Time marches on

By Judy Waters, Warkworth & District Museum

The 93rd anniversary of the signing of the Armistice between Germany and the Allied Forces, heralding the end of hostilities in World War I, will be marked on November 11. It was the prelude to peace negotiations that lead to the Treaty of Versailles but it is the Armistice, rather than the Treaty, which has become the focus of remembrance celebrations.

The scene was set in the forest of Compiegne, 65km north east of Paris. Signatories met in the private railway carriage of Ferninand Foch, representative of the French people. This carriage became even more famous when Hitler forced the French to sign surrender documents in 1940 in the same place.

News of the Armistice reached New Zealand on November 12, 1918, and celebrations were held in many places. In Auckland, health authorities banned any organised gatherings in a bid to stop the spread of influenza. Despite these precautions, there were more than 1100 deaths in the region from the epidemic.

For New Zealand soldiers still in France, there was little evidence of rejoicing. As recently as a week before the Armistice troops had taken part in the recapture of the town of Le Quesnoy. The attack on the old fortress town involved scaling the outer ramparts using ladders. The battle, which claimed the lives of 90 New Zealanders, has special significance in military history. The liberation of the town endeared the soldiers to the residents resulting in long-lasting friendly relationships.

The history of the New Zealand Division records that a Service of Thanksgiving was held on November 14. Most of the troops then faced a long march to join the Allied Army of Occupation in Germany. The remembrance of the Armistice on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month became part of the New Zealand calendar from the first anniversary in November 1919.

Directions came from the government to all local authorities asking that they arrange for the suspension of all vehicular traffic for two minutes from 11am. In schools and work places, two minutes of silent remembrance was observed. More than 12,000 New Zealand lives were lost and there could be few people not affected in some way.

Small communities had farewelled their soldiers with gifts and as they returned, celebrations were held to welcome them home. Ahuroa was one such community, where each returning soldier received a gold medal known as the Ahuroa Medal. Presented at social occasions arranged for the purpose, a break was taken in the evening to remember those who would not be returning. It would be interesting to know if any of those medals are still treasured by the families concerned.

From 1945, Armistice Day became Remembrance Sunday held on the second Sunday in November.