72nd Seaforth Highlanders of Canada - waughfamily.ca

THE LAST FIGHT.Headquarters sat at breakfast about 8:30 a.m. on November llth, 1918, (the telephone buzzed insistently, andover the wires came the news of Germany s collapse, theArmistice and Victory! At 10:25 a.m. the official confirmation was received. It ran as follows:"Canadian Corps 06.45 a a a Hostilities will cease at1] :00 hours on November llth a a a Troops will standfast on the line reached at that time which will be reported to Corps Headquarters a a a Strictest precautions will be maintained a a a There will be no intercourse of any description with the enemy a a a Furtherinstructions follow a a a Fourth Canadian Division."Meanwhile the bulk of the Battalion, quite unconsciousof the fact that the war was over, were assiduously carrying on training in a large field adjoining the town. At11 o clock, therefore, the Comnuanding Officer, Lieut.-Col.G. H. Kirkpatrick, D.S.O., rode on to the parade groundand over to the formed-up Battalion. Taking over the parade, he faced the 72nd."Seaforths," he commanded, Ease!"Stand >atStand-Easy!" Glancing at his wrist- watch, he continued, "TheArmistice has been signed. Hostilities with Germanyceased five minutes ago!"For perhaps three seconds no one moved. Then thestorm broke! At length the C. 0. managed to make himself heard sufficiently to announce that a special rum-rationwould be served, upon the men reaching their billets. Thenoise redoubled itself, while officers and men moved offparade and into that long interval of tiresome waitingwhich lay between them and Home.171