Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018 marked the 100th anniversary of the signing of the armistice ending the First World War. Many communities across Canada, beginning here in Newfoundland, organized the ringing of bells to commemorate this historic occasion.
At the Bell Island Legion, Branch 18, Newfoundlanders had the opportunity to commemorate the end of hostilities by ringing not one, but two bells with historic ties to the two World War conflicts.
The bells were rung 100 times, at five second intervals. The first 50 peals were struck on the bell of the SS Rosecastle, a merchant ship that was sunk on Nov. 2 by the German U-boat U-518 with the loss of 23 lives, in addition to the 46 lives lost on P.L.M. 27, which was also sunk in the same engagement. This ship’s bell now hangs over the bar in the main lounge of Branch 18.
The remaining 50 peals were struck on a small gong that my wife and I brought from home. This gong is a direct link to the First World War — it was made from a First World War German shell by my Scottish grandfather, William Reid, who brought it home as a souvenir from his service in the Salonika campaign, in Greece and Macedonia.
I understand that the hand-carved wooden stand was made from the stocks or butts of surplus First World War rifles. The base of the shell bears a manufacturing date of 1916, and the wooden stand bears the hand-carved inscription “Salonika 1917-1918.” Fellow legion members who examined the gong afterwards were able to tell me that it was from a First World War German howitzer. My aunt inherited this when he died, and left it to me when she passed on last year.
All who were present, including those who have served, those who supported us, and even a few who are much too young to serve, were given the opportunity to ring these two bells, and all of us availed ourselves of the opportunity to pay tribute on this historic anniversary.
William Reid Lorimer
Bell Island/Carbonear
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On Remembrance Day, bells of peace will ring again from coast to coast
