I was really pleased to acquire this postcard showing crowds gathered in the Market Place on hearing news of the Armistice in November 1918. A significant scene from our local history. It is difficult to imagine the mix of emotions those in the crowd would have been feeling after four long years of war.

The Rector of St Nicholas Church, Reverend Rooker, later wrote an account of the war for children and recalled the scene:

But the most wonderful sight was in the Market Place on Wednesday afternoon, Now. 13th. There a huge crowd of over 2,000 people gathered together. You children will not forget it I hope. The boys and girls of the Lady Boswell School, with the Infant School, were close up to the harmonium. The clergy stood in a cart. I wish you could all have seen the sight from that cart, for it was the most splendid sight I ever saw in Sevenoaks. The picture in this little book gives a bit of the crowd. It is from a photograph by Mr. Edwards, and was taken from the roof of Mr. Franks’ shop.

We sang our hymns and gave God thanks for the victory; and I tried to tell the people what it meant for us. And then we remembered the men of Sevenoaks who had given their lives for England. We were all silent for a few minutes, and then we said ” Our Father” under the open sky. And once again we sang “God save the King.”