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Pictured: Capt Hardy also kept a second longer signal sent out on behalf of George V at 9.41pm that evening. It read: "Never in its history has the Royal Navy with God's help done greater things for us nor better sustained its old glories and the chivalry of the seas."

The fascinating archive of a World War One naval officer has been unearthed which includes historic signals marking the Armistice.

Captain Eric Hardy, of the 1st Batlle Cruiser Squadron, saw action during the Battle of Jutland in May 1916.

He was serving on HMS Ceres when news came through of Germany's surrender November 1918.

At 10.52am on November 11, a naval signal came through to the light cruiser which simply read: "Admiralty to All Ships, Armistice was signed at 6 A.M. today November 11."

Capt Hardy, fully aware of the signal's enormous significance, kept hold of it as a souvenir.