Berkshire and The War: the "Reading Standard" pictorial record. Volume 4. p 981

HOW THE PEACE NEWS CAME TO READING.

FIREWORKS, FLARES & FUN.

The news that the Peace Treaty had been signed by the German delegates came through to Reading about five o'€™ clock in the afternoon, but it was not until seven or eight o'clock in the evening that excitement developed. The information was naturally received with a certain amount of jubilation, though the street scenes did not compare with those of armistice night. In anticipation of the announcement a profuse display of flags had already been hung out during the afternoon and early evening, and there was a "certain liveliness"€™ about the town for an hour or so before the tidings actually came through.

Church bells were rung, but no other official intimation was given, and the celebrations resolved themselves for the most part into a promiscuous letting off of fireworks and a certain amount of harmless enough rowdyism.­ Certainly Broad Street was packed in a manner only comparable to General Election or Jubilee times, but the crowds chiefly consisted of spectators watching the younger element letting themselves go. The trams could only proceed with difficulty from West Street to the Butter Market, but the rest of the town was quite normal, and, speaking in general terms, the majority of the townspeople treated the news, which was, after all, only a confirmation of what was known to be inevitable, with a quiet sense of satisfaction. They heaved a sigh of relief, but they did not feel inclined to jump for joy. It was only a certain section of the public -€” and a comparatively limited and almost entirely juvenile section at that -€” which enthused.

Pandemonium Reigned Supreme.

Still their enthusiasm forced itself on the notice of others, with the result that for several hours pandemonium reigned supreme in the centre of the town. It seemed as if all the fireworks which Dora would not allow during the war had been carefully stored up and were now being produced for Peace Night. Squibs, crackers, jumpers, flares, rockets and diminutive dynamos filled the air, and the returned soldier might, had he only closed his eyes, have fancied himself back overseas in the midst of a moderate strafe, for there was no lack of noise to supply the illusion. With a fine contempt for safety, fireworks were thrown all over the street, landing on the heads of pedestrians at random, and, fortunately, so far as can be ascertained, without any serious injury. There were one or two mishaps, however. One girl'€™ s shoe and stocking caught fire and she had to be given medical treatment immediately, while another girl's dress was badly scorched. Passengers on the tops of cars had just a slight suspicion of "wind up" occasionally when these fiery missives exploded on the seat next to them, and girls were frequently seen giving little involuntary jumps of alarm at deafening reports within about two inches o f their feet. But the crowds, though their excitement increased as time wore on, were more or less orderly, the unsleeping vigilance of the police force having seen to it that an ample number of constables were available for duty in the right quarters.

There was a sound of revelry in the form of squeakers and explosions by night, but soon after midnight, when the extra police on special duty were dismissed, the streets began to clear, and the last groups of strolling singers departed homewards soon after 12 o'€™clock.

A jazz band, believed to have originated from Syd's establishment in London Street, appeared in Broad Street about 10.30, and during the excitement became split up in two parties.There was one drum in the Butts and another in Duke Street, and one drum stick was lost. Finally the band formed up again, marched round the town, followed by some hundreds of joy makers, singing and jazzing.

On Sunday thanksgiving services were conducted at most of the churches and chapels. There was a little aftermath in the evening, when the crowds in the town were still slightly denser than usual.

The accompanying picture of the Peace Celebrations in Reading was taken by the enterprising "Reading Standard" photographer at 9 p.m. It gives some idea of the crowded state of the streets and the way in which the tramcars were bombarded by fireworks.

[photo, crowd, exterior, night] BROAD STREET, READING, 9 p.m. [Photo by C. E. & A. May.]