France
November 11, 1918.
My Dear Mother,
Well, Dear folks here it last the great Day that we have all been waiting for so long. It has and is a great Day--
It is now about 7 P.M--and of course quite dark.
Will tell you about the place we are in and then about the doings of the day--
We are in a Belgian town and it is just a great place. When we came here the Germans had only left it a little over a day-- They left the place without even breaking a window. It is in perfect condition. They left all the civilians and of all the happy people that I have ever had the pleasure of seeing they I think are the happiest. It was Sunday and they were dressed in their best and all out in the street. cheering the Boys as they passed. with a smile and a cheery word. for them all--I saw old women catch the boys by their hands and kiss them. And the kids, the young woman and even the old folks they would get around you and pull the Badges off for souvenirs. even the Buttons. They were just crazy to get them. One old woman grabbed me and before I could say a word had my Canada's off--
Had the coffee. My! Word. they had us drinking it every five minutes and it was good too. They all had a bag of sugar hidden away. These they produced and used with the coffee. The stores seem fairly well stocked considering.
The people welcomed the Boys and offered their houses as billets, Joe and myself. met a woman coming down the street and she took us to her house. (I am writing it in one of the rooms now) and gave us the freedom of it. A dandy bed, etc. etc. She has a pretty little Girl about seven years old with lovely light hair--
The houses have electric lights so it is quite a treat.
The towns are large and quite close together. I can quite believe that this is the most densely populated country in the world. They are also perfectly clean. One can hardly realize that these places were occupied by the Huns. only such a short time ago.
This morning early we left this village & started to walk to the main lorry road. some three kilometers away. On the way we fell in with two men on their way to work in one of the mines.
They knew a short cut to this place and so we went with them. They showed us the place one of them where the Contemptibles fought. It was very interesting. They also showed us bullet marks in the steel posts that support the tramway wires.
A few days ago we saw a German cemetary and it was a beautiful place. such lovely flowers, shrubs. Head stones etc. It was beautifully laid out.
In one part by itself were the men of 1914. and side by side with his own dead were the dead of the British. All had the same head stones with the names, numbers rank and regiment of the ones buried there. Also the graves were covered with plants and flowers just the same as their own. One must give them credit for this act of respect--for the Brave dead.
Now to continue with our travels of today. We walked to the main road and in due time caught a lorry going our way. Another chap climbed in too and he told us that the Armistice was to begin at 11. AM. We were a bit sceptical as to the truth of his statement. We have been of course expecting something of this sort to happen. but it seemed to good to be true. However as we went along everyone was talking about it--so we at last decided it was a Jolt. We got back this afternoon and the church bells were ringing and the streets were crowded with people old & young of all ages, sizes and descriptions. And the excitement. It was everywhere--
The Boys told me about the civilians. They dug up their old band instruments and came running up to the hall brushing off the dust as they ran--they practiced for an hour or so and then started to tour the town with a procession following them. Such a time--
Of course the Battalion Ba[n]ds were out playing too--
Tonight our pipe Band as usual played after the sounding of retreat. They marched around a bit and then formed a circle. Outside this circle were the civilians. As soon as they formed the circle a Girl wearing "Sabots" They are the wooden shoes that they wear in this country. They wear cloth slippers around the house and slip these wooden shoes on when they go out. Well. this Girl sprang into the circle and stepping out of these shoes she commenced to dance and such a dance it was. I have never seen anything so graceful or wild before. She made me think of one of Tennysons poems where a poor girl Danced for one of the Kings who said, ["] This beggar maid shall be my Queen."
There are a dozen other happenings that I will be able to tell you about later. Last night the parcel with the lovely cake chocolate. cigars. pepermints. Note paper etc came along and was enjoyed more than I can say--
The cigars & cake were particularly good. We have the cigars to celebrate with.
Alf & Rex are not back as yet.
They should get back any day now. I dont suppose leave will stop yet.
Wont they be excited over there and in Canada and all the other countries tonight. Such a Day.
Now I must close for tonight.
Love to All.
Archie
