As I write I can feel my heart thumping against my side with excitement at to-night’s news. It was received in the mess room, a large hall at Brightlingsea. I was busy washing up. Then suddenly a voice yelled at the door. ‘Paper! Paper! Turkey surrenders.’ In a few minutes the long hall was full of excitement. One could feel it in the air. Then all joined in singing When the Boys Come Home and slapping each other on the back. Sapper Cyril Roy Knight, published in the Murrumbidgee Irrigator, New South Wales, Australia.
12 November 1918 – Anzacs, naval ratings, railway staff and the townspeople gather in Victoria Place, Brightlingsea ahead of the Victory Parade through the town to All Saints’ Church. (D. Went and A. Wakeling)
The Victory Parade passes along Spring Road on the way to All Saint’s Church. (D. Went)
Open Air Thanksgiving Service Held at Hall Farm
The Australian Engineers, naval men, Essex Volunteers etc. formed a procession and marched to the parish church which was too small to contain the number so the service was held on adjacent ground at Hall Farm. (D. Went, A. Wakeling and Brightlingsea Parish Magazine)
Brightlingsea Anzacs 