12th November 1918 - Fireworks and bonfires permitted to celebrate

Rolling casualty count: 11517

War Front:

1st Batt: Batt marched at 0945 hours and billeted in Marchies. Weather and billets good.

4th Batt billeted at Lessines. There was cleaning of kit and iron ration inspection. Batt was guarding all the crossings of the river. There was cleaning of kit and iron ration inspection.

14th Batt: C Coy worked on craters while the remainder of the Batt rested.

Home Front:

There was a tendency to exuberance of spirit on Monday, especially early in the day, when so many young people were about, but these manifestations sobered down later in the evening. Generally speaking, it may be said that the large majority of the people wanted to express their joy, but were not quite daring enough to “let themselves go” (as they did on Mafeking night in 1900), and they were not afforded quite the opportunity which would have accorded with their sense of the fitness of things. They were free to indulge in any amount of horseplay or masquerading, but that was not what most of them desired. A few danced and a few sang, and a few cheered; and the little boys beat tin cans and promenaded. Such as they continued until they were tired. They paraded the principal streets till about 11 o’clock. But most of the people had a memory of those who had given their lives, and for those who had suffered irreparable loss; and they wanted a soberer note in which to express their relief. From deep down in the bottom of their hearts they had the desire to express their patriotic pride in victory, their personal joy in the cessation of that horrible slaughter which has left a vacant place in nearly every home. In front of the Guildhall, the Norton Barracks Band helped a couple of thousand of them to tell in song their heartfelt patriotism. They led the National Anthem and patriotic airs. And the crowd sang them with an intensity of feeling and a volume of sound which were very impressive.

A thanksgiving service for restored peace will be held at 8pm on Thursday in the Cathedral. Mr. Ivor Atkins, the Organist, will play suitable selections, and there will be other musical features, both choral and congregational, which will make the service attractive and impressive. The Te Deum will be sung by the Festival Choral Society; and its effect will be enhanced by the accompaniment of brass instruments, drums, and, of course, the organ. The soloist will be Mr. J.A. Smith. Mendelssohn’s “O come let us worship” will be sung. The offertory will be devoted to the Red Cross Fund. The congregation will be asked to join in hymns of thanksgiving.

Pte. F.W. Turberfield, of the 4th Battalion, Worcs. Regt., is reported to have been killed in action in France on Oct. 20th. He was educated at St. Paul’s School, and worked at the Providence Works. Two years ago he joined up, and less than a year after he went to France, where he has remained since, having been wounded three times. He has a father in the Labour Battalion, and a brother in the Grenadier Guards. His mother lives at 36, Park Street.

Blackpole and most of the other factories in the city made holiday on Tuesday. In some cases, the men started work, which they gave up after an hour or two, but in most cases they did not start. Work is to be resumed tomorrow. The Chief Constable of Worcester has received from the Home Office instructions of the following modifications: - Masking of public lights may be removed forthwith. Shading of house and shop lights withdrawn. Fireworks and bonfires permitted subject to approval by military and police. Public clocks may strike and bells ring at night. The closing of restaurants at 9:30 and all theatres at 10:30 suspended.

Naturally the wounded soldiers at the Infirmary were anxious to express their joy, and Mr. W.W. Harris, the Conductor of the Cathedral Infirmary Choir, enabled them to do so by hastily arranging a concert on Monday evening. The wounded and as many of the patients as possible were gathered in Rushout Ward, where members of the Choir sang songs with stirring choruses in which the soldiers could join. They did so with great heartiness, and so did the staff and some of the patients. The ward had been brightly decorated. At Battenhall Hospital there were similar rejoicings. The patients were regaled with special hospitality at supper, and the evening was devoted to whole-hearted enjoyment. Most of the bed patients were brought down by members of the Men’s Detachment, into the recreation room, and there assembled all also the staff. They played round games and entertained each other in a truly enjoyable manner. At the close they sang “Auld Lang Syne” and the National Anthem, and gave cheers for the Commandant, the sisters, and staff, the “boys” (not forgetting those who had gone), and the military leaders.

Corpl. W.J. Wharton, Worcs. Regt. (son of Mr. and Mrs. Wharton, Holt Heath, Worcester), has been awarded the Military Medal for bravery at Cambrai, by which he captured two German machine-guns. He joined up in January 1915, and went to France in the autumn of that year. He is aged 22. Before he joined the Army he was a motor mechanic at the City Garage, the Tything. His brother, C.H. Wharton, has been in the Navy for about two years.

Information researched by The Worcestershire World War 100 team