A still, silent city: People get out of their cars and stand in Adelaide’s streets for Remembrance Day in 1955

PEOPLE stopped their cars halfway across an intersection and got out. They stood still on street corners. This was Remembrance Day in Adelaide in 1955.

Remembrance Day 1955. A still silent city, scene on King William Street, looking South towards the GPO, during the minutes silence 11 Nov 1955. (Pic by staff photographer Bill Krischock)

PEOPLE step out of their cars, some halfway across intersections.

Others stop midway while crossing the road, and stand in complete silence to honour the fallen.

These photos were taken by Advertiser photographers at 11am on November 11, 1955 — Remembrance Day, as the city of Adelaide came to a stop to observe a minute’s silence.

The photos illustrate the significance of Remembrance Day back then and how solemn an occasion it was to both the city and to a nation still with lingering memories of World War II.

Remembrance Day was originally known as Armistice Day and also ‘poppy day’.

It was first observed in London in 1919 by King George V to commemorate the end of hostilities in World War I.

The 1955 Remembrance Day service at the War Memorial on North Terrace. Picture: Bob Horwood

People stop their cars in King William St and get out to stand in silence. Picture: Bill Krischock

The First World War had formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, in accordance with the armistice signed by representatives of Germany and the Allies in the early hours of the morning on that date in 1918.

After World War II the Australian Government agreed to the United Kingdom’s proposal that Armistice Day be renamed Remembrance Day to commemorate those who were killed in both World Wars.

It is a time when people can pay their respects to the thousands of soldiers who have died in battle or suffered in all wars and armed conflict.

People watch the service at the War Memorial on North Tce in 1955. Picture: Bob Horwood

The red remembrance poppy is recognised as the emblem of Remembrance Day because of the poem “In Flanders Fields”.

These poppies bloomed across some of the worst battlefields of Flanders in World War I and their brilliant red colour became a symbol for the blood spilt in the war.

Bill Fennemore, 4, admires the long row of medals worn by Captain H. A. Fyfe, a veteran of the Boer War and both world wars, on November 11, 1955. Picture: Bob Horwood

People observe a minute’s silence on the corner of King William and Hindley streets in 1955. Picture: Bob Cunningham

People stand still at the corner of Rundle and King William streets in Adelaide at 11am on November 11, 1955. Picture: Ron Christie

Services are held at 11am at war memorials and schools across the country, at which the “Last Post” is played and a one-minute silence is observed.

In more recent times Remembrance Day has been largely overtaken as the national day of war commemoration by Anzac Day on 25th public holiday in all states.