Meetings

Meetings were held throughout the War usually on the regular dates, but in the morning or afternoon. Attendances were on a reduced scale, but owing to the fact that many members were on civilian work in the London area, there was always a reasonable attendance. There were fifteen new members during the period of hostilities.

No serious incidents occurred, though there were air raids on London during several meetings, and bombs fell uncomfortably close.

Members details and their Role during World War II

John Guest Peacock - Air Raid Patrol duties at Imperial College

Francis Martin Potter - Lt.Col. Commanding Rangers, 9th R.R.C. 1939-40; returned to Civil Life 1940 at request of the Ministry of Supply; Lt.Col. Commanding 40th Battalion County of London Home Guard 1940-1945.

Alfred Brammall - Civil Defence 1940-45; Gas Identification Officer 1942-45; Air Raid Patrol Warden 1942-45; Fire Guard Leader and Sector Captain 1942-45.

Ernest Wickham Yeoman - Lieutenant Home Guard (Glamorgan) 1940-43; Sergeant Home Guard (2nd London) 1943-44.

Tom Thornley - Work for Ministry of Food. O.B.E. Awarded.

George Alexander Hankins - Research on Ballistics.

Herman Shaw - Senior Fire Guard (Westminster, Sectors 101 & 102), 1943-45.

Harold Talbot - Established a factory and developed the manufacture of electronic components made only in Germany before 1939, which were vital to telecommunications, aerial and surface navigation, precision bombing, etc.

Herbert Schofield - As Principal of Loughborough College was responsible for the technical training of many thousands of members of the Forces; also maintained R.A.F. Rehabilitation Centre at Loughborough.

Alfred Thomas Eggington - Air Raid Patrol Warden; Worked for Air Training Corps and War Saving.

John Knaggs - Civil Defence (Gas Identification Service) 1940-45. Ministry of Food: treatment of foodstuffs contaminated by poison gas. Voluntary Analyst for County of Hampshire. Emergency Food Officer 1940-45.

Percy Roebuck - Organiser for National Service Pinner & Northwood Boy Scouts. Deputy Street Leader Harrow Fire Defence Service.

James Newby - Civil Defence service at Imperial College.

F Peake Sexton - Trained Electrical Engineering Units of Royal Army Service Corps and Radio Units of the Royal Navy, R.A.F. and Women’s Auxiliary Air Force, 1939-1945.

Henry L Matthews - Major Bengal Artillery. Leader of the Bengal Light Aeroplane Patrol. Permanent Member of the Indian Ordnance Service, ending the War as Deputy Director General of Armaments Production. O.B.E.

E Dixon - Ambulance Driver, Federation of Ambulance Personnel, Margate Civil Defence including the evacuation of Dunkirk, Fire Guard Officer 1941-45. Margate Borough Councillor 1939-43.

J Walker - Civil Defence service at Imperial College.

Wilfrid Collins - Major Royal Engineers 1939-1944.

G C Lowry - Major Royal Fusiliers and Royal Army Service Corps 1940-41. Lt.Col. University of London Senior Training Corps, 1943-45. Sector Captain, Westminster Civil Defence 1942-45. Territorial Decoration.

Edward H C Jones - Air Raid Patrol Deputy Sub-Controller 1939-45.

Harold E Park - Civil Defence (Fire Guard) at home and at Imperial College, 1939-45. Technical Work for Government Departments during College Vacations.

W E King - Home Guard for a few months. Civil Defence Fire Guard.

F R Heading - Major, Royal Engineers, 1940-45.

Frederick C Mead - Major, 92nd Lancashire Battalion, Home Guard 194-45.

L Owen - Major, Royal Australian Engineers, 1941-44.

C T Nesbitt - Chief Metallurgist, Royal Ordnance Factory 1939-45.

V C Illing - Government work in connection with the supply of Petroleum Oil.

W R Jones - Civil Defence Imperial College 1939-45.

H B Milner - Civil Defence (Wembley). Gas Identification Officer, Head Fire Guard and acting Deputy Director of Works 1940-45.

Richard A Robbins - Corporal Home Guard and Aircraft Production (Chief Engineer and Senior Technical Officer), 1939-45.

R H Burdick - Sector Captain Civil Defence, Local Fire Guard and Senior Fire Guard 1939-45.

