Thank God for Merry England

Category

Library Item

Item no

33513

Title

Thank God for Merry England

Description

"On the morning of the eleventh of November 1918, there was only one thought in the hearts of the men on the Western Front. In every camp, in ruined villages, at Headquarters, along the route of the advance, there was one word ringing like a bell - 'Home!' It seemed incredible after those four long years of suffering, of untold horrors, of swift death, and dogged courage when hope was low. And now that the end had come, as the men read the little typewritten notices posted up outside every Divisional Headquarters, 'Hostilities will cease at eleven o'clock this morning,' men looked at one another on that miraculous day, wondering if this was a last cruel trick with which to break long-suffering hearts. In the villages the women and children came forth out of their ruined houses and waved and smiled, asking whether the news was true. 'Guerre est fini - Bosche napoo!' replied the soldiers. No more would they carry the rifle; hands used to the butt would now guide the plough. There had been sufficient sowing of death. Henceforth, please, God, they would grow old in peace in merry England."

Artist / maker

Raemaekers, Louis

Date

1919

Size

33 x 25.6 cm

Type

Chromolithograph

Location

Art and Design Library

Copyright

Louis Raemaekaers' drawings are reproduced by kind permission of the Louis Raemaekers Foundation.