Cross Keys November 2022 (Freemasonry)

The Cross Keys

the

Military lodges have been a feature of the November Cross Keys for many years now.

their numbers have dwindled since the Napoleonic Wars. In 1755, 29 lodges existed with travelling warrants see Page 3&5forthecurrentsituation.

Thearticleonthe71stHLIisbasedonalecturegivenatthePGLofGlasgowSeminarin August. It’s a fascinating history of a lodge attachedtoaregimentwhichwascommonplace in the 19th Century. In fact, over 90 Regiments of Foot had lodges attached to them, some with two lodges, one in each battalion.

AsweseewithBro.Baz’sarticleontheRAF lodge, these lodges are not just Army. The history of military masonry alone is such a large subject that there is probably too much now for one brother to research the wholetopic.

The banner of the HLI/RHF Lodge

showing the HLI cap badge with the ‘Assaye’ honour and City of Glasgow. See Page 12.

Current Military Lodges

The Grand Lodge of Scotland lists 4 Lodges with military titles, but these are not longer trulyMilitaryLodges. Themostrecentbeing Lodge Kajaki No. 1848 which appeared in CrossKeysApril2018. InEngland,theCircuit of Service Lodges, formed in 1993 and currently comprising 42 Lodges, exists to promote comradeship and fraternal contact between military masons. To qualify as a member of the circuit a lodge must have a distinguishablemilitarycultureandethos.

Initially32lodgesjoined. Threefurtherlodges joined the Circuit, Rosemary Lodge. No 2851,originallythelodgeoftheArtistsRifles (later21SASTA)andlaterdrawingitsmembership from Special Forces; Pegasus Forces Lodge, No 9393, an Airborne Forces lodge based in Hampshire; and Brothers in Arms No 9540, a lodge based on Salisbury Plain. The list of member lodges reached ten with the addition of United Services Lodge, No 9605, based in Bridgend, South WalesandtheCircuitgrewto thirty eight. Victoria Rifles Lodge, No 822, was rescued whenonthepointofhanding initswarrantbyagroupofPastMastersfrom military Lodges. It has since been recognised as an Installed Masters’ Lodge and is a genuinelyall Serviceforuminwhichthemembers and their guests spend time in perfect peace andharmony.

The more recent additions are White Ensign LodgeontheoutskirtsofBirmingham;InArduis Fidelis, members of which are from the RAMC and Army Medical Services; Gostling Murray Lodge, named after Lt Col Gostling Murray who at the time commanded the 8th MiddlesexRifleVolunteerCorps(in1912the Lodgebecame'open'toofficersofanyBranch of His Majesty's forces); Aldershot Army &

Navy Lodge; East Lancashire Centurion Lodge; United Service Lodge of Derbyshire, Queensman Lodge, which took on the warrantofJustinianLodgeinMay2012,thenewly formed Armed Forces Lodge in Newport, Gwent,ConnaughtArmy&NavyLodge,ComradesLodgefromLondon,theReserveForces Lodge of Northumbria, London Irish Rifles' Lodge, the new Combined Services Lodge in Berkshire, Aldershot Royal Engineers, Parachute Regiment Lodge, Middlesex Armed Forces Lodge, Bloomsbury Rifles, Pro Patria Lodge,Invictus,LondonScottishRifles,Tudor Rose, Royal Rose, London Rifle Brigade, Shropshire Combined Services and the most recentaddition,MarineLodgeinBristol.

The Circuit participates as a platoon in the annual march past the Cenotaph on RemembranceSunday.

Some more lodges have been added to the list Combined Services Lodge No.9900 and various newer lodges which can be seen on Page 5, and a new lodge using an old charter for historical research still to be consecrated, both EnglishConstitution.

Of course, two of the most well known are Irish lodges still epitomising the travelling warrant idea. They are Glittering Star Lodge No.322(seeCrossKeysNovember2020)and St. Patrick’s Lodge No.295 (see Cross Keys April 2022). Both lodges consist of current and ex serving brethren and are extremely popularlodges,especiallyforvisitors.

I hope thisis correct, but if not pleaselet me know.

Irish Military Lodge

From the dust and darkness of forgotten archives in the library of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts are being brought to light invaluable documents of Masonic history. One of the most recent discoveries, a set of by laws bearing date of 1806, governing a military lodge then being held in Ballickmoyler, Ireland, is entirely in handwriting. Striking contrasts with present day practice in balloting,conferringofdegreesandfirmnessofdiscipline give the reader a lively concept of whatMasonrymeant130yearsago.

The brethren of ancient times had to attend lodge. They were fined if they did not. Refreshments and hospitality were important attributes of lodge nights. But the visiting brother who took part of the fraternal cheer, and failed to become an affiliated member after his first visit, could not continue the practice upon such a flimsy precept as “dues inmylodgebackEastareadollarayearless: that’swhyIdon’tdemit.”

Thevisitingbrothercontributedhissharetowardsexpensesbypayingthreeshillingsand three pence forhis entertainment. The treasurer took no chances, either; he got his moneybeforethebrotherleft.

Of the thirty two rules adopted, January 1, 1806, and bearing names of Bro. Captain Lucas as Master and Bro. Lieutenant Bailie as secretary, the most significant follow. Every Brother must complete himself in a Sash and Apron according to his degree, and unless he is so dressed cannot be allowed to sit in the LodgeorworkwiththeBrethren.

Every Brother must wear in the Lodge a Ribband in his Breast of the Degrees he has obtainedinMasonry,inNeglectofwhichheisto be fined for each Omission, One British Shillingatthe Discretion of the Worshipful Master. For the AdmissionofaBrotherfromanyotherLodge to become a member of this: No less a Sum than one Guinea will be received along with hisCertificate.

If a Brother proposes a Candidate he must

lodge with the Petition Two Guineas, otherwise such petition cannot be taken notice of. But if such Petition does not be balloted in, theMoneywillbereturned. AnyPersonproposed and meeting the Approbation of the LodgewillpayforEntering,PassingandRaisingtheSumofThreeGuineasandaHalfwith aCrownfortheTyler.

Each Monthly Night the Tyler is to receive fromtheTreasureroutoftheBoxOneBritish Shilling for his Attendance. Every Memberis to pay each Monthly Night to the Treasurer threeBritishShillingsashisDues.Ifheisnot preparedwiththisSumwhencalledupon,he isonthefollowingNighttopayaCrownadditional if not ready then, on the succeeding Night,HalfaGuinea,andifhestillperseveres he is to be suspended from the Body during theirPleasure.

Any Member using disrespectful Language to another in the Lodge Room, is to be immediately ordered out, and if his Conduct should appear to the remaining Members to be improper or disgraceful to the Fraternity, they maycallitintoQuestionanddismissfromthe LodgeduringPleasure.

TheDuespaidinbyeachMemberistobeaccounted for every three Months at which TimeBillsofall Expendituresduringthat Periodmustbeproducedandifanysavingmay appear,itistobelaidoutfortheGoodofthe Lodge in whatsoever Manner the Members maythinkfit.

WhenaCandidateisproposedheistobeballoted for and if three black Beans appear against him there is no Occasion for any further Explanation; But if only one or two appears, the Members putting them in must show the Lodge a sufficient Reason to think suchCandidatewouldnotbeanOrnamentto theFraternity.

If any Difference should appear between BrotherstheyaretoreferittotheLodge,but iftheytakeitonthemselvestosettlesuchDifference in any Manner unbecoming a Man andaMason,suchBrotherswillbebroughtto

Irish Military Lodge (ctd)

Tryal&suspendedforsuchLengthofTimeas theBodymaythinkfit.

Every Brother is to repair to his Home after the Lodge being over Soberly and Quietly as his Conduct will be particularly looked into on these Nights. For if Quarrels and Disturbances might happen it is immediately laid to the Charge of the Masons which brings DisgraceontheFraternity.

Any Brother not attending at a Quarter past due Summons on Lodge Nights will be fined Sixpence Halfpenny One Hour, a Shilling

TheentireNight, aCrown exceptin Casesof Sickness and Regimental Duties, and that at

theDiscretionoftheWorshipfulMaster.

Every visiting Member after the first Visit if notlodginghisCertificatemustpaythreeand threepence.TheMoneytobedepositedwith thetreasurerasnoCreditcanbegiven.

AllexpensesofRefreshments&c&ctobesettled before the Brethren depart from the Lodge.

Bro. Craighead was introduced to Masonry in St. George Lodge No.190 in his native city of Aberdeen, Scotland. A charter member of Thistle Lodge No.900, Yonkers, New York and served as Master in 1917.

