On 4^th August 2014, Piccadilly Circus advertising screens were replaced with a roll of honour to remember Westminster people who died in World War I. This was part of Lights Out, a UK wide campaign organised by 14-18 Now, which saw lights being switched off all over Britain between 10 and 11pm to mark the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War in the UK.

The campaign's name was taken from Edward Grey, the Foreign Minister on the eve of the war who said that, "The lamps are going out all over Europe; we shall not see them lit again in our lifetime."

 Britain declared war on Germany at 11pm on 4^th August 1914.

Over the hour the screen listed the names of 2,027 Westminster people who died during World War I.

The photographs and list of names had been carefully put together by Adrian Autton, Archives Manager, and the staff and volunteers at Westminster Archives.

The entrance to Downing Street

Tonight the government buildings in Whitehall took part in Lights Out.

Spectra by Ryoji Ikeda - A beam of light from Victoria Tower Gardens by the Palace of Westminster

The Cenotaph - a place for quiet contemplation and reflection

The author of this blog is a qualified City of London and City of Westminster Tour Guide who leads guided walks combining world famous landmarks with hidden treasures often missed by the crowds 

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