Bethlehem at Christmas
At Christmas 1946 I was serving with the 1st
Battalion. The
Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders in the British Army,
stationed in
Sarafand, Palestine.
When I was detailed to take the
boys from the
military band to
Bethlehem to take part in the midnight
service at the
Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.
Having since
boyhood attended many
Christmas Services and Midnight Masses and pictured
the scene, I was thrilled to actually be in Bethlehem at Christmas.
I felt privileged and will never forget the experience of
participating in the Service.
What also remains in my mind were the
number of soldiers attending who were wearing
side arms, and the number of
pieces of "The True Cross" being
offered for sale by local vendors. The Cross must
have been very tall.
Keith Ridler-Dutton
Keith Ridler-Dutton (December 25, 1946)