Christmas is a time when normal routine is suspended for many people – and so it was in the depths of World War II. For civilians and military alike during the 1939-45 period, normality was a loose concept, but these vintage photos show how they attempted to put on a brave face and observe some of the traditions that they would have enjoyed during peacetime.
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| Men of the USS Lexington celebrating Christmas with a Santa suited up for firefighting. 1944. |
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| Christmas sign and tree at the Italian front, 1944. |
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| American WACs decorate their tent at the Italian front, 1944. |
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| American WACs make paper chains to decorate their tiny tree, Italy, 1944. |
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| American servicemen (with Santa centre) celebrating Christmas on Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, 1942. |
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| A Christmas singsong on a British warship, 1942. |
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| Holiday mail for the troops, USA, c. 1944. |
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| Sailors carrying the Christmas tree and holly for Christmas celebrations aboard a British ship, 1941. |
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| American servicemen at a Christmas midnight mass, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, 1942. |
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| Singing and lighting candles at midnight mass, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, 1942. |
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| Chickens for Christmas dinner, Holland, 1944. |
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| Gunners with geese and turkeys for the Christmas pot, Italy, 1944. |
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| Aloft two geese destined to become Christmas dinner, Germany, 1944. |
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| Soldiers preparing Christmas dinner, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, 1942. |
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| Soldiers preparing Christmas dinner, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, 1942. |
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| Finnish soldiers watching a woman stirring the pot for Christmas dinner, Finland, 1939. |
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| British soldier peeling potatoes for Christmas dinner, Germany, 1944. |
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| The Brits, of course, had to have their Christmas pudding. The commander of a destroyer stirs the pudding, while the first lieutenant adds rum, 1942. |
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| Scots preparing Christmas pudding in the Western Sahara, 1942. |
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| Announcing the Christmas pudding is ready, the Netherlands, 1944. |
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| British soldiers unpacking a Christmas parcel, complete with pudding, the Netherlands, 1944. |
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| The crew who are shown with their camouflaged tank looking like a 'travelling Christmas tree' had been together for three years. They had seen action in Libya and Italy before coming to Holland. |
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| Christmas dinner in Naples, 1944. |
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| British soldier eating Christmas meal in his slit trench w. holiday cards from home propped up outside, Netherlands, 1944. |
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| British and French troops sharing Christmas drinks in France, 1939. |
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| Christmas drinks in Burma, 1944. |
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| British soldiers celebrating Christmas in Italy, 1943. |
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| Aussie soldiers and their Christmas drinks, New Guinea, WWII. |
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