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.
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