THE Berrow's Worcester Journal of Saturday, November 16, 1918, reported the end of the war under the headline Worcester Rejoicings - A General Holiday.

"Directly the news was received in this office a telephone message was sent to the Chief Constable (Mr Byrne), who at once intimated the fact that the armistice had been signed to the large works in the city, and the hooters at the Electricity Works, Heenan and Froude's and Blackpole announced the glad tidings to the whole of the city.

"Workpeople everywhere ceased their labours and school children their studies, and rushed to the streets where, bedecked with flowers, they promenaded and danced and sang throughout the day.

"At the Infirmary, as soon as the hooters sounded, the wounded Tommies started a few minutes' pandemonium.

"At Battenhall Hospital, the wounded exhibited their joy in similar fashion. They laid hold of tin trays and anything that was capable of making a resound, and punished it heartily! Tonight, they are promised a supper and festivities.

"After noon most of the shops in the city, and many more works, closed for the day, and their employees joined those already in the streets. The good news had obviously unsettled even the most placid individuals, and they could not devote themselves to the daily task.

"When the Mayor was informed of the news, he at once arranged to address the citizens from the Guildhall steps.

"The mayor mounted a table placed on the steps and began by asking the people to sing God Save the King. They did with rare spirits.

"Then the mayor said that now we had come to the end of it, we had to conduct ourselves as a great empire should - with magnanimity (cheers).

""The Dean alluded to the victory as the greatest that England had ever won, and he asked the assembly to remember that we had been helped by God. We had won a great victory by sticking together - all classes and all parties. We should not get through the many difficulties of peace unless we continued heartily to work together (cheers).

"There was a humorous incident when Mr Ernest Davies left the platform after leading the singing of Rule Britannia. The boxes which formed the steps went wrong and he fell into the crowd. 'The last casualty of the war,' exclaimed the Dean, amid great laughter, in which Mr Davies, unhurt, joined.

"There was a tendency to exuberance of spirit, 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 vast majority of people wanted to express their joy, but were not quite daring enough to 'let themselves go'.

"They were free to indulge in any amount of horseplay or masquerading, but that was not what most of them desired. Deep down, 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."