The headline in the London Ontario Free Press read “Paris Cable Announces The Great War Is Ended - Armistice Was Signed By Germans At 11 O’clock This Morning”. It was news the world was waiting to hear.

The Great War, the war we would later call World War 1, had begun four years earlier in 1914 with the belief that the fight would be fast and the boys would be “Home By Christmas”. Four years later .... 10 million deaths later, 21 million casualties later, untold millions starving worldwide ... everyone was more than ready for the end.

There was one problem with the newspaper headline. It wasn’t true. Rumours got ahead of facts and the headline was printed in papers all over the world on November 7, 1918, a full four days before the November 11 date we celebrate each year.

In towns and cities all over the world, people believed what they read in the newspaper and within hours celebrations were in full swing. In Tavistock a public holiday was declared. All places of business were immediately closed and a procession of cars and people of all ages, including schoolchildren, travelled all over the streets of Tavistock.

(Top photo) The November 7, 1918 parade is shown coming south on Woodstock Street North and is just about to turn onto Hope Street West. The large building on the left was the Commercial Hotel (43 bedrooms). Today Esso Gas in on this corner.

The parade finally wound its way to what was then called “the square” and what we now call the five corners where the fountain stands today. A huge bonfire was lit as part of the celebration and partying carried on far into the nighttime.

(Middle photo) The November 7, 1918 parade is now at “the square” where the fountain stands today. The dark brick building behind the red cross banner is still standing and today is IDA Pharmacy. The building to the right has been replaced by a newer building that houses Scotia Bank.

Four days later, on November 11, the unofficial report became official. The great war was well and truly over. The news reached Tavistock mid afternoon. Almost immediately bells began ringing and whistles started blowing and the entire population of about 1,000 people united in one huge celebration.

The Tavistock Gazette reported that in the afternoon on November 11, 1918 there was a monster parade complete with vehicles decorated especially for the occasion. The noise and jubilation was deafening.

The celebration took an unusual turn when gunpowder and blasting powder were ignited and an effigy of the German Kaiser was first blown up and then burned. Everything was brought to a close by a boisterous rendition of “God Save The King”

The morning after it was hard to believe that the war was over and life would move on in peacetime.

(Bottom photo) The November 11, 1918 parade is shown at the five corners where the fountain stands today. The large building on the left is the Commercial Hotel (corner of Woodstock Street North and Hope Street West). Today Esso Gas is on this corner. The buildings in the center of the photo are still standing. Today D&D Homestyle Cuisine and The Laundry Room occupy this space on Woodstock Street North.

The gentleman standing near the center of the photo and holding a rolled-up paper was the Mayor, Andrew Baechler. Sitting and standing on the car to the left of center is an unusual grouping ... a man in what appears to be a clown suit, a few in blackface and some in masks. Definite attention getters. The maypole added to the festivities.

- 30 -