L E C Hughes - Part-time Civil Defence Warden 1939-43.

Sir Henry Thomas Tizard - Chairman, Aeronautical Research Committee to 1943; Member of Council of Minister of Aircraft Production and additional Member of the Air Council 1941-43.

Harold Peters - Mechanical and Electrical Engineer with Air Ministry Directorate General of Works. Attached to R.A.F. In West Africa for 18 months.

T Eastwood - Special work for Ministry of Supply. Local Defence Volunteer in early years. Civil Defence, First Aid Service.

Albert Edward Haffner - Civil Defence rota fop the 24-hour control of Nine Elms Gas Works and Battersea Holder Station.

Christian P Wadsworth - Major, 18th Gloucestershire (City of Bristol) Battalion Home Guard 1940-44.

Joseph Marshall - Captain, South African Union Defence Forces.

John Sydney Flashman - Electrical Lieutenant, Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve 5 years minesweeping, 2 years home waters, 3 years overseas.

H J Thomas Ellingham - Lieutenant 2nd London Home Guard 1942-44. Sundry part-time duties for Ministry of Supplies.

John M Chandler - Lieutenant Royal Army Ordnance Corps and Captain Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers 1942-45.

Humphrey R Hewer - Bureau of Animal Population, University of Oxford (under A.R.C.) 1939-41. Ministry of Food, 1941-45.

J A Pickard - Invented and developed the Metofilter. Civil Defence part-time warden.

J Watt & S E Rowe - Civil Defence part-time. Were jointly responsible to a large degree for the safety of all important College buildings, when a large bomb fell in 1941.

Albert G Moore - Corporal 2nd London Home Guard 1942-45.

Basil N Robbins - Home Guard 1940-42. Civil Defence part-time Warden 1942-45. Chemical Warfare Research.

Ronald Clifford Hockey - Served in R.A.F. throughout the war reaching the rank of Group Captain. Awarded D.S.O. (Distinguished Service Order), D.F.C. (Distinguished Flying Cross) 1939-45 Star, Air Crew Europe Star and Clasp, Africa Star and Clasp, Italy Star, Defence Medal, General Service Medal with Oak Leaf (Mention), Air Efficiency Award, Czech Military Cross, Polish Cross of Valour, French Croix de Guerre and Palm.

W Sowden-Jones - Civil Defence (part-time), Westminster 1941-45. Admiralty scientific research 1944-45.

Richard P Woollard - Flight Lieutenant R.A.F. Voluntary Reserve Training Branch 1939-45.

Obituaries

C T Archer - Lecturer in Physics, Imperial College, killed by a buzz bomb 24th June 1944.

H W J Hathaway - Research Chemist, accidentally killed when handling a portion of an enemy bomb, 4th July 1944.

Name of Founder and Occupation in 1923

Sir Arthur Henry McMahon - Member of Governing Body of Imperial College

Hugh Fletcher Moulton - Barrister at Law

John William Hinchley - Professor of Chemical Engineering

Charles Samuel Garland - Member of Parliament

Albert Taylor - Civil Servant (Board of Education)

Joseph Charles Ross Le Manquais - Secondary School Master

Herbert Brook Perren Humphries - Chemical Engineer

Joseph Nelly - Mining Engineer

Frank Lord - University Teacher (Mathematics)

George Alexander Hankins - Research Engineer

Herman Shaw - Civil Servant (Board of Education)

Tom Thornley - Chemical Engineer

Ernest Wickham Yeoman - Technical Chemist

John Guest Peacock - Surveyor

John George Chambré Leach - Mining Engineer

Alfred Brammell - Geologist

James Leslie Mennell - Mining Engineer

Alexander Gow - Secretary - Imperial College

Harold Talbot - General Manager

Francis Martin Potter - Chemical Engineer

William Richard Hodgkinson - Professor of Chemistry (Retired)

Harry Jackson - Civil Engineer

Edwin Morris - Science Teacher

William Young - Superintending Civil Engineer (Admiralty)

William Anderson - Student Royal School of Mines

Herbert Schofield - Principal Loughborough College

Alfred Thomas Eggington - Schoolmaster

Arthur Bradley Lister - Secretary of Public Companies

Dear Sir and Wor. Brother,

In submitting for the consideration of the Most Worshipful the Grand Master the enclosed petition (in 2 sheets) for the grant of a warrant for a new Lodge under the title "The Imperial College Lodge" I am desired by the would be founders to place before you the following points in support.

