On This Day, 18 September 1918

Birmingham Mail 

Wednesday 18 September 1918

BIRMINGHAM’S “WIN-THE-WAR” DAY.

SATURDAY’S BIG PROCESSION

The patriotic street procession in Birmingham and demonstration at Cannon Hill Park on Saturday, in celebration of the city’s “win-the-war” day, promise to be of exceptional public interest. The procession will, it estimated, be two miles long, and take about an hour to pass a given point.

The procession, which in its elements is intended to typify every phase of war activity in Birmingham, will be marshalled by Colonel Hart, C.B., and will leave Five Ways at half-past one o’clock. The route will be as follows:—Broad Street. Edmund Street to Council House (in front of which the Lord Mayor will take the salute), then along Colmore Bow, Temple Row, through the Minories to Old Square, Corporation Street, New Street, Paradise Street, Suffolk Street, Horse Fair, Bristol Street, Bristol Road, Road, Pershore Road, and Edgbaston Road to Cannon Hill Park.

The band of the 20th Hussars will head the procession; altogether 20 bands will be engaged. The features will include:-

Naval Contingent; 20th Squadron R.N., Armoured Cars and Tank.
Detachment of Warwickshire Regiment.
Warwickshire Royal Engineers, with Air Line Wagons and Despatch Riders.
Warwickshire Cadet Brigade.
Royal Air Force.—Detachment 200.
American Air Force.—Detachment of 200.
3rd Battalion of 355th Infantry Regiment.— American troops; 33 officers and 1,067 men.
Discharged soldiers with Mons ribbon and other decorations.

British and Colonial troops on leave in the city have been invited take part. Those who can do so are requested to fall in at Curzon Hall at noon, and march from there to the point of assembly in Harborne Road.

Others taking part in the procession will be various women’s and other organisations, and its interest and picturesqueness will be enhanced by a fine series of exhibits contributed by about 50 industrial firms, and several of the theatres.

The following the programme of proceedings at Cannon Hill Park:

1 p.m. 7 p.m. Displays and ascents by R.A.F, Kite Balloon Detachment in Park Extension.
2 p.m. and during the afternoon, lectures and demonstrations by various war organisations, at their stands in the park.
3.45 p.m.—Lord Mayor receives Allied Consuls and deputations of workpeople at “Golden Lion.”
4 p.m.—Presentation of address to Sergeant Finch. V.C., at the “Golden Lion,” by the Right Hon. Lord Mayor, on behalf of the City Council; also presentation of medals to soldiers.
4.30 p.m.—Aeroplane formations arrive over park give displays of flying.
8 p.m.—Display by the Birmingham Air Defences.

A member of the “Win-the-War ” Day Committee writes:—“ We shall have as guests many American troops, and I desire ask the Birmingham public to give them a most enthusiastic welcome—to let them know by acclamation and cheers how highly we appreciate the important part they are taking in the war, and to impress upon them the fact that we shall back up their endeavours by our work. I  would like to ask those who reside on the route to decorate their houses and windows and to invite their friends to see the procession.