‘There seemed to be pandemonium in Crowtree Road with fireworks continually going off’

It was a misty day in Sunderland when history was made on the first ever Armistice Day in town.

Peace had been confirmed at 5am on November 11, 1918 and once the news spread, the atmosphere of excitement grew.

Philip Curtis looks back at life on Wearside on the day that World War I was officially over, in one of the excellent articles in the latest Sunderland Antiquarian Society newsletters which goes out to all members.

“There were actually two focal points for the crowds – The Town Hall in Fawcett Street and the Echo Office (see right) in Bridge Street (there was no radio or television then).

“There was also great excitement in Fawcett Street with a lot of flag-waving, singing and cheering, with the local shops, especially Josephs in Union Street, doing a roaring trade selling Union Jacks at one shilling a time.

The Sunderland Echo offices as they looked in 1918. | Sunderland Antiquarian Society

placeholder image — The Sunderland Echo offices as they looked in 1918. | Sunderland Antiquarian Society

“Bridge Street and West Wear Street were also absolutely packed with hundreds of Wearsiders making their way to the Echo Office for the latest news.

“At 10.40am when the Armistice notice was put in the Echo office window and the flag hoisted on the building there was a tremendous outburst of cheering from everyone.

The victory parade which was held in Sunderland in 1919. | Sunderland Antiquarian Society

“Every newspaper boy was pounced upon as he left the building with his batch of Echoes (they cost one penny then). One boy was so besieged that he ended up selling his papers on his knees. The pressure on the paper boys went on for some time, each managing to get a little further into the street until the crowds were served.

Echo paper sellers who were besieged as they came out on to the streets with the news that war was over. | Sunderland Antiquarian Society

“As the news spread into the town flags began to be hoisted on buildings, the buzzers at the shipyards and on ships in the river began to be sounded and workmen began to leave the yards in hundreds.

“Someone in High Street West produced a fiddle and men and women began dancing in the street and there seemed to be pandemonium in Crowtree Road with fireworks continually going off. The East End Ragtime Band was out playing and, at noon, the Mayor, Alderman W.F. Vint, addressed the crowds outside the Town Hall.

How the news of the armistice was reported in the Sunderland Echo in November 1918. | se

“He said that his heart went out to the people of the town and then declared the day a holiday asking tradesmen to close their shops. Work in schools was interrupted with head teachers announcing the news and informing pupils that they had the rest of the day off as a holiday.

“The Juvenile Court was in session in Gillbridge Avenue that morning where parents of 13 school non-attenders were being prosecuted. When the news arrived in the courtroom, the Magistrates immediately let them all off and dismissed all the charges.”

You can find out more about the Antiquarian Society by getting along to its Heritage Centre which is open in Douro Terrace on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 9.30am to 12pm.

You can also visit the Antiquarian Society’s Facebook page or its website which is at http://www.sunderland-antiquarians.org

And to become a member, email [email protected]

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