Souvenir, novelty miniature parasol for Armistice celebrations, 1918

Historical note:

On 8 November 1918, one of Sydney’s prominent newspapers published an erroneous report that Germany had capitulated from the fighting on the Western Front. The Great War was seemingly ended, and Sydney erupted in celebration.

Though the nature of the report was quickly and widely disseminated, the people of Sydney could not be deterred. Armistice celebrations raged continuously from the 8th until the 12th of November. This event was unique to Sydney, as neither Melbourne nor Canberra, nor any major city in Australia, celebrated in this fashion.

The novelty parasol, made in the colours and patterns of the allies' flags (in this case, American), is significant for its positioning within that five-day-long frenzy of celebrations in Sydney’s CBD. It speaks to the willingness of the people to abandon themselves, as well as to their collective preparation for and anticipation of an imminent end to the war.

It is extremely rare for such an ephemeral object at the time to have survived to the present day.

Materials:

Cotton; plant fibres; metal

Category:

Souvenirs and ephemera

Themes:

Homefront

Conflict:

First World War (1914-18)

Location:

Sydney

Production Date:

1918

On this day

3 June

1942 — Battle of MIDWAY began. This decisive victory by the US Navy over the Japanese Navy shifted the balance of sea power in the Pacific and forced Japan to abandon plans to attack New Caledonia, Fiji and Samoa. Japanese losses were 4 aircraft carriers, 1 cruiser, 248 aircraft, and over 3,000 sailors. American losses were 1 aircraft carrier, 1 destroyer, 150 aircraft, and 307 men

1944 — 78 Squadron, RAAF, carried out the last major air combat by the RAAF in WW2, off BIAK Island, New Guinea. 10 enemy planes were shot down for the loss of one Australian plane and pilot

1969 — HMAS MELBOURNE collided with USS FRANK E EVANS in the South China Sea. EVANS was cut in half and 74 of her crew were killed