Arthur Douglas Crease Letters, Diaries and Scrapbooks
Letters from Arthur Douglas Crease of Victoria to his brother Lindley Crease and his mother Sarah Crease; instructions for the offensive of July 26, 1917; a regimental notebook, diaries and scrapbook. Learn more.
*All transcriptions are provided by volunteers, and the accuracy of the transcriptions is not guaranteed. Please be sure to verify the information by viewing the image record, or visiting the BC Archives in person.
BC Archives MS-0055; BC Archives MS-2879
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1918
Nov. German Navy in revolt. Terms of armistice handed to German blemifotentiaries on 7th giving them until 11th for reply.
10. Sunday. Early H.C. with Jess Marleton. Everybody full of prospects of Peace. Will Gull, Jack had great council of war in Uncles Study .
11. Jess drove me to Wymoutham Sta in the rain. At Cambridge we heard that the armistice had been signed at 5 am wh. was true. London full of excited crowds of excited people . Bells of St Pauls ringing. No taxis to be had - all grabbed by crowds of celebrators - Travelling by underground impossible. I had to walk to Russell Hotel in the rain. Later on crowds more orderly but soberly jubilant. At night however bonfires lighted in Trafalgar Square & German war [illegible] in the hall run all over the place & some damage done. Dined at Russell Hotel where I got fed after celebration becoming apparent- Quite the fashion to drink champagne out of ladies slippers & to sing God Save the King every five minutes drunk or sober.
The lights in the strts & the chiming of clocks most noticeable.
BC Archives, MS-2879, Box 83, File 1 CREASE FAMILY, "Diary of the War", diary and scrapbook of Arthur Douglas Crease, 1915-1919.