Associate Professor Guy Cuthbertson shared insights into Armistice Day 1918 with broadcaster David Dimbleby, as he presented live coverage from the Cenotaph in Whitehall, London.
The English scholar joined several historians for The BBC’s coverage Remembrance Sunday: The Cenotaph, which was aired live on Sunday 11th November.
Professor Cuthbertson explained how news of the end of the war was met with a mixed reaction by the people of Britain, and newspapers and bells communicated the message across the country.
He described how “buses were turned into places to dance, and paperwork thrown from offices as confetti”, but for many the day would be tinged with sadness as telegrams continued to deliver news of deaths on the front line.
Professor Cuthbertson’s latest book Peace at Last, provides a unique hour-by-hour account of Armistice Day 1918, and how people across the globe reacted to the news of peace.
Appearing on ITV’s Granada Reports on Friday 9th November, Professor Cuthbertson talked about how the book aims to provide new insights, 100 years on from the historic day.
Watch the full BBC interview with Professor Cuthbertson (00:16:38 – 00:20:44), (02:41:51 – 02:48:54) and (03:18:44 – 03:23:00)