{"id":347,"date":"2018-04-08T20:24:47","date_gmt":"2018-04-08T20:24:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ww1hull.com\/armistice-peace-hull-street-parties\/"},"modified":"2025-04-07T12:51:49","modified_gmt":"2025-04-07T12:51:49","slug":"armistice-peace-hull-street-parties","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ww1hull.com\/?p=347","title":{"rendered":"Armistice, Peace & Hull Street Parties."},"content":{"rendered":"
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Painting depicting the signature of the armistice in the railway carriage. Behind the table, from right to left, General Weygand, Marshal Foch (standing) and British Admiral Rosslyn Wemyss and fourth from the left, British Naval Captain Jack Marriott. In the foreground, Matthias Erzberger, Major General Detlof von Winterfeldt (with helmet), Alfred von Oberndorff and Ernst Vanselow.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Hull Citizens celebrated the end on the war on the 11th November 1918. Bells pealed from the church towers; the shipyard closed down until Thursday; munitions works closed all day; and schools that were not already closed by the \u2018Spanish Flu’ epidemic got a half day holiday. The streets were thronged with people all afternoon and evening. There were intermittent displays of fireworks, despite them being viewed by some as wasteful. The joy was somewhat restrained because few families in the town had escaped bereavement. Rationing was relaxed in the run-up to Christmas. 12 days Christmas leave was granted to all men serving at home. On December 14th there was a relaxation of lighting restrictions and early closing of shops. In a special edition of the Hull daily Mail, published at 11am, on the 11th November 1918, it was proclaimed to be:-\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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“A SUPREME MOMENT It is officially announced that the armistice with Germany was signed this morning. The bloodshed is over. The strife is done. It is a moment which fills the heart with unutterable emotion, but the profoundest tendency among many of us will be to thank God for it upon our knees. Our first thoughts, after that, will go out to our sons, husbands, and brothers on the sea, and in the field. We may be sure that their joy is inexpressible. They have conquered ! They have won the war ! Britain has laid down over a million precious lives, but they have not died in vain. May the noble spirits and souls of the righteous gaze upon our flags of rejoicing \u2013 may it be sober and seemly everywhere \u2013 and of victory today. It is finished ! The \u201cGreat War\u201d is over…the supreme task is achieved, and we are fighting an embattled people no longer.”<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

However, when news of the armistice reached the Hull battalions many sources say it was met with a little enthusiasm. The news seemed too good to be true. There had been false rumours of ceasefires before. The artillery continued to pound the German lines until 10.59am and then suddenly stopped. Many soldiers were too tired and disillusioned to show much response. There seemed no appropriate way to celebrate, no shouting or cheering. There had been too much killing to celebrate. Soldiers continued with their daily duties and routine, which was all they had known, until the news finally sank in. <\/span>The final ‘Hull Pals’ did not return to the City until the 26th May 1919. <\/span><\/div>\n
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After the end of the War the public feeling was that returning ex servicemen should receive priority in the allocation of smallholdings, known in the East Riding as Cottage Holdings. These former soldiers were known as \u2018preferred tenants\u2019 who could ultimately apply to their local council for a loan to purchase their house with its adjoining land. Several of these smallholdings can be seen on the A1174 as it passes through Woodmansey and Dunswell.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Hull Corporation presented this book to Hull children after the war.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
At the end of the Great War, and with Government permission, communities across Britain and the Empire, celebrated the ending of hostilities with a national day of celebration on 19th July 1919, called “Peace day”. Official ‘Street Parties’ were held across Hull on the 19th July 1919 to mark the official Peace. There were wild celebrations and relief that over four years of struggle were finally over. Some “Peace Parties”, such as at Parrott Street, Hull, lasted three days and parties were widespread to the end of August 1919. They were often pictured in the local Hull Daily Mail. Fancy dress was a popular theme and hundreds of Hull streets were festooned with patriotic bunting and creative decorations. Women often dressed as soldiers and sailors and did much work providing teas and bringing communities together. The Bridlington Street Peace Party, attracted 120 children, with each given a sixpence and a packet of sweets. Montrose Street, Hull attracted 100 children, two thirds in fancy dress and featured a “tug of war” contest between mothers and fathers, for everyone’s amusement. Hull City Council also issued all school children with a commemorative peace book, recounting Hull’s contribution in the war.<\/span><\/div>\n
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With this relief, there was also sorrow at the large loss of live. Hull alone had lost over 7,500 men in the war, with another 14,000 disabled from an estimated 70,000 men who had served in the forces. Neighbouring Hull Towns and villages also suffered, such as Beverley (452 deaths), Cottingham (105), Hessle (104), Hedon (18) and hundreds more men from the many small villages, which surround Hull in the East Riding of Yorkshire.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In the absence of any modern Welfare State, that we might recognise today, Hull raised it’s own Charitable War Trust to help the disabled and families of the war dead, The Hull Civic Trust started in 1918, raised money through business donations and voluntary contributions. By 1927, 1,040 recipients had received \u00a374,000 between them and the Trust continued to assist until closed in 1981.\u00a0<\/span>The war had affected everyone in some way, and the life for many could never be the same again.<\/span>\"\"\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Buckingham Street Peace Party, 19th July 1919<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Newland Avenue Peace Party, Hull<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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East Yorkshire soldiers celebrate the Armistice. This photo of the “Greenhorn Concert Party, was taken on 12th November 1918.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Northumberland Avenue, Peace Party, Hull WW1<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Scarborough Street, Hull WW1 Peace Party 1918<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Cumberland Street Peace Party, Hull WW1.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Wellsted Street, Peace Day Celebration, Hull, 23rd July 1919<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Peace party, Hessle Road, Hull WW1<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Master Jack Harrison, wearing his father’s Victoria Cross & Military Cross, at the Wharncliff Street Peace Party, Hull, 29th August 1919.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Spring Street Peace Celebration, Hull WW1 – 14th August 1919.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Bridlington Street, Hull Peace party, 15th August 1919. i20 children addended. Each given a six pence and packet of sweets.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Hill Street, (off Porter Street), Hull Peace Party, 21st August 1919.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Balfour Street, Hull, Peace Celebrations, 28th August 1919. A procession of children in costume. preceded by a band, which paraded adjoining streets.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Derby Street, Hull. Peace Celebrations, HDM 15th August 1919<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Montrose Street, Hull. Peace Celebrations, 23rd August 1919<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Sutton Street Peace Celebrations, Hull, 10th September 1919<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Armistice Day, Hull – 11th November 1919<\/strong>. The “Last Post” is played at Paragon Square (Top). Hull Tram Workers, stand in silence to remember fallen comrades. Hull Daily Mail, 11\/11\/1919.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Hull WW1 Peace Party. Hull Daily Mail<\/p>\n

