Culturally significant artefacts have completed their journey to Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, following a handover event at the University of Cumbria.
The relics, believed to be a lock of Emperor Tewodros’ hair and a piece of cloth stained with his blood, had previously been held in the archive at the King’s Own Royal Regiment Museum in Lancaster but were never displayed.
They were formally handed over to the Ethiopian Heritage Authority in St Martin’s Chapel on the university’s Bowerham Road campus, the now-defunct regiment’s former base.
Colonel David Bates, who is a senior lecturer in disaster response at the University of Cumbria, said: “This has been a celebration, really.
“It’s been a long project, finding out the history of these remains and executing the repatriation of them back to Ethiopia.
“For me here at the university, it’s really a demonstration of how close we are with the community – the museum, the city, the mayoralty and the military.”
“I’m a trustee of the King’s Own Royal Regiment Museum Trust, as well as a lecturer here at the university, and responsible for the Armed Forces Covenant and Ministry of Defence Employment Recognition Scheme, so this is a really important demonstration of our commitment to those schemes and, more importantly, to the people who benefit from them.”
An Anglo-Indian expedition to Abyssinia, now Ethiopia, was launched in 1868 in a bid to free hostages held by Emperor Tewodros II.
The troops were led by Lieutenant General Sir Robert Napier, whose direct descendant, Lord Robert Napier, attended the ceremony in Lancaster on May 12.
Representing the Napier family alongside his sister, Ruth Self, he presented a gold bracelet – given by Emperor Tewodros to the wife of one of the hostages – to the EHA.
yob Derillo, an Ethiopian expert from the British Library, gave a speech at the repatriation ceremony in Lancaster, as did Colonel Robin Jackson, chairman of the museum trust.
University of Cumbria chaplain Clare Shepherd and Lancaster City Museum manager Carolyn Dalton also spoke.
The artefacts were formally transferred to Dr Alula Pankhurst after being blessed by Father Abate Gobena.
Dr Pankhurst, who was representing Professor Abebaw Ayalew, director general of the EHA, said it was a truly moving occasion.
Another handover ceremony of the artefacts was held later in the week in Addis Ababa.