Pages tagged with: peace celebrations

Although the guns fell silent on 11 November 1918, peace wasn't officially proclaimed until 28 June 1919, when the Treaty of Versailles was signed. In July communities throughout New Zealand and the Empire celebrated peace with elaborate public events lasting several days.

Almost immediately after the armistice communities throughout New Zealand and the empire began to plan elaborate peace celebrations that would mark the official end of the war in a manner befitting the sacrifices made.

News of the Armistice in Europe in November 1918 came swiftly to Rarotonga via its new wireless station.

Instructions from the Imperial Government hindered New Zealand’s efforts to plan peace celebrations. But the coal shortage had a far greater impact on the form they eventually took.

Peace celebrations were held all throughout New Zealand. Most communities held a soldiers’ day, a day of thanksgiving, and a children’s day on Saturday the 19th, Sunday the 20th and Monday the 21st of July 1919.

Cambridge peace celebrations, 19 July 1919.

Tuatapere school girls enjoying a maypole dance, celebrating peace on children's day, 21 July 1919.

Red Cross nurses in procession during peace celebrations at Port Chalmers in July 1919

How communities celebrated peace days in 1919

Booklet outlining activities for peace days celebrations in Christchurch in 1919

Booklet issued by the Department of Internal Affairs for Peace celebrations in 1919

Cartoon regarding Wellington's inability to stage illuminations during the peace celebrations

A memorial erected on Mt Maunganui in memory of the beacon fires lit on 16 prominent locations across the Bay of Plenty on 19 July 1919.

Colourful booklet suggesting 'electric illuminations' to use for peace celebrations

The events held in communities on children's day probably varied the most of all the peace celebration days.

In late 1919 a royal commission was held into the causes of the coal saving railway timetable being introduced.

The letter the government sent to local bodies to advise that Cabinet had changed the date of the peace celebrations.

Initial letter sent to local bodies regarding peace celebrations

The government appropriated £31,500 for peace celebrations in New Zealand, an amount of over two and a half million dollars in 2009.

Not everyone in the British Empire supported the peace celebrations. In New Zealand the most vocal opposition came from the United Federation of Labour.