Armistice Day: 'Remembering the sobering realities of going to war'

Today marks 108 years since the guns fell silent after four years of brutal conflict in the First World War.

Armed forces, veteran's groups and civilians have marked the moment across the world with ceremonies and two minutes of silence at 11am.

Outside Wellington's Pukeahu War Memorial, people were heading to school and work while others paused at the foot of the stairs leading up to the Hall of Memories where today's ceremony was held.

RNZ asked several students what Armistice Day meant to them.

"It's the day the war stopped on the 11th month at the 11th hour and the 11th minute," said one Awakeri School student who was attending the commemoration as a part of the of the school group's camp visit to Wellington.

"I knew what it was, but I didn't know it was happening today," said 17 year-old student Ollie.

"When we take our history classes we don't really learn about that stuff. We only learn about the American wars and World War Two. I think it's really important that learn about all those people that died for our country," 13 year-old Malachi Smith-Cakebread said

Closer to the memorial, a small crowd braved the Wellington wind at the foot of the memorial.

"It's always a sad day really, but always good to remember and respect," said Michelle Varley.

"My father did national service and then my grandfather was a career soldier and my great-grandfather and my great-great-grandfather," Mark Varley said.

"Everybody needs to learn from what happened and what may happen again. The younger generation especially needs to understand it 'cause the old ones are gone," Claire Rozendaal said.

Grant Crowley arrived wearing medals from his own 30 years in the armed forces, as well as several of his father's, including his Distinguished Conduct Medal from his service in World War Two.

"It's important to reflect and remember on the end of World War One and also the current people serving overseas. In the UK of course they celebrate Remembrance Day [on the on the second Sunday of November]. It's important that people reflect on this day as they can," Crowley said.

Ministry of Culture and Heritage chief historian Neill Atkinson said almost every family and community in the country was affected by the war, with the loss of more than 18,000 lives and thousands more coming home wounded or bearing significant psychological scars.

He said the 1918 celebrations of the signing of the Armistice were muted by the international influenza pandemic, which in two months caused the deaths of up to 9000 New Zealanders, as well as families' concerns for the more than 50,000 soldiers still far from home.

"There was this spontaneous outpouring of jubilation, but it was tinged with a sense of loss and sadness. There were scenes of joy and a lot of imperial fervour perhaps.

"People did gather and that probably helped spread the flu as well so that put a bit of a dampener on the celebrations," Atkinson said.

Archival photographs showed thousands of people flooding the streets in the main centres as well as parades of bands and fancy dress in the provinces.

Atkinson said Anzac Day was made a public holiday ahead of Armistice Day in 1916 and typically held more attention in New Zealand and Australia.

But he said the observance of Armistice and Remembrance Day commemorations was where the country stood alongside Britain, Canada, France, Belgium, the United States, other allied nations and former adversaries, such as Türkiye, in acknowledgement of the sacrifice of war and the vision of a peaceful future.

"The reality is that these are memorials to the shared tragedy, whatever side we're on, and the loss of brave, bright people who were the future of those countries. These are really focussed on 'remember the cost' that the war places on countries and, in particular, places on families," Atkinson said.

Former chief of the Armed Forces retired Lieutenant General Rhys Jones said WWI shocked the world with a scale of trauma and losses previously unseen.

"It's not a victory celebration. It's remembering the sobering realities of going to war and therefore the responsibilities of governments [who] make any decisions about armed conflict to take those decisions very seriously and recognise the impact that they will have on their people," Jones said.

Jones said the massive conflict that would spring from the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria in 1914 served to underline lessons that remained relevant today.

"Just because the Archduke was killed millions of soldiers then lost their lives. So war should be fought in the manner of which you are trying to achieve the objective.

"And the most important of the lessons out of the First World War is, when you've actually fought the war, and won, then make the world a better place," Jones said.

Royal New Zealand Returned and Services Association national president Tony Hill said the day had broadened to include the remembrance of the sacrifices of all wars and the more recent military and peace keeping efforts of the country's armed forces.

"This is Kiwis standing up to do the right thing. It gives us another opportunity to reflect on what our veterans are doing even today.

"We've just had elections over the weekend. How cool is that, that we're in a democracy where we can have free and fair elections, because of our people that have gone overseas and continue to do so?" Hill said.

Hill said across the country RSA members and whanau would be laying a wreath and pausing to hear the last post as they reflected on the sacrifices of thousands of New Zealanders over the past century.