On Christmas Day morning 1914, following five months of the First World War, some German soldiers emerged from their trenches and approached the Allied lines across no-man’s-land, calling out “merry Christmas” in English.

At first, the Allied soldiers feared it was a trick, but seeing the Germans unarmed they climbed out of their trenches and shook hands with the enemy soldiers.

The men exchanged presents of cigarettes and plum puddings and sang carols and songs. Some Germans lit Christmas trees around their trenches, and there was even a documented case of soldiers from opposing sides playing a good-natured game of soccer.

The Christmas trees on both sides were lovingly decorated by those thinking of happier times, although sorry looking compared to those of today, they did give comfort and hope to those living in danger and far from their families.

Officers from both sides recalled: “How marvellously wonderful, yet how strange it was. Thus Christmas, the celebration of Love, managed to bring mortal enemies together as friends for a time.”

A spokesperson for the Three Towns Royal British Legion Scotland (RBLS) said: “The present situation finds us all in conflict with an unseen foe and have been for many months, it has seemed at times that we could not even find a tunnel to look down at times, but now not only have we found a tunnel we can now see a little light at the end of it.”

At Saltcoats War Memorial on Sunday is a Christmas tree donated and erected in remembrance of the Christmas’s enjoyed or endured by those who have, and still make the ultimate sacrifice.

A RBLS spokesperson said: “When the lights come on in the dark our minds are drawn to the memorial and rightly so we are reminded that remembrance is all year round and during the season when we think of family and friends, past and present we should also spare a moment who those who fought and died for us, and those still working for us.”

The Legion would like to thank Suzanne Naylor-Johnston, Clyde Studios and B&Q for their generosity.