In time of conflict

During the early to mid 20th century, students and staff from across our different predecessor institutions either fought in, or felt the impact, of international conflicts like the First and Second World War.

Their contribution, experiences and memory can be found in the records we hold in our University archive. Each one, an important reminder of how conflict affected lives both on and off campus. 

Shoreditch Technical Institute

At Shoreditch Technical Institute, the London County Council introduced special training classes for the instruction of women and men in munition-making work during World War One. The men under training were either outside the military age-limits or else belong to later Derby or 'starred' groups.

Workers in Munition factories earned between thirty shillings to three guineas a week.

Sir John Cass Technical Institute

At Sir John Cass Technical Institute, students enrolled on courses for Metallurgy, Physics and Chemistry are listed alongside teaching and administrative staff on a Roll of Honour commissioned after the end of the First World War.

Details include their names, with military rank, and the date when killed in action.

Northern Polytechnic Institute

The Northern Polytechnic Institute (known, from 1925 onwards, simply as the Northern Polytechnic) was opened in 1896. In the first year, one thousand students enrolled on courses ranging from English, Mathematics and Chemistry to machine construction, plumbing, dressmaking and millinery, mostly as evening classes. By 1900, the number of students had doubled and by 1911 five-year evening degrees were available, recognised by the University of London.

The Polytechnic's Great Hall – opened in 1897 by the Lord Mayor of London, with seating for 1,300 – was, in addition to being a venue for institutional occasions such as graduation ceremonies and examinations, a well-patronised centre of local entertainment. There were regular programmes offered by the Polytechnic's Operatic Society, its Modern Symphony Orchestra and its Repertory Company from as early as 1911 until the 1980s. The repertoires of all the companies were extensive and the performances - according to newspaper cuttings of the time - were of a high standard. These were all popularly supported until the advent of television when audiences gradually began to fall away.

Its heyday performances - particularly those of the Operatic Society - were such a success that in addition to covering their costs, significant amounts were raised for charitable causes during both World Wars.

The hall was also used for as a shelter and the roof of the main building was used by air raid parties who maintained a constant vigil for airborne attack and fires in the Islington area.

During the first year of the Great War, the Institute’s Chemistry Department was engaged in the preparation of the painkilling drug, Novocaine - used widely by all the armed services - and throughout WWII, the main building on Holloway Road was used as a centre for the Air Training Corps Squadron 1386, the first training corps to be awarded the Proficiency Flag by London Command.

Throughout WWII, teaching work carried on without break, although during periods of heavy bombing, “evening classes” were held in the daytime on Saturdays. During the night of 14th March 1944, a bomb fell on the building itself, but did not explode, although another fell on houses at the back of the building and caused considerable damage and loss of life.