After the Armistice

November 11, 1918

Excerpts from the diary of Green Howard soldier Stanley Harrison, spanning Armistice Day 1918 to the first peacetime Christmas for four years…

November 11th Again ashore. PEACE. ARMISTICE
News that peace had been proclaimed received while ashore at Kirkwall. All sirens & buzzers of boats in harbor set going, cheering, in fact universal rejoicing. We all cheered heartily in response to the sirens. All boats brilliantly decorated with flags of all colours. A sight worth seeing. Everybody going mad. Went for lunch to same place as yesterday. Had tea, bacon, bread & butter, scones, cakes & jam. All the townspeople taking 2 & 3 soldiers in for tea etc. Distribution of cigs in streets. Cafes free. The boys in luck’s way. As tug was coming back, another tug sounded her siren we replied and all the other boats did likewise. Everybody as happy as anything. Best news for four years. Wonder how England celebrated it. All church bells also ringing. Fishing in afternoon. Happiest day for years. Now for Blighty.

Find out more about our ‘First Christmas’ diarist…