More Recent Military Lodges

RAF Lodge No.7335 (EC)

The Royal Air Force Lodge No 7335 was consecrated on 30th March 1954, at Freemasons’ Hall in London, by the Most Worshipful Grand Master Mason of the United Grand Lodge of England. It was founded to unite, in bonds of Masonic friendship, Brethren who are, or havebeen,CommissionedOfficersoftheRoyalAirForce,RoyalNavalAirService,andRoyal Flying Corps, many of whom were serving intheWarMinistryatthetime;theRoyalAir Force in this connection includes its AuxiliariesandReserves.

Although there had been masonic airmen who had clearly been members of lodges sincetheformationoftheRoyalAirForce,on 1st April 2018, there had been no specific RoyalAirForceLodge1. Itisunderstoodthat at ameetingofGrandLodgein theearly50s, Air Vice Marshal C P Brown was sat next to Grand Secretary, Sir Sydney White, who commented that there was a plethora of army lodges, and the Navy Lodge, why wastherenotonededicatedtothe Royal Air Force? Subsequently, the AVM spoke to Air Cdre John Titmas who, in turn, wrote to all and sundry whom he knew to be masons to gauge interest in formingsuchalodge.Therewasclearlygreatsupport and a large number of Brethren who wished to become members of a Lodge for RAF Officers serving in the Air Ministry in London.

A meeting of Past Masters was convened at Freemasons’ Hall on 20th July 1953, under the Chairmanship of Right Worshipful Bro MarshaloftheRoyalAirForcetheLordNewell GCB OM GCMB CBE AM PGW. It was agreedthattherewouldbesufficientfounder members (over 80), with a number of other Brethren indicating that they would be willingtojoinaftertheconsecration.

Themeetingagreedthatthe‘RoyalAirForce’ was the most appropriate name for the Lodge, and it was considered advisable to

seek Her Majesty’s permission to use the ‘Royal’ prefix and to confirm that the Air Council had no objection to the use of the title. Lord Newall (founder of the lodge see P.8) undertook to make enquiries on both these points and did so without any adverse response. The meeting further agreed that the qualification for membership should be commissioned service within the Royal Air Force,theRoyalNavalAirService,ortheRoyal Flying Corps; and the By laws should be drafted to make it clear that this included commissioned service within the RAF Volunteer Reserve, Royal Auxiliary Air Force, and the RAF Regiment. It was agreed that strict Emulationritualshouldbeadopted(Nigerian Ritual).

The Royal Air Force Lodge was consecrated by the Most Worshipful Grand Master, The Right Honourable Laurence Roger Lumley KG GCSI GCIE GCVO TD, The 11th Earl of Scarborough, on 30th March 1954; the ceremony was carried out in Lodge No. 1 at Freemasons’Hall.Attheconsecration there were 83 founder membersoftheLodge,withthefollowing brethren installed as Master, SWandJWrespectively:

W Bro Air Vice Marshal C P BROWN,CB, CBE, DFC W Bro Group Captain W P Wilson, CBE W Bro Air Commodore J E R SOWMAN

ItisnotentirelyclearwhytheMostWorshipfulGrandMasterelectedtocarryouttheceremony himself, but it is likely because this was the first Lodge in Freemasons’ Hall to beardirectassociationtotheRoyalAirForce by using the ‘Royal’ Prefix, it was meeting in Freemasons’ Hall, and that the formation of the Lodge was sponsored by numerous seniorLondonFreemasons,includingLordNewell.

At the initial meeting, virtually all officer ranks from Flight Lieutenant to Marshal of the Royal Air Force was represented. The Al-

RAF Lodge No.7335 (EC) (ctd)

dershot Army and Navy Lodge No. 1971, the Navy Lodge No. 2612, and the Pathfinder Lodge No. 7255 (See Page 21), who are still strongly associated with our Lodge, were all present at our first meeting, and all three continue to participate in our annual Installation Ceremonies when their WM, or his representative, actasSW, JWandIG. TheFestiveBoard, after the Consecration Ceremony, took place at the Connaught Rooms, at whichthenewMaster,WBroAir Vice MarshalCP Brown presided and, after the Loyal Toast, proposed the health of the Most Worshipful Grand Master Mason. The RAF LodgehasheldFestiveBoardsinnumerouslocationsoverthe years, but currently we hold the Installation Festive Board in theRoyalAir ForceClub(128 Piccadilly), and theotherthree regular meeting Festive Boards in the Freemasons Arms (81 82LongAcre).

At the timeof itsconsecration, theLodge crest was approved (seeaboveandright)andtherightofmemberstowearaRoyal Air Force (or RNAS/RFC) tie when attending Lodge meetingswasgranted;that privilegecontinuestothisday.Moreover,whetherservingorretired,theBrethrenareaccordedthe respect of their military titles, both in the ritual ceremonies, andwithinanyLodgeminutesorothercorrespondence.However, masonic rank holds precedence and we are all consider eachotherequalasBrethren.

Sinceitsfoundation,thenumberoffoundermembershasinexorablydwindledand,withthe passingofWBroFltLtNeilKer,whotooktheChairasWMin1966andagainin2003(our 50thAnniversaryyear),allhavenowpassedtotheGrandLodgeabove.However,theLodge hasbeenfortunateinattractingasteadyflowofjoiningmembersandinitiates,andtherefore ouroverallmembershipsizehasremainedfairlyconsistentataround60 65members.

The Royal Air Force Lodge currently still meets in Freemasons Hall: on the 2nd Monday in January; 4th Monday in March; 3rd Friday in May; and the 3rd Monday in October (Installation).

My thanks to Bro. Group Captain Barry E Dale PM LGR, Secretary Royal Air Force Lodge No. 7335.

Ifanybrotherwouldlikeafullerhistorywithnamesetc,pleaseemailmeandIwillpasson thedocumentverykindlyprovidedbytheauthorBro.Bazabove(Secretary)whoprovided aninterestingfact:

Although there was no ‘Royal Air Force’ titled Lodge, there were a number of predecessor Lodges with RAF connections: Ad Astra Lodge No 3808, for Air Inspection Directorate Staff (1917); Daedalus Lodge No 3843, for RNAS & RAF Staff at RAF Cranwell (1918); Mercury Lodge No 4581, for Air Staff & Members of the Royal Aeronautical Society (1923); Hermes Lodge No 5532, for staff at RAF Gosport (1935); Pegasus Lodge No 5637, for personnel at RAF Halton (1936); Venture Adventure Lodge No 6022, for those connected with the Air Training Corps in London (1944); Albatross Lodge No 6164, for those connected with the Air Training Corps in Manchester (1945); and Pathfinder Lodge No 7255, for those who served with the Pathfinder Force RAF Bomber Command 1942 45 (1953).

RAF Lodge No.7335 (EC) (ctd)

Bro. Cyril Louis Norton Newall was born on 15 February 1886, the son of Lieutenant Colonel William Potter NewalloftheIndianArmy. HewaseducatedattheRoyal MilitaryCollege,Sandhurst.

In 1905 he joined the Royal Warwickshire Regiment and servedintheZakkhaKhelExpeditionin1908. Inthefollowing year he transferred to the 2nd (King Edward’s Own)Gurkhas,withwhomheremaineduntil1914when hejoinedtheRoyalFlyingCorps.

HeservedintheFirstWorldWar,beingmentionedindispatches three times and was awarded the Albert Medal (first class) and, also, the C.B.E. In 1919 he was transferred to the Royal Air Force. He commanded units of the Royal Flying CorpsandRoyalAirForceintheFirstWorldWar,andservedasChiefoftheAirStaffduring thefirstyearsoftheSecondWorldWar. From1941to1946hewastheGovernor Generalof NewZealandandalsoGrandMasterintheGLofNZ.

"When we have won the war, we and our children will then have to win the peace. It is for us as Freemasons to contribute our part' to this by putting into practice the ideals that are behind the Ritual."

Marshal of the Royal Air Force, The Right Honourable, The Lord Newall, GCB, OM, GCMG, CBE,AM.

These words are as fitting today as they were 76 years ago if we look at how we come throughtheglobalpandemic.

The Royal Arch Headdress in Antrim

The headdress below is from the chapter in Larne in the Province of Antrim, Northern Ireland. Unlikeanychapterregaliatoday,the mitre probably took its origin from the old grenadier regiment mitres as seen to the right.

The mitre for the 3rd Principal often had the phrase ‘Holiness to the Lord’ as shown and also the photo at the bottom the 1st P would wear the crown as shown,the2ndPoftenaturban style hat, often miss shaped in manyoldphotos. Thiscustomis still maintained in some US chapters in which the High Priestwearsamitreandbreastplate. Today, these are rarely

worn in this country and inScotlandsomechapers have opted not to wear any headdress. Perhaps with Covid, this wearing of shared regalia might berevisited.