The Imperial College under a Royal Charter of 1907 incorporated in one body the three following important and widely known Institutions:-

The Royal College of Science

The Royal School of Mines

The City and Guilds (Engineering) College.

It holds a leading position throughout the British Empire in all branches of training and research in Science and Technology especially in their relation to industry. Thousands of its past students are holding important scientific and industrial positions throughout the four quarters of the Globe and some 3 to 4 hundred students go out from it into the world each year.

In view of the strong "esprit de corps" existing throughout both the large permanent staff and the past and present students of the College the desirability of a College Lodge has long been recognised. It is felt that this would add another bond of union among those scattered over distant lands: promote the maintenance of college ties and interests while abroad and afford a common meeting ground for all when at home. There need be no anxiety as the permanence or strength of the Lodge.

It is hoped moreover that a Lodge such as Imperial College Lodge in its connection with the higher branches of Science and Technology may indirectly effect an even wider purpose, - in attracting to Freemasonry more of those leading Scientists who for some reason or other are now but seldom found in the ranks of Freemasonry.

Of the 28 Brethren who desire to found this new Lodge all are personally and directly connected with the College, - 2 are Governors, 7 are members of the Professorial or Managerial Staff and the remaining 19 are ex-students.

In regard to the name by which it is desired to call the Lodge I should point out that there is no other Imperial College of any kind known to exist in the British Empire, and the likelihood of any other College of this name in the future is, in these days of imperial decentralization becoming increasingly remote. In any case the Imperial College feel that they have justly established such a right to this name as is never likely to be challenged.

The petition is submitted for favourable consideration with the hope that the Most Worshipful the Grand Master may be pleased to grant the desired warrant.

I remain

Dear Sir and Worshipful Brother

Yours faithfully and fraternally

Alexander Gow

Imperial College was formed in 1907 by the federation of three existing institutions: the Royal College of Science, the Royal School of Mines and the City & Guilds College. Each had its own traditions and awarded its own qualifications (ARCS, ARSM and ACGI). In 1908 the College joined the University of London but it always retained a degree of autonomy, until finally becoming independent in 2007.

In early 1923 a petition with 28 signatories was sent to United Grand Lodge of England, requesting that the Grand Master consider authorising the formation of a Freemasons’ Lodge at the College. Of the 28 petitioners, 2 were Governors of the College, 7 were members of the Professorial or Administrative Staff and 19 were ex-students.

In his covering letter Alexander Gow, the first Secretary of Imperial College, described the strong ‘esprit de corps’ that existed throughout the large permanent staff and past and present students at the College. He stated that a Lodge would add another bond of union among those scattered over distant lands, promote the maintenance of College ties and interests while abroad and afford a common meeting ground for all when at home.

The Lodge was consecrated on 22nd October 1923 at Freemasons’ Hall, London. The first and second Worshipful Masters of the Lodge, Colonel Sir Henry McMahon and Major The Hon. Hugh Fletcher Moulton, were both members of the Governing Body of the College.

Until about 1960, the membership consisted mainly of former students, academic staff and senior members of the administration. From that time onwards members of the technical, artisan and domestic staff joined and the membership expanded to cover the whole spectrum of College life.

Members of the Lodge have included at least two Rectors of Imperial College, two Members of Parliament, a Diplomat, an Editor of Nature Magazine, four Fellows of the Royal Society, a Chief Engineer for the BBC, a Surveyor for the Channel Tunnel and the Car Park Attendant for Imperial College.

The Lodge had the huge honour of hosting the United Grand Lodge of England's Prestonian Lecture at the College in 1999. The Prestonian Lecture is delivered annually and is the only lecture authorised by the United Grand Lodge of England.

In 2003 the Lodge became a Founder Lodge of the Metropolitan Grand Lodge of London and the inaugural Festival for the Association of University Lodges took place in Imperial College in 2004.

The Lodge continues to promote the sentiments that Alexander Gow and the petitioners set out in 1923, which are still prevalent today, in an era when Imperial College is a University in its own right.