Armistice Day - 11/11/2008

90 years ago, at the eleventh hour on the eleventh day of the eleventh month of 1918, an armistice was signed between the Allied forces of Russia, France, Great Britain, Italy and the United States of America, and Germany, effectively signalling the end to what had become known as the Great War. The war, also known as the war to end all wars and, later, as World War 1, had been fought across Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Over 40 million casualties resulted, including nearly 20 million deaths. In Australia, over 400,000 men, nearly one-tenth of the population, enlisted. Almost half of them were wounded or killed in the ensuing battles. Albany, in Western Australia, was the port from which 18,000 men sailed, destined to fight in Egypt, and at Gallipoli, and on the Western Front.

For Western Australians the physical distances were overlaid by a close emotional connection – as part of the British Empire, Western Australia was part of the struggle. These connections can be found in the files of the Premier of the day, ranging from despatches about the declaration of war in 1914 to detention of German vessels and retention of Germans in the public service to the signing of the armistice in 1918. (See, for example, item 1914/0268; 1915/0419; item 1916/0095; and item 1918/0247 - Premier’s Department, Administrative and functional files - WAA 26, WAS 36, consignment 1496). The Colonial Secretary’s Office too, documents this connection at a State and personal level. Records include provision for guarding bridges in war time, establishing a war fund, and relations with the other States.

While the majority of war records are now located with the National Archives of Australia there is a small but poignant series of records held by SRO, possibly created by Colonel Battye or Colonel H.B. Collett. It consists of a file relating to the distribution of trophies after the war, as well as two diaries, both written in pencil. One documents the voyage of the Anchises from Fremantle to Liverpool, while the other is a diary kept while in France, 1917 - 1918.

There is also the report of an enquiry into the treatment of one Private O’Donnell, who was wrongfully denied a commission in the Australian Imperial Forces while in Western Australia.

Similarly, the wills of soldiers who died during the war provide a small window into the lives of those who volunteered to serve King and country. These may be found in the files of probate and letters of administration held by the SRO. (WAS 34 and 59, cons. 3458).

Other records in SRO show how Armistice (now Remembrance) Day has been recognised. Celebrations of the Armistice coincided with a welcome home parade for ANZAC soldiers run by the City of Perth. Donations for the parade, and accompanying dinner were sought from a variety of businesses and individuals (City of Perth, 1918/0293, WAS 72, cons 3054). The government proposed, and instituted, an early remission program for prisoners as part of the celebrations (Chief Secretary's Department, 1919/0030, cons 752). A two minute silence was proposed and adopted across all industries and professions, and a program of events was instituted, only changing as technology dictated, as this file note from Western Australian Government Railways indicates.

Peace was formally declared with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles on June 28, 1919.

Words: Lise Summers

Images: Priscilla Saputera