Congratulations to the 8 brethren from the Province who received their Mark degree from a team made up from the Commissioned and elected office bearers from the Provincial Grand Lodge of Renfrewshire West. The Charity Mark degree raised a total of £412 for the Provincial Grand Master's Charity fund.

A unique event greatly enjoyed by all and a special thanks to Lodge Firth of Clyde, Gourock No. 626 for their kind assistance in hosting the event.

Royal Arch Chapter No 615: Crown.Royal Arch Chapter No.615, Larne: Mitres

Royal Irish Regiment

Sir Ralph Abercromby

Bro. Abercromby was born in 1734 in Menstrie Castle, Clackmannanshire, Scotland. He was educated at Rugby School, a co educational school in Rugby, England. He went on to the University of Edinburgh before being sent to Leipzig University in Germany. At Leipzig University he studied civil law with the idea of pursuing a careerasanadvocate.

WhenhereturnedfromGermany Abercromby expressed a strong desire for Military service.In1756acommissionwas securedforhiminthe3rdDragoon Guards. He served with his regiment in the Seven Years'War.

Abercromby rose through the intermediategradestotherankoflieutenant colonel of the regiment (1773) and brevet colonel in 1780, and in 1781, he became colonel of the newly raised King's Irish infantry. When that regiment was disbanded in 1783, he retired on half pay. He

also entered Parliament as MP forClackmannanshire(1774 1780).

Afteradistinguishedmilitarycareer,risingto the rank of Lt General, Abercromby was sent to recover Egypt from the French in 1801. At the Battle of Alexandria, Abercromby was injured being shot through the thigh. Bro. Abercromby dismounted from his horse and ‘tookpartinthemelee’supporting his troops in the hand to hand combat. Seven days later on March 28th, 1801 he passed awayfromhiswoundsonboard theHMSFoudroyantwhichwas mooredintheharbour.

Bro. Abercromby was initiated into Canongate Kilwinning Lodge No 2, Edinburgh in 1753 while his grandson, Colonel the Hon. George Abercromby, (afterwards 3rd Lord Abercromby), would be appointed ProvincialGrandMasterofStirlingshire.

Trafalgar Royal Arch Jewel

This stunning RA jewel which depicts Lord Nelson’s flagship, HMS Victory, was presented to Comp. Edward Madgwick Roe Royal Navy in 1885 86. The chapter was consecrated in 1875 and linked to Royal Navy College Lodge No.1593 at the Royal Naval College, Greenwich, London. Bro. Roe stayedattheRNCollegeHospitaluntilhisretirement.Hediedin1925,aged 88.

My thanks to the Jewels of the Craft Club who can be contacted at Contact Us Jewels of the Craft (jotc.co.uk) shouldyoubeinterestedinthisfascinatinghobby.

18th Century Military Commanders

Two compelling examples are Sir Adolphus Oughton (1684 1736) and Sir Robert Rich (1685 1768 shown below), members of the Duke of Richmond’sHornTavernLodge.

Adolphus Oughton, later MP for Coventry, had served with Marlborough in Europe and was commissioned captain and lieutenant colonel in the1stRegimentofFoot.HereturnedtoEngland on the accession of George I and was appointed GroomoftheBedchambertothePrinceofWales.

In 1715, his political loyalty was rewarded with promotiontocolonelandappointmentasthefirst majoroftheColdstreamGuards.Hebecamelieutenant colonel of the regiment two years later. His proximity to the Crown and to Sir Robert Walpole brought promotion to brigadier in 1735 andthecolonelcyofthe8thDragoonGuardsfrom 1733 36. Oughton was also friends with Frederick, Prince of Wales, and his example may have beenoneofseveralfactorsinthelatter’sdecision tobecomeafreemason.

(1727),majorgeneral(1735)andlieutenantgeneral (1739). In 1757 he became commander in chief and Field Marshal. The office of Field Marshal,themostseniorrankinthearmy,wascreatedin1736.ApredecessorswasViscountCobham, appointed 1742, a member of the Lodge at the Queen’sHead,Bath.

Rich’s formidable military and Masonic connectionswerecontinuedbyhisson,James,whocommanded the 37th Foot at Minden in 1759. James was active in both English and Scottish Freemasonry.HebecameProvincialGrandMasterofMinorca (English Constitution) in 1752 when stationed on the island, and joined Canongate KilwinninglodgeinEdinburghafterbeingpostedto Scotland in 1754. He was Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Scotland (1769 71) while at the time serving as commander in chief of British forcesinScotland.

Like Oughton, Robert Rich, successively MP for Dunwich (1715 22), Bere Alston (1724 27) and St Ives (1727 41), was a political supporter of Walpole and gained preferment accordingly as GroomoftheBedchambertothePrinceofWales and to George II. Militarily, Rich was promoted colonel and given command of the 13th Hussars (1722 25),8thLightDragoons(1725 31)andthe King’s RegimentofCarabiniers (1731 33), where he succeeded his fellow freemason and member oftheHornTavern,LordDelorraine.

Richalsocommandedthe1stTroopHorseGrenadierGuards(1733 35),officersofwhichregiment weremembersoftheLodgemeetingattheMitre in Reading, the first Masonic Lodge formed in Berkshire. Rich was promoted brigadier general

71st Highland Light Infantry

“Many of us know by experience that war consists of long periods of boredom, interspersed by brief intervals of intense excitement and terror.” Little wonder then, that, twohundredyearsago, longbeforeN.A.A.F.I. orE.N.S.A.hadbeendreamtof,thepracticeof Freemasonry solaced the soldier in out of the waystations,anditsprinciplesliftedhim above the weariness, and even sordidness of hislot.Withinthelifetimeofmanyofus,fora large section of the population, to 'list for a soldier wasthelastdisgracealadcouldinflict onhisfamily.Twoworldwars,whenthebulk ofthefitpopulationwascalledupontoserve in the fighting forces have provedthat theQueen'scoatis notthebadgeofthefailure,the ne'er do well or the blackguard.

ItwastheIrishinventionofthe Warrant, which madetheerection of travelling Lodges possible.Thereislittledoubtthat,to the soldier mason the Warrant of his Lodge held a place in his heart, second only to The Colours.” Thisistheintroductiontoaninteresting article by Bro. R. E. Parkinson when writingaboutIrishwarrants.

Looking closer to home, the Highland Light Infantry (HLI City of Glasgow Regiment) is known to most in the west of Scotland and furtherafield. Theregimentwasinitiallythe 71stRegimentofFoot andaScottishcharter was issued in 1759 although at this stage it was probably the Fraser Highlanders rather thantheHLI.

However, due to the regiment being stationed in Dublin in 1801, a charter from the GrandLodgeofIrelandwasissuedin1801as Lodge No. 895 and worked until the Commanding Officer issued an order to return it in1833anderasedfromtheGrandLodgeroll in 1858. A duplicate was issued in 1808 (very common for military lodges to lose itemsduetofightingbroad the71stwasin Buenos Ayres at this time fighting the French) itmayhavebeentoincludethenew

name of the regiment which now had Glasgow in the title awarded by King George III. Sadlyatthispoint,theirsilverwareandother documents were also lost although a couple remain in the Buenos Ayres Museum. However,proofexistswhy.

Grand Lodge records note the events as to how this Lodge lost its Warrant as follows: "This Lodge and another Lodge associated with this action, No. 356 at this time in the 9th Dragoons (1760 1818) formed the army whichin1806occupiedMonteVideo,andon the 27th June, General William Carr Beresford, subsequently famous during the Peninsular War as Marshal Beresford, captured Buenos Ayres with the 71st Regiment. The Spaniards retook the town almost immediately,andthewholeofthe71st becameprisoners of war."

It is also believed the warrant is also preserved in the museum which has theguidon(hangsfrombagpipes)below.

Apparently it it was captured in one of the forts, and the brethren may have been at labourwhendisturbedbyLiniersandhisgang of cowans and intruders. The 71st remained prisonerstillJuly1807whenastrongBritish force under Lieutenant General John Whitelocke attempted to recapture Buenos Ayres. Although it failed, part of the agreement of withdrawal was the release of the 71st, but without the guidon and warrant of thelodge.

71st Highland Light Infantry (ctd)

The regiment was stationed in various parts of the world and accredited itself with distinction. SowhydidtheCOdecidetoreturn thewarrant.

