Nov 11 1918 as told by a WWI Diary

Mon Nov 11, 1918

The greatest event of the year.  The Armistice terms have been accepted on the 11th day of the 11th month @ 11.0 A.M - & at the termination of the 11th relay of the WIltey party.  The Hoots & whistles in the factories hooted and shrilled out the news - guns went off - & the anti-aircraft gun boomed off 3 salutes.  Whilst Church bells rang out joyfully above everything.  The troops that were firing & the Butt party here went mad with excitement & cheered themselves hoarse.  The war lasted 1,560 days today, or 4 years, 3 months & a week.  Everybody in Farnborough & vicinity had a holiday - & all the Imperial troops - but we carried on without the holiday. - & put the Bramshott party through their final practices.  The Commandant told the troops before they came out & he was sorry he could not give them the afternoon off as the Transports had been arranged for in the conveyance of the men's blankets etc, back to Bramshott tomorrow & the men would themselves have to go back tomorrow.  Anyhow, the troops slammed through their practices & we were through about 3.15 P.M coming through the streets I met children, men & women bedecked with ribbons and flags - with much singing & shouting. D was expecting me all afternoon and was much disappointed & me not turning up - she quite expected i would have a holiday.  I was home about 1/4 to 4 P.M.  We are expecting tomorrow my friend Pte. Harper and his wife.  They are taking the flat downstairs - the 2 rooms which Mr & Mrs Hunt had.  Harper's wife is arriving in London from Scotland & he is going up to London tomorrow to meet her.  Harper is staying at the Camp & is one of the Butt party.  Other war news today speaks of the capture of Mons by Canadian troops - & the French away past Hirson - & the Americans are advancing E. of the Meuse.  The Red flag of Revolution has surged all through Germany & the flag now flies from the residence of the abdicated Crown Prince.  Many street fights have taken place in Berlin & other big towns.  Herr & Frau Krupp have both been arrested in an endeavour to escape.  The Kaiser's portraits & Ludendorf's have been taken down by the revolutionists in many places.  Officers have had the Imperial Eagles torn from their uniforms.

Tues Nov 12 (just an excerpt)
The Armistice terms are very stringent & severe which are published in this morning's paper - but not too heavy - considering the outrages and atrocities committed in these 4 terrible years of war.  The Kaiser has fled to Holland to his old friend Count Bentinck.  The Crown Prince is reported assassinated - as he was not with the Royal party.  Hindenburg was with the Kaiser.  The Kaiserin was left in Berlin with her youngest son.  The terms of the Armistice. Cologne, Coblerg and Mainy to be occupied with all Germany W. of the Rhine.  2,500 Heavy guns, 2,000 Field Guns, 30,000 Machine guns, 2,000 Teraplanes, 5,000 locomotives, 150,000 wagons, 5,000 Motor lorries.  Evacuation of France, Alsace - Lorraine & Luxemburg. 6. Battle Couriers, 10. Battle ships, 8 Cruisers, 50 Destroyers.  All submarines to be handed over.

and the days continue as he completes the happenings of the end of the war.

i haven't actually made it to 1918 yet, in my reading, 

but i had to skip over to share on this day of remembrance what happened that very first day!  

the reason we remember on Nov 11.

i sure hope you have taken a moment today.

i am hoping to go to the Remembrance day parade in town this afternoon.  

it's beautiful weather, i sure hope it stays for it.

More through a WWI Journal

Tomorrow is our day of remembrance. 

today i thought i'd share a few more entries from my husband's great-great uncle 

(i finally figured out the connection)

Tues Dec 7 1915

Physical drill - examination of different positions offloading & unloading. Kneeling- lying & standing - sight tests- & finger pressure tests.

Sat Dec 25 (he is staying at the home of his girlfriend's family)

Xmas Day - wretched weather. Performed the duties of housemaid & was told that i did tolerably well. On Xmas morning in the kitchen I put the ring on D's finger - went to bed about 2.30AM

Mon Jan 10 1916

Physical drill - followed by C.O's inspection - bayonet fighting. - warned for draft.

Tues Jan 11 

List of names for draft confirmed.  E, H myself on same.  C.O's inspection. Bayonet fighting.

Thurs Feb 3

Bro H went with 26th Batt draft to the front - only 6 went out of our Company & he was one.

Fri Feb 11

My weekend pass to London cancelled owing to draft being called.  30 men for the 26th Batt & 20 for the 2nd & 4th Batts. I am one of the thirty.

