Remembrance on Armistice Day

Today, November the eleventh, is the anniversary of Armistice Day, which commemorates the signing of the armistice between Germany and the Allies to end fighting on the Western Front of World War One.

The Auckland Weekly News Photographic Supplement contains many images relating to Armistice Day beginning with the singing of the armistice in 1918. The selection of photographs below show how Armistice Day was remembered by earlier generations around New Zealand and the Pacific:

Ref: Auckland Weekly News, parade of school cadets in Queen St., 17 November 1921, Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, AWNS-19211117-34-1

Ref: F.H.Gardiner for the Auckland Weekly News, Armistice Day observation in Suva, 8 December 1921, Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries,AWNS-19211117-34-2

Ref: Barcham Studios for the Auckland Weekly News, Armistice Day at the Cenotaph in Hastings, 22 November 1923, Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, AWNS-19231122-45-2

Ref: Auckland Weekly News, Armistice Day observations in Auckland and Wellington, 18 November 1926, Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, AWNS-19261118-42-1

Ref: Auckland Weekly News, Armistice Day observation at Parliament House, Wellington, 15 November 1928, Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, AWNS-19281115-50-1

Ref: Thomson for the Auckland Weekly News, School war memorial unveiled in Whakatane on Armistice Day, 22 November 1928,Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, AWNS-19281122-36-2

Ref: Syd. Smith for the Auckland Weekly News, Armistice Day Parade in front of the war memorial in Invercargill,22 November 1928, Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries,AWNS-19281122-46-3

Ref: U.P. for the Auckland Weekly News, wreaths laid at Auckland’s cenotaph on Armistice Day, 19 November 1930, Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, AWNS-19301119-37-1

Ref: Green and Hahn for the Auckland Weekly News, Armistice Day observance in Cathedral Square, Christchurch, 18 November 1931, Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries,AWNS-19311118-39-2

Ref: V.A. Stapleton for the Auckland Weekly News, boy scouts, cubs, girl guides and brownies parade on Armistice Day in Wanganui, 18 November 1931, Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, AWNS-19311118-48-2

The photograph below shows an Armistice Day service aboard the R.M.S. Mataroa which, only a few years later, was used as a troopship during the Second World War: 

Ref: Auckland Weekly News, Armistice Day service on the Mataroa, 18 November 1936 ,Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, AWNS-19361118-44-2

In 1932 on the fourteenth anniversary of Armistice Day the Auckland Weekly News published a photograph of monuments that had been erected in New Zealand cities:

Ref: Green and Hahn and C.P.S. Boyer for the Auckland Weekly News, New Zealand memorial monuments, 9 November 1932,Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, AWNS-19321109-43-1

For more on the subject of memorials, tomorrow at the Central Library from 12pm Bruce Ringer is giving a talk about War Memorials and how New Zealanders sought to acknowledge their loved ones’ service and sacrifice.

The West Auckland Research Centre at Waitakere Central Library hosted a talk this morning to mark the anniversary. They are also currently showing a memorial exhibition presented in collaboration with Unitec Communication Studies students. This is running over the summer so do drop in and have a look at it.

In 2008, to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the First World War armistice Auckland Libraries created an online exhibition, which can be viewed here, as part of the nationwide Coming Home initiative.

Auckland Libraries complete World War One centenary resources are listed here.

Author: Andrew Henry