Another artefact of thelodge can be found in the display cabinet of Victoria Lodge No.56 (Ontario, Canada) it isthelodgesealshown belowandalsoright.

passed in 1829 to which the Grand Orange Lodgereactedwithanger,sayingitwasabad law. Later in 1832 "The Party Processions Act" was passed, which outlawed Orange Demonstrations, they rebelled against this ActbyholdingunlawfulParades,bythistime the Orange Order was facing hostility from the Governing Classes. Sadly the distinction

TheSealiscircular,withabraidededgewithin the circumference. A large Triangle shape is inscribed 71st REGT LODGE No 895 MEMENTO MORI; which is Latin and is simply translated as “Remember your mortality”. The3spacesbetweenthetriangleshape and the edge each bear 4 identical emblems, foratotalof12emblems. Withinthetriangle are recognizable symbols including a ladder of many staves, skull and bones, and a coffin, cabletowandJacob’sLadder.

The ribbon surrounding the seal are the coloursoftheWaterloomedal.

In1827theDukeofCumberlandhadbecome overallGrandMasteroftheOrangeLodge.By 1836 he had dissolved all military lodges within HM Forces and resigned his position asGrandMaster(thiswasthelastRoyalconnection with the society), due to the embarrassing position in which he was placed by the subversive discipline of military Orangemen against the chain of command. This was a response to the Catholic Emancipation Law

betweentheMasonicandOrangewasunclear togentlemenoftheoutsideworld.

Part of the letter totheGrand Secretary stated: "Although as soldiers we cheerfully comply with all orders given to us by our commander, still we lament that we found it his bounding duty to allow no secret society to exist in the regiment under his command". Clearly the brethren were dismayed at the decision not topractisefreemasonry. Iwonderhowmany affiliated to lodges where the regiment was stationed?

The Baird Family

Baird family of Newbyth: 1st Bt.

British military lodges arrived in South Africa with their regiments during the Second British occupation (1806 1814). Truter found a masonic ally in the Commander in Chief, Major General David Baird, Colonel of the 24th Regiment (& 71st Reg, previous pages) a member of Canongate Kilwinning No.2, welcoming him to De Goede Hoop as Protector. However the influx of EnglishspeakingmembersintohislodgebroughttensionsandaninevitablesplitwhenEnglishmembersbrokeawaytoformthefirstpermanentEnglishlodgeintheCape,TheBritishLodgein1811.

After Sir David's death, a monument to his memory was erected byLadyBaird,thefoundationstoneofwhichwaslaidwithMasonichonoursin1832.The4th ofMaywasselectedforthepurpose,becauseonthatdayGeneralBairdtookSeringapatamby storm.

Baird family of Saughtonhall

Baird, Lt Col. Sir James Gardiner (c.1756 1830), 6th bt.

OnlysonofCapt.SirWilliamBaird(1721 71),5thbt.,andhiswife Frances, daughter of Col. James Gardiner of Bankton, born about 1756.Hesucceededhisfatheras6thbaronet,17August1771.An officer in the army (Ensign, 1772; Lt., 1776; Capt., 1777; Lt Col., 1796; retired 1796) who served in the American War of IndependenceandinFlanders;andlateroftheEastLothianYeomanry Cavalry(Lt Col.fromitsformationin1797). HeservedasSenior GrandWardenoftheGrandLodgeofScotland,1810 13.

Hisson,alsoSirDavid,wasSubstituteGrandMasteroftheGrandLodgeofScotlandin1841 under the Grand Mastership of Lord Frederick Fitz Clarence ad Lord Glenlyon Depute GM whowouldtakeoverfromClarence.

Lodge Marie Stewart No.541 in Crosshill in Glasgow advertising for a Tyler in The Masonic News in 1873. Very often this was a paid job (and in many lodges in England today still is).

Bloomsbury Rifles Lodge

The St. Giles and St. George's Bloomsbury Volunteerswereestablishedatthebeginning of the 19th. Century and are recorded as on parade(600strong)atareviewinHydePark in 1803. This Regiment (The Devil's Own), however,isconsideredbysometobetheancestor of the "Inns of Court O.T.C.", rather than the Bloomsbury Rifles with which this Lodge is associated. They were disbanded in 1814.

"The Bloomsbury Rifles" were formed in 1859 as the 37th Middlesex (St Giles and St George's Bloomsbury) Rifle Volunteer Corps.

In1880theybecame19thMiddlesex(StGiles and St George's Bloomsbury) Rifle Volunteer Corps and in 1881 they were designated a Volunteer battalion of The Rifle Brigade. In 1892 they Became 19th Middlesex (St Giles andStGeorge's)VolunteerRifleCorps.1900

02 DetachmentservedinSouthAfricanWar withCityImperialVolunteers. In1908onthe formationofLordHaldane'sTerritorialForces they were amalgamated with the Victoria and St. George's Rifles (who, tradition has it, were descendants of the Duke of Cumberland'sSharpshooters1792)astheQueenVictoria's Rifles, (9th. County of London) Btn. TheLondonRegiment.ThisRegimentbecame aterritorialbattalionoftheKingsRoyalRifle Corps ending up in 1967 as the 4th (Volunteer) and 5th (Territorial) battalion of TheRoyalGreenJackets.

Buckinghamshire Light Infantry there was a further amalgamation when they were formed into the 4th. (Vol.) Btn. The Royal GreenJackets,thenametheybeartoday.

Onthe1stMay1961theQueenVictoria'sRifles were amalgamated with the Queen's Westminsters, to form a new Regiment, the Queen's Royal Rifles and on the 1st. April 1967togetherwiththeLondonRifleBrigade/ Rangersandthe4thBtn.TheOxfordshireand

Intheyear1860ourMotherLodge,"TheVictoria Rifles Lodge No. 822" was consecrated.

InFebruary1890Lt.Col.Smith Richards,the Commanding Officer of the 19th. Middlesex Rifles Volunteers (The Bloomsbury Rifles), decided to form a Masonic Lodge meeting at Chenies Street and a petition was sponsored by the Victoria Btn., incorporated in the QueenVictoria'sRifles.

Brother Past Master Claud Scott, having informed the Brethren of the Victoria Rifles Lodge, that the Bloomsbury Rifles Corps (of which he was the Quartermaster) was desirous of founding a Masonic Lodge, produced thePetitiontoGrandLodgeandaskedforsignatures in accordance with the Book of Constitutions. Proposed by Bro. Past Master ClaudScottandsecondedbyBro.PastMaster Hawkins and resolved unanimously that the W.M.,S.W.andJ.W.dosigninopenLodgethe recommendation to the Petition for a new

Bloomsbury Rifles

Lodge made by the Petitioning Members of the Bloomsbury Rifles. Originally the Lodge required its Members to be taken from the ranksoftheRegiment,buttodaythisrequirement no longer stands and Members come from all walks of life. However, many of the traditions remain including a toast to "The Regiment" during the festive boards. It’s great to see a lodge continue the memory of anoldregiment.

The lodge continues to meet in Great Queen StreetinLondon.

Boston Fusiliers

BostonFusilierswasfoundedonthe4thJuly1787 by veterans of the Revolutionary War. Captain Jenks of the Fusiliers ordered 100 to be made in 1790.

Above the soldier’s head is the motto of the Fusiliers: “AUT VINCERE AUT MORI,” either to conquer or die. Below the soldier is the statement “Success to the Independent Boston Fusiliers, Incorporated July 4th 1787 America for ever” and abovethesoldierisacollectionofmasonicicons.

The Boston Fusiliers served as a guard of honour forpatrioticandpoliticaleventsinandaroundthe city. Jenks was a member of King Solomon’s MasonicLodgeinCharlestown,Massachusetts.

Captain Hon. William Leslie, 17th Regiment

The 17th Regiment of Foot (Leicestershire) suffered greatly in the Battle of Princeton in 1777 as part of the US Revolutionary Wars. In this engagement, Bro. William Leslie, Captain of the 17th, Ensign 42nd (Black Watch) Regiment 1770; Lieutenant 17th Foot 1773; Captain 1776,was mortally wounded aged 26. There is an interesting tradition connectedwithhisdeathandburial.

When, after the battle, Gen. Washington was riding over the field, he perceived some British soldiers supporting a wounded officer, and upon inquiring his name and rank, was answered, Captain Leslie. Dr. Benjamin Rush (his friend from Edinburgh University), who formed a part of the Commander's Staff,

asked to have him placed under his care. He was indeedthesonofthe 6th Earl, Grand Master Mason 1759 61. Leslie died the same evening, and was buried with martial and Masonic honours by his American brethren in the graveyardatPluckamin,whereamonumentplaced byDr.Rushmarkshisrestingplace.Twodays afterthebattle,Washingtonsenthisaide.Col. Fitzgerald, into the British camp, with a flag of truce, advising the British of the death of Capt.Leslieandofthehonourswithwhichhe wasinterred.

