WWI Peace Celebration parade on The Green July 19th 1919 1

Peace Celebration Saturday July 19th 1919

Country-wide cities, towns and villages all celebrated peace on the same day in July 1919.  In Westerham a victory procession moves round Green with the Town Band led by a Town Crier behind whom walked two young ladies in hooded cloaks carrying a banner that proclaimed ‘This is the Town of Westerham’. Behind the Band were ‘players’ carrying three banners, the last and longest of which bore the legend ‘These are the Children who manage the Women who manage the Men who manage the Town of Westerham.’ The banner in front of this said ‘These are the Women who manage the Men who manage the Town of Westerham’ and the front banner simply said ‘These are the Men who manage the Town of Westerham.’

The procession moved right through the town, stopping in various places for singing or performance, making its way slowly round the town until the day concluded with a Children’s Tea in Wolfe Park at 4.30pm.