24 December 1914
CHRISTMAS EVE
Following the "shot that was heard around the world", the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand on 28 June 1914, the world was plunged into one of the bloodiest wars in history. Germany and Russia raced against time as they attempted to establish themselves on the eastern front. The British and the Canadians had managed to halt the Germans on the western front. Canadian men and many boys volunteered, sure this mess in Europe would be cleaned up in a couple of months.
As Christmas approached, our Canadian troops realized they would not make it home in time to celebrate in their own warm and welcoming homes. Instead, they languished in trenches that had been turned into mud bogs by the winter rains. On the other side of no man's land, only a couple of hundred feet away, the enemy suffered the same situation. Both fighting forces and their weapons were caked with mud. No one was sure which was worse, the opposing force or the miserable conditions. Both sides spent a huge amount of energy as they dealt with the mud and cold as well as keeping their heads down and watching for any advance made by the enemy.
A British telegraph operator wrote: "Perhaps it will surprise you to learn that the soldiers in both lines of trenches have become very "pally" with each other. The trenches are only sixty yards apart at one place and every morning about breakfast time one side sticks a tattered board in the air. As soon as this board goes up all firing ceases and men from either side draw their water and rations. All through breakfast hour, and so long as this board is up, silence reigns supreme, but whenever the board goes down the first unlucky devil who shows even so much as a hand gets a bullet through it."
The men wondered about their enemy in the opposing trenches. Could they be men just like us? Do they have loved ones at home? Do their letters to their loved ones tell them about us? Do they long to be with their loved ones in their cozy homes enjoying the fire on their hearths this cold Christmas Eve?
Sometimes songs floated across No Man's Land; patriotic songs from opposing nations. Sometimes the listeners even applauded a beautiful rendition or called for encores. The commanders from both sides were very clear. Friendly interaction with the enemy as absolutely forbidden.
But this night was different. A beautiful voice from the German side started to sing. “Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht”. The English-speaking soldiers recognized the famous Christmas Carol “Silent Night”. Grown men cried.
Then the German side hoisted up a tiny Christmas tree and a rough sign.
“Merry Christmas”
“You no shoot. We no shoot.”
In direct defiance of their commanders’ instructions, German, French, British, and Canadian soldiers ventured across No Man’s Land and embraced one another oblivious of the rotting bodies that cluttered the landscape. They hugged one another, shared rations and even roasted an unsuspecting pig to share during their Christmas Celebration. An impromptu football game broke out among the soldiers. A can of rations served as the ball and the men used their helmets for goalposts. They even agreed to warn one another and shoot high should their superiors force them back into battle.
The frustrated Generals warned their men that unofficial attempts of peacemaking were worthy of charges of treason and court martial but even these threats were weak. Some of the leaders could not resist participating in the game.
On the other side of the world in Magrath, Alberta Canada, nobody knew about the spontaneous show of brotherhood and the short display of peace on earth, goodwill to men.
Antoinette May Perkes Hyde, known as Nettie, wife of the local blacksmith, was cleaning up the kitchen after they had tucked their four youngest children into bed. It was Christmas Eve. They were excited and it was hard to get them to settle down. After a Christmas bedtime story and assuring them that Santa would find their humble home, she sat in the rocking chair, rocking little Jimmy until he was the last one to drift off and sleep. She continued rocking back and forth, holding him in her arms as her mind wandered…
On the 18th of January 1895, at 17 years old, Nettie had married 38 year old Thomas Davis in Naples, Unitah, Utah, USA.
Later that year an unnamed baby boy was born to that union. In Family History records, his birth and death dates are recorded as the same year but the month and day are not recorded.
On the 4th of March 1897, a baby girl was born. She was named Eliza May Davis.
No reason or explanation is recorded in history other than the marriage to Thomas had been a stormy one and had ended in divorce. One can only imagine. A seventeen-year-old girl married a man 21 years her senior. That might be one good clue.
In the meantime, John Walters Hyde married Mary Ann Mahaffey. They made their home in Vernal, Utah, and to their joy they were soon expecting a child. John’s work often took him away from home. While he was away it is told that a First Nation's man appeared at Mary Ann’s window. It so frightened Mary Ann that she went into labor, and with no one to help her, she lost her baby. She never recovered and a short time later, she passed away.
On March 26, 1896, the Vernal Express reported, “Just as we were going to press, we learned that Mrs. John Hyde died this afternoon. It is said to be the result of a fright she received from which she never recovered.”
When John arrived at home, he was informed of his loss by the neighbours. Family legend has it that he turned on his heels and never went back to their cabin.
On 3 July 1899, Antionette May Perkes married John Walters Hyde in Vernal, Utah. The marriage was reported on page one of the Vernal Express: “John Hyde and Nettie Davis of Vernal were married in this city, July third.”
Two-year-old Eliza May Davis was brought into the marriage and she later took the name Eliza May Hyde. There is no official record of any adoption, but John accepted Eliza as his daughter.
John and Antoinette or Nettie
One month and eighteen days after John and Nettie’s marriage, the Vernal Express reported: August 24. 1899 on page one: “Rumor has it that Mr. John Hyde and wife have agreed to disagree.”
One week later (August 31, 1899), The Vernal Express reported on page one: “D.E. Brown and Company, from Monroe, Sevier County are old, experienced wheel wrights. They have commenced business at the shop just vacated by John Hyde.”
That arrangement lasted ten months before the Express reported on page three: “D.E. Brown and Company, wheel wrights and blacksmiths, who were recently operating in the John Hyde Shop, have dissolved partnership and G.F. Fredrickson, one of the firm, now has control of the business.”
After selling his Blacksmith business, John went to Canada where he set up shop in Magrath. As Alberta was not yet a province, it was considered the North West Territory.
Things must have improved some with John and Nettie, as the following was reported Saturday, April 7, 1900: “John Hyde who was married last summer and then departed for other parts before their honeymoon was fairly over, returned a short time go and was rewarded for his return by his wife giving birth last Monday to twin boys, each weighing eight pounds. John has already purchased a larger hat and it is barely large enough for him.”
Sadly, William passed away on 20 October 1900 and his twin brother, Ervin, followed his brother soon after in early 1901. No day or month is listed for Ervin’s death. Both baby boys died during an outbreak of measles.
According to Family History records, John returned to Utah four years later and he and Nettie were re-married.
Records also show they were also baptized on 04 September 1904. This could have been a second baptism for both John and Nettie. Apparently, that was done in the early days of the church. At any rate, John and Nettie both came to Canada in 1904. More children were born to John and Nettie:
Mary Louisa was born 29 January 1906.
Ella Elizabeth was born 15 October 1908.
Harriet Adelaide was born 10 January 1911.
James Ephraim was born 25 August 1912.
George Clarence Hyde was born shortly after midnight, 25 December 1914.
Side Bar: Today no newspaper would get away with posting such as the Vernal Express did in the late 1800s. It sounds more like a gossip column but that is how it was written.
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