The stone to the left was a replacement with the same inscription in c. 1836 by Professor Ogilby of Rutgers University at the request ofDavidLeslie Melville,8thEarlofLeven.

asked whether he was "a son of the Earl of Leven" being answered in the affirmative, he

Atthecentre,AmericanGeneralHughMercer,withhishorsebeneathhim,ismortally wounded.

Attheright,BritishCaptainWilliamLeslieis shownmortallywounded.Inthebackground, AmericanGeneralGeorgeWashingtonand DoctorBenjaminRushenterthescene.

Warrant of the 17th Regiment of Foot

Following on from the previous page, let’s look at the background to the lodge attached tothe17th. Thefirstwarrantwasissuedunder the GL of Ireland in 1743 as No.136. On returningtoEnglandinSeptember,1767,the Regiment applied for a warrant from the GL of Scotland, the old warrant having been lost throughthe "Hazardousenterprisesin which theyhadbeenengaged."Thelodgewasdesignated Unity Lodge in the 17th Regiment, and the Grand Lodge minutes of Nov. 22, 1771, recordthatitwas"tobegratis."

The Grand Lodge minutes of 3rd Feb. and 18th May 1772, note the attendance of Bro. Hanson of Lodge 168. While this appears to bethenumberbywhichthelodgewasknown in the Grand Lodge minutes in the Warrant itself the lodge's number was given as No. 169.

It is believed that at the Battle of Princeton, the Delaware troops captured the Warrant No.169ofthebrethrenofthe17thRegiment. Whatever the reason for the loss of the Warrant, it eventually passed into the hands of the brethren of Lodge No. 5 at Cantwell's Bridge, Delaware, now Union Lodge No. 5, Middletown, Delaware. This old Warrant is nowinpossessionofthelodge.

When the regiment was captured, during the

attack at Stony Point, July 16, 1779, among their baggage was found the warrant and regalia of the Lodge; when this was brought to the notice of Gen. Samuel H. Parsons, an AmericanCommander,andmemberofAmericanUnionLodge,intheContinentalarmy,he at once sent the warrant back to the British Regimentwiththefollowingfraternalletter:

Brethren, when the ambition of monarchs or jarring interest of contending States, call forth their subjects to war as Masons we are disarmed of that resentment which stimulates to undistinguished desolation, and however our political sentiments may impel us in the public dispute, we are still Brethren, and (our professional duty apart) ought to promote the happiness and advance the weal of each other. Accept therefore, at the hands of a Brother, the Constitution of the Lodge Unity No. 18, to be held in the 17th British Regiment which your late misfortunes have put in my power to restore to you.

Belowistheminiatureofanunknownofficer of the 17th the very uniform our brethren of the time would wear. The lodge attached to the regiment become defunct in 1816 and theregimentdisbandedin1975.

US Masonic Roots in Military Lodges

Provincial Grand Masters were named for NorthAmerica,orpartsthereof,bytheGrand Lodge at London and the Grand Lodge of Scotland. Lodges chartered by the Grand Lodge of Ireland worked in America, and the "Atholl"GrandLodgeortheAncientsissueda warrant under which the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania was organized in 1764, and a GrandLodgeinNewYorkcityin1783.There was no single source of Freemasonry in North America. The short lived Grand Lodge ofAllEnglandatYorkdidnothingforAmerican Freemasonry except to bequeath the nameofYork.

No British regular army units were sent to North America until the occupation of Louisburg in 1746, when the 29th, 30th and 45th regiments came from Gibraltar. There had been several independent or separate companies raised, and the 40th regiment had been established here and stationed in Nova Scotia. There was a lodge at Annapolis Royal for which a dispensation was granted by St. Johns Provincial Grand Lodge at Boston (Modern in origin) in 1738, and also chartered by the Ancient Grand Lodge of Ireland in1755,asNo.399.

WhileweknowthataLodge,Number83under Irish Constitution, did exist in the 30th regimentatGibraltar,itcannotbeconclusively proven that it worked at Louisbourg between 1746 49, during the occupation. But there were a dozen or more officers from NewHampshire,MassachusettsandConnecticut who came home from a tour of duty in the garrison at Louisbourg and then appear as Masons. Since the records of the lodges then sitting at Boston and Portsmouth, New Hampshire are fairly complete, we assume those Masons who show up after a visit to Cape Breton were made at Louisbourg. This suppositionissupportedbytraditioninsome cases,althoughweallrealizethatstorieslose nothing in the retelling. But it is almost certain that among the charter members of the lodges at New Haven and Middletown, Connecticut, formed in 1750 and 1754 respectively, there were men who were made Ma-

sons at Louisbourg, because in tracing their movements they could not have been made anywhereelse.

ThesituationinthegarrisonatLouisbourgin 1746 49 could not have been much different thanitwasaftertherecapturein1758,when a British officer of the 43rd Foot recorded in hisdiary "Whenthecalendardoesnotfurnish us with a loyal excuse for assembling in the evening, we have recourse to a FreemasonsLodge,whereweworksohardthatitis inconceivable to think what a quantity of businessofgreatimportance istransactedin averyshorttime.”

For obvious reasons when the army is in the field there is no opportunity for work or festivity by the Craft. When in garrison or winter quarters it is a different matter. Under successive command of Forbes and Bouquet, parts of the regular forces spent the winters in Philadelphia, and there in 1767 we find evidence of the Royal Arch and Knight Templar degrees being worked. They could only have been introduced by lodges under Irish constitutionwhichwerewiththeseveralregiments quartered in the city. In 1758 the Grand Lodge of Ancients warranted Royal Arch Lodge Number 3 in Philadelphia. It no doubt was formed by men in an army lodge workingunderIrishwarrant,butitwasmore convenientperhapstoobtainawarrantfrom LondonthanfromIreland.However,Idonot know of any civilian lodge in America warrantedbythe Grand LodgeofIreland, except one second hand which I will mention later. In1767theRoyalIrishregimentwasinPhiladelphia and had with it Lodge No 351 ie applicants from among the officers of that regiment were refused consideration by the city lodges for the very reason that the regimental lodge was present and working. Both the Royal Arch degree and the Knight Templar degree, having been introduced by Ancient Masons, appear to have been retained under Grand Lodge control in Pennsylvania andwereconferredundersanctionofalodge

US Masonic Roots in Military Lodges (ctd)

warrantuntilwellintothe1800s.Apparently theearlyinfluenceoftheGrandLodgeofLondon was swept away by the introduction of the Ancient system when the "Atholl" Grand Lodge warranted a Grand Lodge in Pennsylvania. In that state today the ritual and practice is quite different from what the other statesfollow.

The 1737 warrant, copied in 1759, was confirmed in 1763 by the Provincial Grand MasterofNewYork, andin 1765 reconfirmedby his successor. Sir John 'Johnson, later Grand MasterofQuebec.UnderthenameUnion,this lodge flourished for Z7 years with the same Master.Havingbeenreconfirmedin"allprecedents and other privileges as they may or ought to claim", they did claim precedence from1737andallprivilegesthatwentwithit. Disaffection withtheGrandLodgewhichhad been organized in New York city forestalled their acknowledgement of its authority until 1806, when they submitted and are now Mt. VernonLodge(3).Perhapstheyinheritedthe fighting spirit of the 2nd Battalion Royal but this looks like something other than "noble contention"forprecedence.

In the garrison at Crown Point in 1762, amongothers,LodgeNumber7P.G.L.N.Y.was at work in the 55th Regiment of Foot and made Masons among the colonial officers on duty there. Three Master Masons by name and"nineotherMasons"wererecommended totheGrandLodgeatBostonas"highlyworthy...forholdingaLodge...intheColonyof Connecticut".Twoyearslatertheywerewarranted by St. John’s Provincial Grand Lodge (Modern), but twenty years later and after the war, under the same leadership, they applied to the Massachusetts Grand Lodge (Ancient) for a charter. When the Grand Lodge of Connecticut was organized a small group continued to work in Norwich under their old charter, while others organized a

third lodge in the same community under a Connecticutcharter.

AtBostonin1752agroupofMasonswhodid not find themselves in complete accord with the high toned or "silk stocking" Masonry of St. Johns Provincial Grand Lodge (Modern), organized a more democratic group which was chartered under date of 1756 by the Grand Lodge of Scotland as the Lodge of St. Andrew.

In1769threeregimentscametogarrisonthe fortsatBostonasadeterrenttotherisingopposition in the city against tariff and trade control measures which the Boston merchants and shipping interests considered oppressive. The 14th regiment had with it Lodge Number 58 chartered by the "Atholl" Grand Lodge of England; the 29th regiment hadLodgeNumber322 underIrishConstitution; and the 64th regiment had Lodge Number106underScottishregistry.Theselodges cooperated with the Lodge of St. Andrew in the organization of the Massachusetts Grand Lodge(Ancient).

