Joy and sorrow as the guns fall silent

MIKE PAVASOVIC recalls how Oldham greeted the news of the armistice of November 11, 1918, that ended the First World War

FOUR dark years of war are coming to an end. The people of Oldham know that Germany’s surrender is imminent — her allies have been falling like dominoes — but when will the news come through?

In November, 1918, rolling news channels were beyond comprehension. BBC radio would not start for another four years and the town would have had only a handful of telephones.

You can imagine people waiting, praying for the news of peace. And then they hear the sound — Oldham Evening Chronicle newssellers spilling on to the streets, shouting that an armistice had been agreed.

That was the reality of life 90 years ago today, and once Germany’s capitulation was confirmed the Chronicle immediately began to print a special edition.

Under the heading “A General Holiday”, the final edition of Monday, November 11, wrote: “Newsellers running hither and thither selling the special edition of the Oldham Chronicle were the first to spread the good tidings in Oldham and district of the end of the war.

“The news had an electrifying effect on the public. People with sons out yonder at once felt that a heavy load had been removed and they lived anew.

“’Our Tommy and Billy will soon be back now’, remarked an old woman with tears of joy running down her face.

“People smiled as they met, and all had a word to say of the good news . . . the nightmare was over.

“As soon as the operatives of the mills and workshops heard that we had again encountered upon an era of peace, a number could not resist the desire to down tools immediately and make holiday to celebrate the great occasion.

“‘I feel too happy to work’, was the remark so often repeated.

“The main streets in Oldham soon became very animated but naturally the juveniles were the most demostrative and their hearty cheers and smiling faces did one good.

“The Union Jack soon began to appear from different public and private buildings and people walking about the streets proudly waved miniature Union Jacks.

“Some time elapsed in assembling the bell-ringers at the Parish Church and in the meantime single bells were rung out to mark the occasion.”

Later, the Mayor, Alderman John Berry, requested that the bells should also be rung at St Mark’s, Glodwick; St Margaret’s, Hollinwood; and at Moorside Church.

People quickly gathered at the town hall, and it was said that the strains of “Tipperary” were heard for the first time in two years.

But the Mayor did not appear until the evening. At 7.15, accompanied by the members of the council, he addressed the crowd, which the Chronicle estimated to be 15 to 20,000 strong.

“Rule Britannia” was played by Waterhead Band, and there were also renditions of hymns, “God Save the King” and even the French national anthem, the Marsellaise.

The Mayor said the long looked-for and hoped-for day had come and the cessation of hostilities had been ordered, bringing joy and comfort to many hearts and homes.

He continued: “This is the greatest day in the history of our country. But while we rejoice, as we are entitled to, on such a supreme occasion, we cannot help recalling many of those who have fallen in this cruel war and we extend our deepest sympathy to the bereaved families.”

It was a similar story across the other townships that now make up the borough of Oldham. Bells rang out from the churches, people stopped work and flags were waved.

In Chadderton, the district council moved a resolution conveying its congratulations to King George V on the the glorious triumph of the allies.

One member, a Councillor Hilton, defied a serious illness to be present and told his colleagues in an emotional speech that he had been unable to keep away.

They could congratulate themselves on the glorious result of the war and he thanked God he had lived to see the day.

Yet among the stories of jubilation, and of events across Europe, the Chronicle also carried news of the Spanish flu epidemic which was to claim more lives than the war.

In the seven days up to Armistice Day, 67 people died from the disease, more than double the previous week’s total.


Was James the last casualty?

WHO was the last Oldham man to die in the First World War? It is all a matter of definition and research.

However, it may well have been Driver James Hodgkinson (21) of the 16th Heavy Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery, who lived at 21 Hardy Street, Oldham, and was the son of a police sergeant.

He was wounded on November 10 and died the following morning in the 4th Canadian Clearing Station without regaining consciousness.

Hodgkinson was buried on the afternoon of November 11 at the British military cemetery in Valenciennes.

He had joined the Army in May, 1916, but before that had worked as a stripper and grinder at Tay Mill.

Hodgkinson attended Trinity Wesleyan Sunday School and was a member of the Boys’ Life Brigade.