Armistice Day

In New Zealand

Armistice Day and the spread of influenza

The signing of the Armistice between the Allies and Germany on 11 November 1918 was celebrated in many cities and towns around New Zealand. Enthusiasm was dampened, though, by the ongoing impact of the influenza pandemic then ravaging the country. A premature report of the Armistice declaration published on 8 November added to the general sense of uncertainty about celebrating the official announcement.

Despite the difficult circumstances, thousands of New Zealanders attended or took part in Armistice parades on 12 November, the day the official announcement was published here. Brass bands and elaborately decorated floats led the way as returned soldiers, school children and crazily costumed performers marched along main streets carrying banners and flags. Public officials gave earnest speeches and crowds gathered to celebrate the end of four long years of war.

Armistice Day in Levin

One exception was Auckland where the acting Chief Health Officer, Dr Frengley, in a bid to stop the further spread of influenza, postponed all official Armistice celebrations (they were eventually held in mid-1919). He had been alarmed at the large crowds which had gathered after the premature declaration of 8 November. Despite these precautions, 1128 Aucklanders died from the influenza pandemic.

New Zealanders overseas

As recently as a week before the Armistice, on 4 November 1918, New Zealand troops had been involved in the successful recapture of the French town of Le Quesnoy. The attack cost the lives of about 90 New Zealand soldiers – virtually the last of the 12,483 who fell on the Western Front between 1916 and 1918.

On the declaration of the Armistice on 11 November 1918, a total of 52,123 New Zealand troops were still overseas, including 24,115 in France, 23,541 in England and 4451 in Egypt.

New Zealand servicemen marching after Armistice Day

The New Zealand Division official history records that for those in France, the news of the Armistice was received 'generally in a matter of fact way, totally devoid of any demonstration of emotion. A Divisional Service of Thanksgiving was held on 14th November.' Most of these troops then faced a long march across France and Belgium to join the Allied Army of Occupation of Germany: on 20 December, the first New Zealand formation, the 2nd Brigade, crossed the Rhine River into Cologne.

Many of the New Zealand soldiers who had been training or recuperating in England took part in local Armistice celebrations, marching on parade in London and displaying captured German guns at the Lord Mayor's Show.