On Armistice Day, members of Imperial College London gathered for a remembrance ceremony to reflect on those who were killed in the World Wars.
The ceremony, prepared by Andrew Wilson (College Chaplain) and Anne Barrett (Archivist and Corporate Records Manager), was a chance for staff and students to reflect and commemorate the lives of those killed in World Wars One and Two, as well as more recent conflicts.
"We use today to remember those who died fighting in World Wars One and Two, as well as those who are victims of conflict and violence today," said Andrew.
The ceremony started at the Exhibition Road main entrance, then proceeded to the City and Guilds Building, the Royal College of Medicine, and ended at the old Royal College of Science Building.
Re-discovered war memorials
The annual wreath-laying ceremony had special significance this year due to the recent rediscovery and restoration of a Royal College of Science (RCS) WW2 memorial that had been lost for over 50 years.
The ceremony took place at the remaining wing of the old RCS building, known as RCS1, now home to both the restored WW2 memorial and a newly recreated WW1 memorial.
The WW2 memorial was initially lost in the 1970s during significant renovation work. After more than half a century, it was unexpectedly found in a storage area in the Bessemer Building in the summer of 2024.
The discovery motivated the RCS Association (RCSA) to take on the task of not only restoring the WW2 plaque but also recreating the WW1 memorial with the help of historical photographs and documents, kept by the Imperial Archives and Corporate Records team.
The photographs allowed the original WW1 memorial to be faithfully recreated, with the names of those engraved as well as the materials and techniques used in the lost plaque.
"This project shows the value of our archives," said Anne, "We can commemorate and celebrate what happens at Imperial, and commemorate the people who died fighting in the wars for freedom."
The ceremony included a moment of silence, along with speeches that commemorated the sacrifices made by RCS alumni and the broader Imperial community during the two World Wars.
The memorials, now displayed near the entrance of RCS1, serve as enduring reminders of the past, giving current and future generations a place for reflection. The RCSA has expressed gratitude for the university's support in restoring these pieces of history and for the collaboration that made the project possible.
"I think everyone will agree that the memorials look stunning, and I think it's important that we have been able to re-dedicate them to the students and staff that died fighting," said Mike Munroe, President of the RCSA.
