Reception for returning PoWs 30/11/18 - Cannon Street Stn.

[DavidIsby]

On the afternoon of 30 November 1918, there was a welcoming reception for one of the first trains full of returning British prisoners of war, held at Cannon Street station in London.  The Duke of Connaught and Princess Beatrice were in attendance and refreshments were served.

Can anyone provide any references regarding this event, from the press or other sources?  Any photographs would also be greatly appreciated.

many thanks,

david isby

[PRC]

37 minutes ago, DavidIsby said:

On the afternoon of 30 November 1918, there was a welcoming reception for one of the first trains full of returning British prisoners of war, held at Cannon Street station in London.  The Duke of Connaught and Princess Beatrice were in attendance and refreshments were served.

Can anyone provide any references regarding this event, from the press or other sources?

Hi,

A quick check of the British Newspaper Archive via FindMyPast didn't bring up anything - but also tended to suggest that prisoners had been coming home for nearly two weeks, so not sure if it would have been newsworthy anymore. Several regional newspapers on the 18th November 1918 ran what was probably an agency piece that the Prince of Wales had driven down to Dover the previous day to greet the arrival of a boat carrying the first 800 released prisoners.

 One title not covered by the BNA is The Times, so I checked that out on the basis that, if nothing else, considering the personages involved it would turn up in the Court Circular report as part of their planned engagements for the day. Instead I did find a report - but it was just the Duke of Connaught and it occurred on the morning of the 29th, rather than the afternoon of the 30th.

It turned up as a column filler in News in Brief on page 10 in the edition dated Saturday November 30th, 1918.

Image courtesy The Times Digital Archive.

Of course there could have been another train that arrived in the afternoon of the 30th, but the edition of The Times dated Monday, December 2nd, 1918, makes no reference to it.

Hope others have better luck finding something for you.

Cheers,
Peter

[ilkley remembers]

Weekly Dispatch 01/12/18

[ilkley remembers]

Daily Mirror 10/12/18. Photo is undated but could be 30th Nov.

[DavidIsby]

Many thanks.  I appreciate the information.