ONE hundred years ago soldiers in the middle of one of the bloodiest conflicts in history, decided to lay down their arms and greet their enemy as a friend.

The Christmas Truce of 1914 is hailed by many as an example of humanity triumphing over the madness of war. Soldiers laid down their arms, climbed out of their trenches and met each other in no mans land where they sang songs together, played football and exchanged gifts. There is one story about a German soldier who gave a Tommy his Picklehauber - the spiked helmet worn by German infantry soldiers. An officer came to inspect the German soldiers a few days later and a message was sent to the English lines asking for the helmet back again. After the inspection, the Picklehauber found its way back to the English lines and its new owner.

There are also reports from historians in Sedbergh's twin town in Slovenia about Slovenian and Russian soldiers finding a truce on that same Christmas, singing carols for each other and exchanging gifts.

To mark the historic occasion David Burbidge has brought together several South Lakeland choirs for concert in Brigflatts Quaker Meeting House, near Sedbergh, on Saturday, December 27 at noon.

Singers from ensembles such as Lakeland Voices, the Penrith Community Choir, and the Kendal Cancer Care Choir will sing many of the old folk carols which were sung in the trenches in several languages, as well songs which tell the story of the truce, and readings from letters sent home by soldiers who took part.

Harry Patch was the last surviving soldier from the First World War until his death in 2009 - and for a short while aged 111 he was the oldest man in Europe. He condemned the war as futile, and was angry about the Government sending off hundreds of thousands of young men to be mown down on the western front.

The concert - which is free - will include an introduction by Dentdale based Quaker author David Boulton.

David, who leads Lakeland Voices, said they wanted to do something that could mark the occasion and commemorate the truce. He added: "Our choirs sing a number of the carols which the soldiers would have sung in the trenches and along with the reading of these letters it makes a very atmospheric concert."

For further information visit www.lakelandvoice.co.uk or telephone David Burbidge on 015396-21166.