Sunday marks 100 years since the signing of the armistice that ended World War I hostilities.
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Corporal Herbert George Goddard, 7/33 Btln, was in Paris that day, and wrote this article for the Forbes newspaper at the time.
His grandson Nick Goddard has kindly shared it with us for publication.
The news reaches Paris
Being the only Forbesite in Paris when the memorable news was received that the armistice had been signed, I will give a few impressions of how it was received in the great French capital. For some days before while the terms were being transmitted to the enemy government there was an air of expectancy ...
The signing of the armistice was announced to Paris soon after 11 o’clock in the morning by a salvo of five guns from the forts, and in the twinkling of an eye the entire aspect of the city changed. The incubus of four years war fell from the shoulders of the capital like a discarded cloak.
Flags appeared from everywhere and the roadway was taken possession of by triumphant processions of men, women and children carrying the banners of all the Allies and singing “The Marseillaise”, “God save the King” and “The Brabanconne”. Paris without hesitation decided to do no more work for the day, and many of the business houses closed their doors.
It was a great and glorious crowd of humanity which surged along the grand boulevards. Everyone in khaki was enthusiastically cheered, and the whole-hearted manner in which the civilians grasped you by the hand, uttering a few words, showed the respect and honour they felt towards the man in uniform ...
It was the night, however, which for anyone to have witnessed, will forever live in their memory. Arc lamps and signs which had not been used for four years shone forth and the crowd stimulated even more by the artificial light which had been denied them gave vent to all the feelings which the emotions of the day suggested.
Cheering echoed and re-echoed through the streets and there was great rejoicing on all hands. Soldiers and civilians embraced to an extent that probably Paris had never before witnessed ... It was indeed the sight of a lifetime.
The crowd took possession of taxicabs, lorries, or any other vehicles happening along. They climbed on to the roofs, clung to the footboards, and bestrided the bonnets. Much amusement was even caused by dragging some of the big 5.9 guns which were on exhibition at the Concorde along the Boulevards crowded all over with a happy joyous throng.
In the twinkling of an eye the entire aspect of the city changed. The incubus of four years war fell from the shoulders of the capital like a discarded cloak.
- Corporal Herbert George Goddard, 7/33 Btln
There were many soul-stirring scenes a the Place de I’Opera – it was just black with people and all the good old patriotic songs of France, England and America were sung and re-sung.
It was previously arranged that if the armistice was signed that day all the “Aussies” in Paris would congregate at the Follies Bergere theatre where “Zig Zag” was holding sway. No doubt it was the “Aussies” night out – not matter from where any flag might be hoisted it was not long before an “Aussie” flag found even a higher point of vantage.
When Daphne Pollen, one of the chief artists, appeared on the stage wearing one of our felt hats, with our flag and badge in her dress, and commenced to coo-ee, needless to say our boys showed their full appreciation. At half-time the “diggers” simply took possession of the stage and gave to good effect some of their favourite old songs, and in particular “Australia will be there” rang out all over the spacious theatre.
Meanwhile, some ingenious “Aussie” had tacked up a few well worded posters around the promenade such as “Say, digger, who’s your lady friend”, “Long life to the allied soldiers, beaucoup long life to the Aussies” &c. which caused a good deal of amusement.
It was well into the early hours of the morning before the crowd in the streets dwindled down.
