Armistice Day

Guest article by Max Avery

Great War Memorial, Tauranga Town Hall, 1919
Postcard photograph by Robert J. Rendell
Tauranga Heritage Collection, Ref. 0308/08

The 104th anniversary of Armistice Day, which signalled the effective end of World War One, passed recently, virtually unnoticed in Tauranga. The signing of the ceasefire document on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918 is still recalled annually in large memorial services in England, yet we in her former colonies seem to forget the cost in human lives of our contribution. At least 107 Tauranga men died in that conflict.

Pamphlet dropped over front lines from German aeroplane in November 1918, collected by NZ soldier
Courtesy of Tauranga Heritage Collection

That the Armistice, although most welcomed, was a rather hurriedly conceived affair was made clear in at least one respect when an English newspaper printed the following account after an interview with a British army trumpeter named Revett:

                                       THE GREATEST BUGLE-CALL OF ALL

Who sounded the greatest bugle call in the world? There can be no doubt about the answer, They were eight Englishmen.

Millions had died in the four most terrible years since Time began. The European War, with all its horror and misery, all its splendid heroism and sacrifice, was shaking the world. For the British, the darkest hour was past and the Great Push was carrying terror into the enemy’s country.

On the 10th November 1918 Trumpeter Revett was mounting his horse - he was stationed at General Headquarters - when he was ordered to dismount and put up his horse. Then with seven comrades, all trumpeters, he went on parade and was ordered to a wayside station where he and his companions were locked in a cattle truck.

The train steamed out of the station. Not one of the trumpeters knew where they were going but hour after hour passed, and after a day and a night the train stopped. They made tea and warmed pork and beans on a Primus stove, cleaned their buttons, and went on parade without a wash.

“Slow March” was the order. They went without looking right or left. They passed a railway coach and when Revett glanced at it he heard a sharp order, “Eyes front!”

The command “Halt” rang out. The Sergeant-Major stood watch in hand. A few seconds ticked by. Then the Sergeant-Major put his watch in his pocket and said, “Eleven o’clock, November 11, 1918. Ready…. Sound the ‘Cease Fire’.”

The call was sounded.

Two minutes later he gave the command “Sound the ‘All Clear’.”

The call was sounded.

The eight men marched back, passing the railway carriage in which, had they known it, the Armistice had been signed.

The Great War was finished.

British and French military staff outside Foch's railway carriage after signing the Armistice, November 1918
Courtesy of Wikipedia