The dominant theme in this postcard from David Howard’s collection is the temporary memorial in the market place, which dates this view, taken from the Guildhall first-floor window, to 1919.

The photographer was Fred Wright who recorded many local events in the 1907-21 period.

This memorial was not erected to observe the first anniversary of Armistice Day in November 1919 but for the earlier peace celebrations that took place on Saturday 19 July.

This was a national day of rejoicing announced by the king after the signing of the Versailles Armistice treaty the previous month.

The monument, of wood and plaster construction, included four panels listing the names of Andover men who had died in the war, largely compiled by the vicar of St Mary’s, Revd Walter Smith.

The list was to grow from the 174 names recorded here, to reach 214 by the time the stone cenotaph was completed by the following April.

Above each of the four lists of names were the words ‘Dulce et Decorum Est, Pro Patria Mori’ – It is sweet and fitting to die for one’s country (Wilfred Owen’s ‘old lie’).

The day of the celebrations was not a bright one and this photograph, probably taken early in the morning, shows people in winter coats, inspecting the wreaths and dedications that had already been placed on the memorial.

A children’s service at St Mary’s church had taken place the day before, and at 9.00 am, a large procession starting at The Avenue began its march along the scheduled route.

At its head as parade marshal was Sydney Bell, supported on either side by police officers Supt Cox and Sgt Hollis. Behind them were two representatives from the Old Volunteers bearing their flag and then the band of the 14th Hussars, leading the Comrades of the Great War.

Next came the Salvation Army band, the various friendly societies, the municipal band and then a long procession of decorated floats, vehicles and pedestrians in fancy dress.

The route chosen was along Junction Road, into Bridge Street, up London Street, turning into East Street.

Then to Newbury Street and back down the High Street to the memorial.

Historian and ‘Newstreeter’, the late Harry Paris, tells a story that when the parade marshal leading the procession reached the entrance to New Street (now the beginning of Church Close), some ex-servicemen of the street walked out and barred the way.

A man stepped out of the line, grabbed the bridle of the parade marshal’s horse and forced the procession to go down New Street itself.

This act of rebellion was because New street itself had been excluded from the route, despite it being decorated lavishly in celebration of the peace.

Particularly galling was that the sons of the street had been foremost in answering the call to arms and the families there had lost more men than most by the time the war ended in 1918.

The procession went down as far as the Blacksmith’s Arms and then turned around, back up the street, to return to its original route.

After the march past the memorial, the procession dispersed and all gathered to listen to the mayor, Alderman Thomas Webb, as he addressed the crowd.

Afterwards, 650 ex-service men and women (the latter from the Rothesay hospital) went to the Drill Hall in East Street and sat down for a meal, after which the mayor again addressed the assembly with a message from the king.

Everyone else went to the Walled Meadow where the celebrations and merriment continued.

The schoolchildren were treated to tea in a marquee and each was presented with a commemorative mug.

It had rained for much of the afternoon but later the rain cleared, and an evening torchlight procession around the town ended with fireworks and a bonfire at Bere Hill.