Here in Boston the earliest record of conferraloftheRoyalArchandtheKnightTemplar degrees was in August 1769 under sanction ofSt.AndrewsRoyalArchLodge.Duringthat samemonthfourmembersofarmyLodgeNo. 322 are on record as visitors to the Lodge of St.Andrewandunquestionablybroughtthose degreeswiththem.TheevolutionoftheRoyal Arch chapters and Knight Templar commanderies some 25 years later is a story which merits separate treatment and I will leavethattosomeoneelse.

By Bro. James R Case PM American Lodge of Research NYC

The membershiphad beenmade up of Officers, Warrant Officers and Sergeants of the 7th Battalion Royal Fusiliers stationed at Hounslow Barracks. The Regimenthad participatedinthe victoryattheBattleoftheRiverAlma in the Crimean War, September 1854 against Russian forces. The jewel is from the consecrationin1911;thelodgestillmeets inTwickenhamunderthePGLof Middlesex.

Snuff Box

Followingonfromthe71stonPage12,wehaveasnuffboxpresentedtoEnsignJohnBuchan of the 62nd Regiment in Quebec in 1825. He had enlisted int the 71st in 1808, was wounded six times in the Peninsular War and Waterloo. The brethren from his lodge (No. 895) in the 71st presented the box on his promotion to the 62nd stationed in Canada in 1824 hedied9yearslaterfightinginIndia.Theboxistheonlysurvivingregimentalsilver afterashipwreckin1842andisnowintheCanadianWarMuseum.

Pathfinder Lodge No.7255 (EC)

PathfinderLodgewasconsecratedin1953bymembersofBomberCommand. Itmeetsin DukeStreet,LondonfourtimesayearanddinesattheRAFClubinPiccadilly.

ThePathfinderForce(PFF)wasactivein WW2from1942to1945andwascreatedbyRAF Bomber Command to improve the effectiveness of Bomber strikes. The best aircrew were selected and a number of PFF squadrons emerged. The International Bomber Command CentreinLincolncommemoratesthelivesof80,000airmenwhoperished.

AttheendofhostilitiesmanyofthePFFmaintainedcontactandthePathfinderAssociation wassetupwitha"wateringhole"inMayfairandothersocialactivities.Atsomepointinthe late 1940s or early 1950s a group of guys realised a common interest in Freemasonry. The appropriate wheels were set in motion and on 13 April 1953 Pathfinder Lodge took off.

The frontispiece of every lodge summons states "To perpetuate in terms of Masonic friendshipthespiritofPathfinderForceRAFBomberCommand1942 1945." Ipersonallywasinitiatedinto7255inNovember1971.Atthattimemostofthefounderswerealiveandactive andIhavetosayfullyendorsedthelodgemissionstatement!DFCsDFMswereaplentyplus acoupleofDSOsandOBEs.

As the years have rolled on sadly all our founders have passed on to the GLA and we now have very few ex RAF members and certainly no founders. Pathfinder Lodge supports the IBCC at Lincoln. We are going to donate to RAF Wyton when normal service resumes. We regularly support the RAF Benevolent Fund and try to act in accord with our founders in 1953.

My thanks to Bro. David Sudbury and Alexander Boothroyd Secretary of 7255.

Paisley Regiment of Volunteers

During the Napoleonic period, many fencibles andmilitiaswereformedupanddownthecountry uch was the fear Napoleon spread across the globe. The Paisley Volunteers was typical of these regiments which were the forerunners to territorial army units and reserves. Most were formedandequippedbytheCommandingOfficer.

ThebrethreninboldaremembersofPaisleyKilwinning Lodge unless another lodge number is provided.

Fromareturn,in1806, welearnthattheofficers ofthePaisley1st RegimentofVolunteerswereas follows Lieutenant Colonel commanding, William M'Kerrell PM ; Lieutenant Colonel, Robert Maxwell ; Major, John Bisset ; captains, Robert Hart, Fulton M'Kerrell PM, William Bissland, John Snodgrass, William Maxwell, Thomas Lounds and Oliver Jamieson; lieutenants, John Orr, John Buchanan, Nathan Gibson, Gavin Maxwell, William Murray, William Giffen, William Stirling, Charles Downie, Charles Fraser, Francis Martin, and Thomas Sharp ; ensigns, John M'Lellan,CharlesPeacock,ThomasCampbell(QM),and James Campbell; Adjutant, Campbell Snodgrass (also 242 Founder); chaplain. Rev. James Smith; surgeon,LtJamesMuir;assistant surgeon,Robert M'Kechnie. Captains William Stuart and John Sym is also mentioned in the lodge records as RoyalPaisleyVolunteersin1802.

The officers in the Paisley 2nd regiment were as follows: Lieutenant Colonel, Robert Fulton; major,AlexanderCampbell;captains,JohnDavidson, William Twigg, Robert Orr, and John Pollock; lieutenants, Alexander Macahster, John Motherwell,F.Orr,andJohnBell;ensigns,AlexanderPollock, Hugh Vallance (paymaster), and James Whyte; Quartermaster, Andrew Dunn; surgeon, Robert Watt; assistant surgeon, Thomas Richmond.

In 1807, raised and embodied no less than three additional regiments, which were named respectively the First, Second, and Third Regiments of RenfrewshireLocalMilitia.Theywerecommanded by lieutenant colonels Bros. Boyd Alexander, William Mure of Caldwell (242), and William M'Kerrell Jnr.Theseregimentsremainedembod-

ied till the close of the war. Bro. James Dunlop PM was captain in 1805 and Bro. Thomas Bissland wasalsocaptain.

In 1805, the Renfrewshire Volunteers were commandedbyBro.DayhortMacDowell(205).

Before the middle of this century the Renfrewshire Militia were disbanded; but in 1854 they were again, on account of the Russian war, embodied by Act of Parliament. They mustered for the firsttimeon25th January, 1855. The officers were SirJ.M.Napier,Bart,ofMilliken,colonel commandant; William C. Bontine, Major; James Lowndes (Lounds) and Mr. James Stewart, captains;F.R.ReidandDanielShawStewart,lieutenants; and William Cunningham, ensign. On 4th January, in the following year, the Earl of Glasgow presented to the militia, in the Barracks Square, a stand of new colours; and at this muster, Colonel Sir J. M. Napier stated that, although the regiment had only been twelve months embodied, it had furnished three hundred men to the regular army and was still five hundred strong.Thegallantcolonel furtherintimated that HerMajesty,asamarkofherapprobationoftheir goodconduct,hadbeengraciouslypleasedtocall itthe"PrinceofWales'sOwn."Onthesameevening,theofficersoftheregimentgaveagrandball intheAbercornRooms,toalargeandfashionable party, in honour of the presentation of the new colours.

Today, they but a memory, but the call to arms was serious and the brethren responded to their EAclosingcharge.

Willem van Oranje Lodge No.3976 (EC)

TheWillemvanOranjeLodgewasfoundedatthe Hague in Holland on 6 July 1918. The founders wereBritishnaval,militaryandcivilianprisoners ofwarwhohadbeenreleasedonparolefromvarious prison camps throughout Germany for internmentinaneutralcountryforthe"duration."

Events leading up to the formation of our lodge havebeendescribedbyanotherfounder,MajorH. T. Jeffery, at that time a sergeant of the HampshireRegiment.Herelateshowhewassittingone daylisteningtoaconcertintheloungeofanhotel near the Plein in The Hague, when he was approached by a distinguished looking Dutchman who asked him point blank if he were a mason. Jeffery replied that he could not answer such a question indiscriminately. The gentleman then introduced himself as Baron van Ittersum, the representative from the Grand Lodge of England to the Grand East of the Netherlands. They were soon on terms of fraternal understanding. Jeffery wasawarethatColonelJ.A.GibbstheseniorBritish officer among the prisoners in Holland was a keen mason, so he approached him at Orderly Roomthenextdaytoaskforaprivateinterview.

As a result of this interview, Colonel Gibbs and Baron van lttersum were soon brought together and discussions were started. Colonel Gibbs undertook to seek out the masons amongst officers and Sergeant Jeffery those amongst other Ranks. Theprocessofformingthelodgehadbegun.

The number of Masons among the prisoners in

Holland grew as more prisoners arrived from Germany and the group of those interested soon became strong enough to raise a petition for the constitution as a lodge. The Gastvrijheid Lodge volunteered to sponsor the petition and it was agreed to follow the procedure used by them in 1915. A necessary preliminary was to seek approval from UnitedGrandLodgeofEngland.

