Up shortly after 7 o’clock. Walked round village in the morning and paraded for cocoa† in the afternoon. Went to concert given by the Gloucesters at night. Terms of armistice announced. Steve Bott, John Dory and Snyder performing. Returned about 8 o’clock. Had porridge and went to bed early. Fine night.
Tag Archives: Armistice
11 November 1918; Monday
Up about 8 o’clock. On fatigue from 9.30. Heard shortly after 10 that Hostilities were to cease at 11 o’clock. A good deal of excitement in the village.
Armistice Day.
10 November 1918; Sunday
Up about 7 o’clock and moved off at about 9.30. Arrived at Bettrechies1 about noon. A D S people and most of the bearers arrived shortly afterwards. Heard that peace was imminent and that the German navy was in a state of mutiny. Had long walk round about village at night with Harvey and sleep† with Billy Truman. Received letter from home at night.
Bettrechies (B): halfway between Houdain-lez-Bavay (A) and Bry; i.e. now moving W. after the long march E. ↩
9 November 1918; Saturday
Up at about 6.30. Moved off to Houdin1 at 8.30 and arrived about 11 o’clock. Fitted up sick room. We left the few bearers behind with six days’ rations. Our bearers left new† position and moved up the line again. A rumour of big victories and peace.
7 November 1918; Thursday
Up at 5 o’clock. Finished guard at 9 and lay down until mid-day. On fatigue for a short time in the afternoon. Did a bit French. Mick Oliver back from leave. Communiqué says that two German delegations have crossed over to the 24th Division to discuss things, and many wild rumours. Lay down at about 8 o’clock and up shortly after mid-night.
5 November 1918; Tuesday
Up about 7.30. Wet morning. Did practically nothing all day. Looked up a bit French. Heard that Austria had actually thrown it in1. Got down to it at about 9.30. Told at about midnight that we should be moving away at 8 to-morrow.
See note on 31 October. ↩
2 November 1918; Saturday
Up at 8 o’clock. Waited about for the horse ambulance. The boys marched off at 9 o’clock. Moved up shortly after dinner in cars and arrived at Montrecourt1 before tea. Played Black Lady at night and turned in about 9. News through that our sailors occupied the forts of the Dardanelles & the Bosphorus and that Germany may agree to our armistice before the end of next week.
1 November 1918; Friday
Had pretty good night and washed about 6 in the morning. Shaved by Billy Brooks. Received letter and parcel from home. Ambulance packing up to move up the line and we were moved over the way. Wrote letter home. Heard our terms to the Germans for an armistice. Harvey returned from leave.
31 October 1918; Thursday
Had rather bad night and a temperature of 102.2. Moved upstairs in the afternoon. Heard that Turkey and Austria had turned it in.
Austria1 & Turkey turn it in.
Armistice with Turkey to begin midday.2
The Armistice of Villa Giusti, signed on 3 November, officially ended warfare between Italy and Austria-Hungary on the Italian Front. On 31 October, Hungary ended the personal union with Austria, officially dissolving the Monarchy and making the Armistice inevitable. It was, perhaps, the imminent collapse of Austria-Hungary which led ALL to note that Austria had “turned it in”. ↩
The Armistice of Mudros concluded on 30 October 1918 and ended hostilities between the Ottoman Empire and the Allies at noon on the 31st. ↩
6 October 1918; Sunday
Up about 8 o’clock. The air full of rumours. Went to nonconformist service with Billy Truman and enjoyed it. Stayed round the fire in the afternoon and stewed apples. Walked out with Billy Truman at night and had long talk. Heard that the Central Powers1 had asked for an armistice and the air full of rumours.
The Central Powers consisting of Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria. ↩