Centenarians remember early Armistice Day commemorations
In the decades that followed World War 1, the signing of the armistice that ended the war was marked at 11am on November 11 with great reverence and enthusiasm. Zahra Shahtahmasebi spoke to six centenarians, about their memories of Armistice Days over the
DUNEDIN woman Nance Orr was 2 years old when the war ended on November 11, 1918.
Looking back, the 102yearold’s main memories of Armistice Day are fond.
She and her classmates ‘‘got to get out of lessons’’, she said.
Her whole school would gather outside for an Armistice Day memorial service, which involved a twominute silence.
‘‘And at 11am, a plane would fly over Dunedin . . . It was great because it broke up lessons. When we were small, it was beyond us, but it meant much more to us as we got older.’’
In the dining area at Yvette Williams Retirement Home in Highgate, Ms Orr reminisced about Armistice Day with fellow residents Thelma Snow (100) and Mary Cochrane (100).
Ms Snow recalled November 11 as a public holiday, a day for picnics and reflection.
Ms Cochrane had been told as a young girl about what a celebration the actual Armistice Day had been for some people.
Her mother in particular had been thrilled her young brothers would be returning home.
She was told the Dunedin soldiers caught a train to the railway station, where 2000 people greeted them.
‘‘It was wonderful for [some] people, but sad for others.’’
For World War 2 veteran Duncan Peat, who turned 100 on November 2, the end of the war was a revered and respected occasion.
It was a very important day for remembrance, but one that was never treated like Anzac Day.
Instead, he said, it was a quieter day, a gratitude day.
‘‘As a small child, you don’t observe what’s going on, but as you get older, it grew in value and you always knew it was a very special day. It was recognised by everyone sufficient to absorb what was going on.’’
Molly Brown (102), who lives at the Brooklands Retirement Village in Mosgiel, noted how Armistice Day commemorations had changed.
‘‘In the 1930s, it used to be a celebration, everything stopped, bells would ring. Wherever you were, you stopped.’’
She remembered gun carriages being wheeled out for parades.
She said she was surprised Anzac Day was so popular.
These days, Ms Brown and fellow resident Gerald Huntley (who turns 100 this month) said they were aware of Armistice Day each year, but nobody stopped for two minutes at 11am anymore.
While Armistice Day was not the same as Anzac Day, it was still very important, he said.
❛ In the 1930s, it used to
be a celebration, everything stopped, bells would ring. Wherever you
were, you stopped