ThisoriginalCharterisintheDutchlanguageand isstilloneofthemosttreasuredpossessions.Itis ondisplayat everymeetingof the lodge anditis formally passed on from master to master at Installation for safe keeping, with the injunction that should our lodge ever be disbanded it must bereturnedtotheGrandEastoftheNetherlands.

Thejewels,wornbytheofficersweregivenbythe Gastvrijheid Lodge. These were made by hand in the workshops at Groeningen Camp where most of their brethren were interned. They are still wornregularlytothisdayandaregreatlyvalued. AlsoasetofWorkingTools,likewisefashionedin Groeningen.

ThelodgecontinuestomeettodayinLondon.

Scottish freemasons will make history by presenting a cheque for more than £1 million to Prostate Scotland. The achievement comes after a fundraising appeal lasting an incredible 10 years, recently named the Make It a Million campaign. The most recent was a zip slide which contributed nearly £50,000 to the appeal.

The Grand Lodge of Scotland embarked on the appeal to help increase awareness of prostate disease, its symptoms and the treatments available. The money was raised thanks to a collective effort by thousands of freemasons who devised a huge range of fund raising initiatives.

Bro. Ramsay McGhee GMM and Bro. Joe Morrow 1st Grand Principal are shown who led the recent campaign from Bro. Charles Wolridge Gordon who instigated the initiative.

The GMM also thanked Mrs Dawn Oliff and her staff who carried out an immense amount of administrative work in respect of the project.

Prostate Scotland have publicly acknowledged that the support of Scottish Freemasons, both in financial terms and by providing a platform for the distribution of information, has had a hugely positive impact on developing their work.

PGL Renfrewshire East

We’re now into our second month of Installations and 11 Lodges have held a successful Installation.

At the PGL Tri Annual Meeting in Maxwellton Road, Paisley on 28th October, a number of recommendations were approved. They included the allocation of 10 Christmas vouchers to each Lodge with the value of the voucher being increased from £10 to £15.

They also included a seminar for Secretaries and Treasurers early in the new year, and the production of a guidance booklet for Lodge Trustees.

The PGM assisted by Bro William Fleming PSPGM and Bro Scott Bogle SPGM also presented the various bowling and golf competition trophies. Bro. Ronnie Fraser PGM

Personal Thoughts from Afghanistan

The following is from a brother who served with the Canadian Armed Forces and attended Canada Lodge (Under Dispensation) in Kandahar. At the time, it was the only ‘moveable’ lodge before returning home in 2014.

Someofthebrotherswhoattendedthelodge went through great lengths to attend. There were Filipino brethren who worked as electrical engineers on Camp Hero (an Afgnan NationalArmybasenexttoKAF).Atfirstthey had passes to get on base and they travelled in a pick up truck (with no armour), risking attackbytheTalibanastheytravelledunprotected to attend lodge on the base. At one point their passes expired and while they werewaitingforthemtoberenewed,anAustralian brother, the always affable Brother Sergeant Major Alex Mearns, smuggled them onandoffbasetoattendlodge.Herecounted to me with some humour how they came closetobeingdiscoveredonetime.

Before completing this story I must impress uponyouhowmuchtheAghanpeopleappreciatewater.Beingaveryaridcountry,bottled drinking water which NATO soldiers consume daily is rather valued by the locals. It was late one night after lodge and they were returningtoCampHero.BrotherMearnscovered our Pilipino brothers in the back of his SUV.AstheyapproachedthegatetheAfghan guard(whonormallywavedhimthroughbecause he knew him) indicated he would like tosearchthebackofthevehicle. Beingquick onhisfeet(asheis),ourbrotherdismounted. Heopenedtherearhatchandtookoutacase ofbottledwaterwhichhetossedattheguard (knowinghewouldcatchitandnotletitgo).

The guard stood calling to him to stop clutching the case of water. “You’re welcome mate! Any time.” he called back as he sped through the gate. These were the brethren I had the privilege of knowing and sitting in lodgewith.

BasedonmyexperiencesinAfghanistan,Iam convinced that whenever and wherever the

CanadianForcesaredeployed, CanadaLodge mustbedeployedwiththem.Thebusinessof wardoesnotprovideforreprieves.Wework longhours7daysaweek.Onourmindsfrom the time we awake until the time we lay our heads (and many times it does not leave us then),istherealandpresentdangerofdeath and dying, of killing or being killed, of carrying our fallen on their last journey home and workingharderthenextdaytoensurehewas the last to fall. The lodge provided a healthy reprieve from this. Whether it was attending lodge and sitting in peace and harmony with thebrethren,orstealing5minutesoverlunch to commit some ritual work to memory. It wasmeditative,itwastherapeutic,anditwas exactlywhatthissoldierneeded.

I am certain that this is an experience I have in common with my brothers in arms and in theCraftfromancienttimes.Itisundoubtedly this “healthy reprieve” that fortified and sustained them through the valley of the shadowofdeath.

In an early email home I wrote of Canada Lodge that we hoped “to create a placeof civilityinanotherwiseveryuncivilplace.”This is exactly what it became for me. Away from the insanity of war wesat behindtyled door, menofmixedcreedandreligioninpeaceand harmony. Outside the door of the lodge was the dark chaos of war; inside the door of the lodgewasorder,civility,andlight.

By Bro. Lt. Joseph F. Curry, Beaches Lodge No.473 in Toronto.

Bro. Sir John Doyle Obituary 1834

This gallant officer and most distinguished Freemason died in August last, at his residenceinSomerset street,PortmanSquareSir John was Prov. Grand Master for Guernsey and Jersey, and had served generally the offices of the Craft, who, among other services, will particularly remember him as President of the Board of Stewards, on the natal day of His Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex, in 1829.

His military career was one of high reputation.Heenteredtheservice, by the purchase of an ensigncy in the 48th Foot, in 1771. In 1775 heembarked,aslieutenant, with the 40th Foot, for America, where he served in all the campaigns of that period, having received a. wound in action. In 1778 he obtained a company in Lord Rawdon'scorps,"theVolunteers of Ireland" (afterwards 105th Foot),andpurchasedhis majority in it in 1781, having been twice wounded while serving inthatregiment.

The regiment was reduced in 1784. Having returnedtohisnativecountry,Ireland,heremained on half pay until the commencement of the French revolutionary war, at which timeheraisedtbegallant87thregiment,"the Royal Irish Fusiliers," in the command of which he embarked for the Continent, with EarlMoira.HeservedundertheDukeofYork in the campaign of 1794, and repulsed an attack of the enemy at Alost, where he was se-

verelywounded.In1796hegotthecolonelcy of the 87th, and was sent in command of a secretexpeditionintoHolland,andonhisreturn was appointed secretary at war in Ireland, and afterwards served as brigadier generalinGibraltar,Minorca,andMalta.

He volunteered his services to Egypt, and accompanied General Hutchinson (the late Earl of Donoughmore) in the expedition against Grand Cairo. His services here received the thanksofParliament,anclhewasin1804appointed lieutenant governor of Guernsey; created a baronet in 1805, with liberty to have supporters to his arms and an additional crest.

In April, 1808, he was appointed lieutenant general ; in 1812, K.B.; in 1815 K.G. G of the Bath (a vacancy, in which order is caused by his death) : and in August,1819,thebrevet of general. It will be only necessary to enumerate the distinctions borne on the colours of Sir John' s regiment to show the nature and extent of his service Barossa, Tarifa, Vittoria Nivelle, Orthes, Toulouse,Peninsula,Ava."BySirJohn'sdeaththe colonelcy of the regiment he so long commanded is passed to Sir Thomas Reynell of the 71st HLI (see page 12). Sir John Doyle was in his seventy eighth year, having been bornin1756.

The above obituary appeared in various masonic publications in August 1834.

Rules of a Military Lodge

Thefollowingaretheabbreviated ‘Rules,Regulations and By laws to be strictly observed by the lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, Held by AuthorityinHisMajesty's12thRegimentofFoot,by title and Denomination, the Duke of Norfolk's Lodge(usingoriginalspelling):

2. "The Body to assemble at a house most convenient for their Purpose, the first Tuesday in every month, if conveniency will permit. That Master,WardenorMemberNeglectingtoappear at the place and hour appointed Except lawful Necessity calls him otherways shall be fined as thelistofFinesannexed."

4. "A Lecture on Masonry to be given every Regular Lodge Night bytheMasterorOrder,for the better edyfication of the Brethren, the secretary to be exempt the Lecture the better to observe any misbehaviour Cursing or swearing, Coming drunk to the Lodge, interruptions in the Lectureorotherways,andlikewise to take a particular acct. of the Charges, and Acquaint the Master when it amounts to ten Light Stivers Each member."[Stiver:onesixthofashilling and was likely to be the currency where the regiment wasstationedatthattime].

