Gisborne celebrates the end of war

THE WAR IS OVER: Airini Walker’s photograph shows buggies and crowds of people in Gladstone Road as Gisborne residents celebrate Armistice Day in 1918. Contemporary accounts estimate up to 300 cars took part in the celebrations.

Sunday, November 11, is the centenary of Armistice Day, which ended WW1 in 1918. Wynsley Wrigley ignores the history books and, instead, goes into the archives of The Poverty Bay Herald to see how Gisborne celebrated the end of the war. This article also features original, never before published photographs of celebrations in Gladstone Road after news of the armistice finally broke in New Zealand on November 12 . . .

The parades and celebrations that followed Armistice Day, November 11, 1918, were “more brilliant than anything of its kind seen in Gisborne,” according to the Poverty Bay Herald.

Shops, the municipal chambers and ships were decked out in buntings and flags, the streets were crowded, fireworks were let off and up to 300 cars took part in celebratory processions enjoyed in sunny Spring conditions and at night.

Community celebrations peaked on November 13 when an estimated 6000 people attended a ‘‘function’’ at Victoria Domain.

The estimate, if correct, shows the universal jubilation that must have existed after four years of war and the death of 18,000 New Zealanders — according to the 1916 census only 9174 people lived in the borough of Gisborne at the time.

The Armistice to end World War 1 was signed 100 years ago on Sunday, but like the rest of the country, Gisborne residents were slow to celebrate — because they didn’t know.

New Zealand Prime Minister William Massey was notified on the evening of November 11, 1918. The news leaked out to those with powerful political connections.

But in the days before the 24-hours news cycle and with only primitive communications technology, citizens did not find out until just before 9am on November 12.

That was when the prime minister released the “armistice signed” news to Post and Telegraph, the forerunner to the post office.

Students at Gisborne School were attending a meeting about the influenza epidemic when the news broke, The Herald reported.

“Glad tidings were the occasion of vociferous cheering as the children rushed home.’’

The Herald said there was no set programme, instead celebrations were of “‘an impromptu nature’’.

In fact the Government had spent the previous days down-playing the likelihood of an armistice despite news reports from Europe suggesting otherwise.

“Probably a couple of hundred motor cars maintained a continual procession in Gladstone Road.”

Most vehicles were covered in buntings and “loaded to the utmost capacity.

‘‘Rejoicing carried on into the night.’’

Gladstone Road ‘‘thronged” with a street parade of merry-making while “much joy and cheers was indulged in”.

There were many brilliant artistic displays and fireworks were let off “in all directions”.

The following day the public took part in a “monster procession” which left Gladstone Road at 1,30pm and headed to Victoria Domain.

Joyous celebrationsThe streets were lined with spectators and an estimated 300 vehicles took part in the procession,which included veterans, disabled vets travelling in cars, army territorials, boy scouts, the Salvation Army Band, Women’s Emergency Corp carrying banners with messages such as Glorious Victory and Help Our Boys, the Salvation Army Band, the fire service, minstrels, and “ Maori warriors’’ armed with muzzle loaders and “in full war paint’’.

There was also “a grotesque effigy of the Kaiser,’’ according to The Herald.

At the rear came Mayor William Sherratt and councillors.

Victoria Domain had been prepared for the great occasion.

A special platform was erected in front of the grandstand and the entire venue was embellished with flags and banners.

Speeches were delivered by the mayor, the Reverend H. Packe, Lady Carroll and other community representatives.

Music included the national anthem, the national anthems of Belgium and Italy, the Battle Hymn of the Republic, and Rule Britannia.

On November 15 the Herald wrote “amidst the rejoicing this week, our hearts go out in sympathy to those among us whom the coming of peace must be renewed by sorrow for they know . . . boys who are near and dear to them and won’t be amongst those to be welcomed home.’’

An editorial two days before had called for Germany — “the braggart nation” — to pay war reparations in full.

The Herald suggested no quarter be offered in the Allies’ peace terms, even going as far as saying it may have been better to continue the war for another week . . . “so that militarism may not be allowed to rear its head again’’.

Airini a keen photographerAirini Jenny Walker was a 23-year-old bank teller and photography fan in 1918.

Nephew Peter MacArthur who approached The Herald with the 1918 photographs said his aunt would have been thrilled to have captured the celebration of Armistice Day in Gisborne.

“I am sure she must have slipped out at lunch time, taken the photos and then gone back to work.

“I was told the men at the bank nicknamed her Tommy and it stuck — all her life family and friends spoke of her only as Tommy.”

Mr MacArthur said he believed his aunt worked at the Bank of Australasia. That bank merged with the Union Bank of Australia Ltd to form the ANZ Bank in 1951.

“My aunt was one of five, one brother and four sisters. My mother was the youngest.”

Her brother Innes Walker survived the war.

Her future husband was James Percival Reid, a Tolaga Bay shepherd who was wounded on the Somme, but also survived.

“He told me he had the flesh of his right arm, between his shoulder and elbow, torn out by shrapnel,’’ said Mr MacArthur.

“I guess you could say he was one of the lucky ones. He was able to walk away from it all.”

His aunt’s father was Francis Alfred Walker and her mother was Emma Sophia Holder. They originally lived in Feilding and are buried in Gisborne.

“My Aunty Tommy and my Uncle Innes were both keen photographers and loved family history,’’ said Mr MacArthur.

Mr MacArthur still has the camera his aunt used in 1918.

With her future husband James Reid they farmed at Te Karaka and Te Puna before moving to Auckland. Airini died at Bucklands Beach after a long battle with cancer. James returned to Gisborne and lived in Ormond Road until his death at the age of 93.

The Gisborne Herald thanks Peter MacArthur for the photographs taken by his aunt Airini Walker in 1918. Mr MacArthur has given permission for the photographs to be passed on to Tairawhiti Museum.