Armistice Memories

I am lucky enough to have my grandfather’s pocket diary for 1918 [see above]. The two entries dated 11 and 12 November are particularly poignant.

Monday 11th: “Armistice signed. Wonderful scenes of joy in town.”

Tuesday 12th: “Do nothing.” My paternal grandfather was serving with the South African Royal Flying Corps and had been shot down, but he fortunately recovered and survived to the end. He went on to become city engineer for Bulawayo.

Considering that my maternal grandfather served in the trenches with the Lincolnshire Regiment and my father flew in Lancaster Bombers with the Rhodesian Air Force, I consider myself very fortunate to be here at all. At this special anniversary of 100 years since the Armistice, not only will I be remembering family members and all who fell in service but I shall have this special memento to enhance the moment.

Dr Phillip Thornton, by email

Editor Replies: Thank you for sharing this with us Phillip. Do any other readers have similar mementos of the Armistice in their family archive?

A distant relative of Kim’s was transported to Tasmania, like these convicts