I watched a very good documentary the other night. It was about the last men to have died on the last day of the War. Michael Palin spoke about the signing of the Armistice in the Railway carriage etc etc. But i remember many years ago in the dim and distant past i read an aticle that said one of the Gernerals argued for the cease fire to be at 2 p.m. I also remember the writer of the article ( who must have thought himself amusing ) saying that just as well it was the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11 Month as it sounded better than the 14th hour of the 11th day of the 11 month. I don't remember that 2 p.m was mentioned in the documentary. Does this ring a bell with anyone else.?
Susan.

Susan,
I can't remember where I read it, and haven't been able to trace the reference yet, but the First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Rosslyn Wemyss, suggested 11am instead of 2.30pm as a means of saving lives.
With best wishes,
David

Thank you David.
Susan

Many previous threads on this if you search the forum archive. Lloyd George wanted the Armistice to come into effect at the moment he stood up in the House of Commons to announce it at the beginning of the day's session, which was either 2 or 3pm (I forget which).

Wemyss liked the symmetry of 11/11/11 and wanted hostilities to cease as soon as possible, so he telephoned Lord Stamfordham, the King's Private Secretary, obtained KGV's blessing and signed up for 11am. DLG being the forgiving man that he was, this action cost Wemyss the ennoblement and other rewards given to the other service chiefs.

Thanks.
I was beginning to thnk i had dreamt the whole thing as couldn't remember where i had read the article.
Susan.

Mick,
Thanks for that. Can you give a reference as I'd like to read about it? Well done, Weymss!! Must have saved hundreds of lives.
With best wishes,
David

the Armistice was NOT 11AM ........

.... it was 1100 hours. The British armed forces had gone to '24 hour' clock end Sep/beginning Oct 1918.

Were the French on the twenty-four hour clock?
David

Obviously nobody had told Haig about the 24 hour clock decision.

Quote from his diaries "the Armistice came into force at 11 am."

Jim

Typical of the man, never mind a few thousands more die or are maimed just so long as he can make a dramatic gesture.

In all the books i've read including diaries and documentaries i've watched i don't ever remember it being mentioned that the cease fire be 1100 hours. I seem to remember 11 a.m. If Wemyss liked the symmetry of 11/11/11 then i'm not sure he was thinking of the "24 hour" clock.
Susan