite phone. December 25, 2006, Kandahar Province, Afghanistan.

Image 13 of 13

Two CH-146 Griffon helicopters (call signs Rudolph and Blitzen) flies past Toronto’s CN Tower en route to the Toronto Hospital for Sick Children. The Griffon crews delivered Santa’s undercover elves and over 500 presents collected from military members and the local community to brighten the day for young patients unable to spend Christmas at home with their families. December 16, 2005, Toronto, Ontario.