People rejoice at the cessation of all hostilities
HERE in this regular feature we take a look back at items in the Rochdale Observer from 100 years ago:
●●THE COMING OF PEACE
All this week Rochdale has been rejoicing over the signing of the armistice and the cessation of hostilities in the worldwide war.
The holiday-making spirit has affected all who had a chance of giving way to it, and every night there has been revelry in the centre of the town especially on the Town Hall Square, where perfectly proper dancing to the music of the Spotland and Shawclough Prize Band, in the presence of thousands of highly interested spectators, has been the most popular order of each evening.
To the credit of the town, it may be added that apart from the frequent discharging of fireworks, there has been no noisy disturbance and nothing for the police to do except acting as amateur M.C.’s for the many parties of dancers.
●●AFTER THE ARMISTICE
Speaking at a meeting of the Royton Division Liberal Council in Rochdale last night, Mr A. G. C. Harvey, M.P., said he wished to voice the joy and gratitude with which they welcomed those happy moments, (Hear, hear). But whilst all rejoiced that the war was over, some hearts were very heavy indeed.
It was deplorable that after nearly 2,000 years of systematic progress, the world should be shaking by those horrible convulsions.
They must use every effort in the future to ensure that neither faulty statesmanship nor personal ambition or freed should again plunge the world into a welter of bloodshed and destruction.
They had to remember, too, that the armistice, the sheathing of the sword, was not the end but only the conclusion of the first chapter.
Threatened by force, they had retaliated with force, and by great good fortune, their force had been greater than that of their enemies.
Now they had been given a breathing space, a moment for reflection, but that did not end matters.
Individually and in conjunction with their neighbours, they had to see to it that ambitious militarists were, in future, powerless.
Then they would have a chance to live up to the high ideals that they had claimed for themselves many generations back. ●●THE CHURCH AND NATIONAL RECONSTRUCTION - YOUR THANKOFFERING. HAVE YOU MADE IT?
What is to be your Thankoffering for Victory?
You will, please God, for the sake of England’s Immortal Dead, lead a life of service to God and to your fellow men.
As a pledge of what you mean to do, you will join in contributing to the great Church of England Fund of Five Million Pounds, the fund by which the business men of the Church mean to make the Church of England strong in her work of reconstruction.
Cheques should be drawn in favour of the Church of England Central Fund, crossed Barclay’s Bank Limited, and sent to Canon F. Partridge, Sanctuary House, 33, Toothill Street, Westminster, S.W.1.
Gifts may be made, if preferred in the form of National War Bonds or Stock, and may be spread over a series of years.
●●WAR CASUALTIES
Second-Lieutenant Joseph Flitcroft of the Royal Garrison Artillery, a former member of the staff of the Rochdale Post Office, has died from pneumonia following influenza.
Sergeant J. N. Williams of the Devon Regiment, who had gained the Military Medal and the Distinguished Conduct Medal for bravery, was killed in action on October 5th. He was 21 years of age and lived at 28 Grandidge Terrace, Rochdale.
●●LEST WE FORGET
In proud and grateful remembrance of the boys who will never return.