During the six months prior to the signing of the Armistice in 1918, five Australian divisions of some 90,000 men wrote on the scrolls recording Australia’s fame, the greatest victories in the field of war.

Thus Digger Les Russell in the role of chairman introduced the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of Armistice to Port Macquarie’s “old diggers” at their annual reunion on Friday night.

The defence of Villers Brettoneux during March to May, the eight mile advance from that famous town on the August 8, was stated to be, by the German General Von Ludendorff, as being Germany’s blackest day of the war.

The capture of Mont St. Quentin and the smashing through the main German defence system the Hindenberg Line, were victories that forever will be recalled in Australian history.

Earlier the chairman had invited those “in the field” at the time of the Armistice to stand, and there were 23 among the 68 Diggers present.

“I am sure you Diggers have always retained the memory of that great mental relief when it became known that the ‘bloody guerre’ was over … it was almost unbelievable that the guns would at last be silent,” he said.

The Armistice dinner function reached its usual high standard with a first-rate meal served by the women’s auxiliary of the RSL, followed by the equally superb entertainment provided under the leadership of Mrs Doyle.

Digger Barney Turner was once again secretary to the function and part of his duty was the presentation of floral tributes to the women in appreciation of their efforts.

He also called “The Last Post” and those lost during the preceding twelve months were named.

To their memory, and those gone before them, the Diggers had earlier marched from the RSL Club to the Memorial, where Digger Les Russell, with former Army Padre Bob Allan beside him, placed a wreath of remembrance.  Bugler Digger Jack Pike sounded the Last Post. 

In a toast to the 1914-18 Diggers, Dr Harry Hodgson said: ”It is an awe-inspiring honour to be addressing you on the 50th anniversary of Armistice”. 

Brought up between the two World Wars he recalled Armistice as a sacred day during his schooling; how they were told of the “war to end all wars”; and the great determination to build a land fit for its heroes to live in.

However, he said, our heroes were soon on the dole and we were sliding into a second world war, and quite a few of those schoolboys were killed in the second war.

It is almost unbelievable to be speaking to you half a century since the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918, when that mess of mud, wire, gas, and unbelievable casualties, was suddenly all over, and you people suddenly had a future.

That is the future we grasped and we still have now, and our future is in the hands of splendid young people, Dr Hodgson said.

The future we hope we owe to you, said Dr Hodgson, in asking the guests present to honour the toast to the men of 1914-18. Digger J. Roberts acknowledged the toast.

Port Macquarie Museum at 22 Clarence Street, is open Monday to Saturday from 9.30am until 4.30pm. Entry is $3 per child, $5 concession and $7 for adults.