Thurs Feb 24

Felt very queer (sick).  Stayed in- but no one went out on parades very much.  At night about 8:30 some of us had orders to dress in Skeleton order with rifle & await orders.  We found that all the camps around had had the same orders.  We were given 5 rounds live ammunition apiece.  When stationed on our various beats we were informed the nature of our beat.  We were to halt everybody - the idea being that German spies were expected in disguise either to obtain information of our camps or else to do material damage with bombs etc.  The night was clear & frosty & we were all pretty cold. - at reveille the next morning we were off & had the next day off.

he developed a nasty cough and ear infection after this night and was in the Medical Hut.

Wed Mar 8

Weather still cold - much snow falling.  had ear syringed again.  feel very week but eating a little.  Early this morning about 2:30AM our whole company No.2 went to the front.  They went to Southampton via Harve.  Thus I am left behind - that is with the exception of some who were too old to go - and a Sergeant who is sick here & a M.G.   I am told i have been transferred to the 32nd Batt at Risborough Barracks.

remembering... through WWI diary.

my husband, the kids and i were visiting his grandma a few weeks ago.

grandpa passed away in 2010 and now grandma was packing to make a big move from ON to BC.

she asked my husband if he'd be interested in the diaries of his...

um...

great uncle?

the diary was written by his grandpa's uncle.

9 small notebooks, recording daily his life as a soldier in WW1.

He was born in England, 

came to Canada (24yrs old) and headed back to England (31yrs old) as a soldier.

grandma and grandpa typed it all out and printed it up- to make it easier to read.

there are photos, poems, sketches, letters. 

and the original notebooks.

it is quite fascinating.

i have not read it all but i have read about a month's worth of entries so far.

the entries begin Tuesday Sept 21 1915 as he boarded the 'Troop Train' in Saskatoon, SK.  

the diaries end when he leaves England to return to Canada Dec 17, 1918.  

there is one notebook missing.

As this month is a month of remembrance i am hoping to read through this diary.  

take some time and read about this man.  

his family.  

the sacrifices.  

the honest thoughts about what was happening.

i have decided to share one part with you today.  

just a small excerpt.

Sun Oct 17 1915

We did not have to turn out till 7.0 A.M. this morning - quite a treat after the 5.0A.M turn out.  My friend thinks he'll get killed before he reaches France.  After dinner today he reposed himself for a forty winks on somebody's bed when without a warning a rifle came down from the rack over-head striking my friend on the left side of his fore-head.  Nobody heard the rifle fall, or the murmur of the complaint - but when i saw him he appeared a little dazed with his hand up to his brow.  I asked him what he was thinking about.  I was thinking what to say, he said.  What was it?  Only about the rifle that fell on my head.  the thing was really too comical. - of course we laughed.  We have had two unfortunate accidents.  Sargeant Clarke of NO.8 platoon whilst on guard fell down a manhole and hurt his spine - he has since died.  We had a grand Church parade this morning - about 4,800 men formed up on the parade ground led by two bands.  Spent rest of the day quietly.  Had a little singing with fellow who plays piano well.  Heard very good sermon at Y.M.C.A entitled "Angles at Mons".  The speaker gave us some remarkable references from some soldiers who were in that memorial retreat.  These men infer that they actually saw angels.  Some like St. Michael - others like St. George & others like a man clothed in long white robes.

Wed. Oct 20 1915

Physical exercise.  Officers inspection. Company drill.  Bayonet exercise.  Route marching and trench digging.

Fri Oct 22 1915

Parade in full marching order for route march & field day.  We had a hard day.  Being the forces attacked we had to retreat & at the same time keep our company intact.  We must have done well - because we received excellent compliments from our Captain.  Have just arrived home from march & had a very great surprise- Dear Bro. A.  R.N (Royal Navy) was there to meet me whom i hadn't seen for 10 years.  Tonight is all bustle & excitement - & my two brothers H & E together with A are all ready to go on leave- five days.  Have arrived in London - it's been 6 1/2 years since i saw dear old London.  Stayed at Berkley Square, Maple Leaf CLub.

These are a few of the entries as he is still in training.  

as i read i may share more of his story with you.

the men and women who gave their lives in the wars were men and women like me and you.

they had brothers, sisters, moms, dads, children, wives, husbands...

many lost lives. 

many lost loved ones.

these notebook entries remind me of that.

let's remember the sacrifices given.

being brave is standing strong even when you want to turn and run.