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Hull Peace Party 1919<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Hessle Road Street Shrine, Hull<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Field Street, Peace Party, Hull. July 1919<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Belmont Street, Peace Party, 20th July 1919<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Estcourt Street, Peace Party, Hull WW1, 20th July 1919.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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West Dock Avenue Street Party, Hull<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Pleasant Place, Neptune Street, Hull Peace Party, August 1919<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Hull Dinner for 2,000 Children, who had lost their Fathers in the war. Artillery Barracks, 2nd Jan 1920.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Holland Street Peace Party July 1919. Women celebrate in Uniform.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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The return of the troops. Hull Guildhall 1919.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Hull Military Hospital celebrates the Armistice<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Hull Street Memorials<\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0–\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 https:\/\/www.ww1hull.com\/hull-street-shrines\/\u00a0<\/span> \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/em> \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

The first and earliest war memorials in Hull, were the \u2018Street Shrines\u2019 or \u2018Rolls of Honour\u2019 in 1915. While Street memorials were popular, they relied on the goodwill of residents to maintain them. Inevitably these \u2018Rolls of Honour\u2019. could not keep pace with conscription, or the movement of men transferring between regiments and other armed services. There was also some opposition to the memorials, with people refusing to include their names, or saying that the money should be spent on the troops at the front. Some complained that names had been miss-spelt, or ignored or contained other errors.<\/p>\n

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Westbourne Street Peace Party, Hull WW1 1919<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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The memorials were often too small to record the increasing numbers of casualties. For example, Bean Street, with a population of over 3,000 people, saw hundreds of men enlist and over 100 men killed. The declining enthusiasm for war, meant that many Street memorials were not updated after 1916. They often fell into neglect, were lost and forgotten. They were sometimes inaccurate, with many mistakes, errors and omissions. The Eton Street, memorial, bears little resemblance to its original, which included many more names of men killed in the war. Also, most \u2018Street Shrines\u2019 were only designed as temporary structures and were not built to be long lasting. Some were merely names written on paper and exposed to the weather and elements. Many Street memorials were destroyed during the bombing of Hull in 1941. Others were lost through slum clearance in the 1970\u2019s, and post war reconstruction.\u00a0This \u2018ww1hull.org.uk\u2019<\/strong>\u00a0site, recreates these lost Street memorials.\u00a0Hull had many more Street Memorials during the First World War. While these have now largely disappeared you can search this website to find the casualties on each street in Hull. This website records over 9,000 men from Hull or with a Hull connection. Their addresses come from local newspapers, army records, Census\u00a0details or local trade directories.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Hull Citizens celebrated the end on the war on the 11th November 1918. Bells pealed from the church towers; the shipyard closed down until Thursday; munitions works closed all day; and schools that were not already closed by the \u2018Spanish Flu’ epidemic got a half day holiday. The streets were thronged with people all afternoon … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[11393],"class_list":["post-347","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-our-losses","tag-webmaster"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ww1hull.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/347","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ww1hull.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ww1hull.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ww1hull.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ww1hull.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=347"}],"version-history":[{"count":47,"href":"https:\/\/www.ww1hull.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/347\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":60901,"href":"https:\/\/www.ww1hull.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/347\/revisions\/60901"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ww1hull.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=347"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ww1hull.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=347"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ww1hull.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=347"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}