NINETEEN members of the Fell and Rock Climbing Club of the English Lake District recreated a mountain walk which was completed 100 years ago to celebrate Peace Day.

They trekked up Scafell Pike from Great Langdale on Friday and erected the Union Flag and set off five flares. At the summit they met up with other members of the club and representatives of the National Trust who had made the trek up from Wasdale. Iain Gray, of the National Trust, played “The Battle’s O’er” on his bagpipes.

On November 11 1918 the Armistice halted fighting in the Great War of 1914 –18. Following this and detailed discussions between the countries of Europe, The Treaty of Peace was signed, at Versailles, on June 28 1919, which settled the peace terms. It was agreed that to celebrate the true end of the war there should be a Peace Day on July 19 1919 and throughout the United Kingdom there was much celebration and partying.

At the time, the Fell and Rock Climbing Club received a request from the Peace Celebration Beacons and Bonfires Committee to light beacon flares on England's highest mountain.

Preparations were made by the club and five flares and a pole were carried up to the summit using mountain ponies. On July 19 1919 a party set off from the New Dungeon Ghyll and made its way, collecting the flares and pole, as it went, to eventually reach the summit of Scafell Pike.

It was planned to set off the flares at 11pm so the flagpole was put into position during the day and the Union Flag flown accordingly. The flares were set off and a lone piper played “The Battle’s O’er” as a fitting end to an important day.

In 2019 all was carried by the group. The weather was pleasant at the start and appropriate stops were made for refreshment and enjoyment of the views over the nearby mountains, especially Great Gable and the other 11 mountains, which the FRCC had purchased in 1924, in memory of the 20 members who had died in the Great War.