8. " It is strongly recommended, to every member when the Lodgeisclosedandthecharges of the house defray'd that every Brother repair immediately to their Lodgings, as there are several bad consequences attend late hours beside the extravagant expenses Ave run ourselves into, and often causes great disturbancesinourfamilys;Theextremehurtwe do our bodily healths and often renders us incapable of pursuing our "Daily occupations, beside givesthescandalousTonguesofilldisposedpeopleorenemiestotheRoyalcraft,thegreatestLibertyofRidicule."

9."Anymemberwhoshall Behave himself indecently out of the Lodge so as to be anyways a stain to the character of. a mason shall be publicklyexcluded."

10. " Every Brother must always consider that whenever he enters the Lodge he is in a Place wheremasonsaremetinordertoworkandthat

Wisdom, Strength and Beauty are our chief supports.First,then,ourWisdom,inabstainingfrom all rude and frothy expressions. Lett unanimity be our strength and then Beauty and order will betheirnaturalconsequences.Lettusstampour sealofsecrecyonwhateverissaidordonethere, andneverpermittanythingtobepublish'doutof those Doors, for when Masons are mett together they should unbosom themselves freely without reserve, well knowing and reason expecting that whatever unguarded expressions may be accidentallymade use of theyought to go no further butareoroughttobelock'dsafeinthosebreasts alone that know to whom and in what Place to reveal them, and Lett every Bro. consider that masonsareasocietyofmencloselyknitttogether and that true masonry will certainly like the square will reduce all rude matter into form and rub of nil Rust of conversation which very often renders a man unfit tor human society, Good manners, the true character of a Gentleman and good sense distinguishes us from the lower class of mankind are to be attained and ImprovedbyMasonry.'

14. "WhateverBrother shall be sorudeastohissatanotheror at what he says or has said, shall be expell'd till another time, and publickly owns fault before the Body, and his grace begrantedbyaskingPardonof thePartyoffended."

HereendstheBy lawsofthis"MilitaryLodge"of which it may truly he said that the compilers rightly appreciated the pure and high character of Freemasonry, and when viewed according to the times and circumstances, no better laws for Lodgeshaveeverbeencompiled.

Some interesting points which are still relevant today. Even the education of their brethren with the lectures was deemed of high importance. Clearly, the behaviour indies and outside the lodge was important for soldiers in order to maintain discipline.

This was lodge No. 58 under the Grand Lodge of Scotland which was chartered in 1747 and ceased to work in 1809. The regiment because the 12th (East Suffolk) Regiment of Foot.

Kensington Battalion Lodge

Kensington Battalion Lodge No.3624 (EC) wasconsecratedin1912andwasinitiallyrestricted to officers, WOs and NCOs who were serving or had served in the 13th London Regiment, Kensington Battalion. It is still knownasPrincessLouise'sSqnof38(Cityof Sheffield) Signal Regiment (Royal Signals). Like many lodges with a specialist interest, the candidates gradually were drawnfromallwalksoflife.

However, loyalty to the mother regiment remains and the Regimental Marching Song iss till sung with great fervour. The early list of masters is impressive from the ranks. The first master and founder was Col. The Rev. W. McLean who was followed by: Lt. Col., Major, Capt., Lt, RQMS, CQMSandCSgt.

The third master, Capt. Foxwell, was Secretary from 1919 to his death in 1947; his son Maj. Bryne FoxwellwasSecretaryandTreasurer for the next 19 years quite a family commitment.

Thelodgelostfourbrethreninitsearlyexistence:LieutenantRobertMurrayMACGREGOR whodiedatPloegsteert in1915, 2nd Lieutenant George Thomas BROOKS who died at Cambrai in1917, Captain Archibald ROSEVEAR who died of wounds in 1920 and his brother, Captain Frank ROSEVEAR who died in 1918nearYpres.

The lodge continues to meet in May, September, November and AprilinGreatQueenStreet,London.

Warrant Officers’ Lodge No.2346 (EC)

Warrant Officers’ Lodge was consecrated in 1890 at Freemasons’ Hall in London by Bro. Col. Shadwell Clerke Grand Secretary and would work under a civil charter. Bro. Frank Cheesman was foundingsecretaryandhisjewelisshownwhereas the other jewel is for founding brethren. The lodge lost three brethren during WW1, representing three corps infantry, engineer and artillery showingtherangeofarmswithinthelodge. However, one was a private rather than a WO, again probably indicating that to receive candidates the originalentryhadtobeextendedtoincludemore. Three years later, the brethren would apply for a Royal Arch Chapter to be attached to the lodge. ThelodgecontinuestomeetinLondon.

The Dorsetshire Regiment

Theregimentconsistsof1st Battalion(39th RegimentofFoot),2nd Battalion(54th Regimentof Foot), 3rd Battalion (Special Reserve which was the Dorset Militia) and 4th Battalion (TerritorialDorsetRifleVolunteers). However,the35th Regiment(RoyalSussexhadthedesignationDorsetshirefrom1783 1807underGeneralWolfeagainsttheFrenchinQuebec.In fact,itwasthefirstregimenttowearthedesignation“Dorsetshire.”

The39th wasraisedinIrelandbyRoyalWarrantin1702andin 1807KingGeorgeIIIgaveitthetileDorsetshire. Theraisingof the Corps was necessitated on the eve of the war with the SpanishSuccessioninwhichGibraltarwasaddedtotheircreditin1704 hencethecastleonthecapbadge.

ThebattaliongainedmanybattlehonoursduringthePeninsularwars againstNapoleonandthenatInkermanandSebastopolin1855. TheircoloursnowlieinSherborneAbbeyinDorset. The lodge attached to the regiment had the following details under the Grand Lodge of Ireland: Thelodgeseemstohavelapsedin1758,butlatertooknumber290althoughaduplicatewarrantwasgiven in 1819. This wasquite commonwithmilitary lodges whenoftenthelodge chestmightbelostinaconflict. Thewarrantwassurrenderedon17thJuly1886.

The54th Regimentwasformedin1755againafteraFrenchthreatthenservedintheAmerican War of Independence. It also served in Egypt under Bro. Sir Ralph Abercromby and wouldbecomethe2nd Battalion. Itbecamerenownedforbeingthelastregimenttoleavethe hillatSpionKopduringtheBoarWar. Thelodgeattachedtothisregimenthadthedetails:

ThelodgeoperatedundertheGrandLodgeofIreland,butlaterworkedunderthePGLof Madras. In18138,thelodgetookthenumber669undertheUGLEusingthNameWestNorfolkLodgeandwaserasedfromtheirrollin1862.

The3rd BattalionwassourcedfromtheDorsetMilitiain1757.Nolodgewasattachedtothe militia.

Adapted from an article By Bro. Col. Sir William Watts KCB in The Dorsetshire Man journal. Bro. Watts was initiated into a lodge in Blandford in 1886 and was founder and master of many lodges, including South Africa during the Boer War. He became Depute PGM for the Province, Grand Superintendent and Junior Grand Deacon in the UGLE. His artefacts were sold to the Museum which can still be seen in the Dorset Provincial Museum and Library.

54th

WestNorfolkRegiment

May 1829

DorsetRegiment

GibraltarLodge

Spiritual Alchemy

This book starts by looking at the history of guilds and their mystery plays to see if there isacorrespondencewithFreemasonry’srituals.Thenitgivesanoverviewoftheeraofthe Stuarts. Even though England had become a Protestant country when Henry VIII establishedtheChurchofEnglandin1534,following this and the death of his daughter, Elizabeth, England was then ruled by Scottish Catholics. This brought all sorts of problems tothecountry. Surprisingly, though Catholicsweredespisedinsociety, they were welcome in the LodgeandmanyCatholicnobles and aristocrats were members of the Horn Lodge. The Stuarts had hoped to build a New Jerusalem in London Following the Great Fireof1666andthedestructionofSaintPaul'scathedral, as they believed the second coming of Christ to be imminent.

FollowingtheshortInterregnum when Cromwell establish the Commonwealth, dissension grew so quickly that it was now impossible to put it back “in the bottle.” Citizens were lawfully allowed to follow and even promote belief systems other than the Church of England’s but still Catholicism was illegal. This meant that many new ideas such as mortalism, questioning what happened to the soul after death, were hotlydebated,andsomenewlywrittenbooks

onthesubjectweredebatedoninParliament andfound tobeblasphemous,whichonlyincreasedthereadership.

The third degree introduces “the quest for immortality” at atimein Englandwhen mortalism was being hotly debated and this explains the strong emphasis in the ritual that “the soul never, never dies!” However, more than this, to protect the ritual from government censure, Freemasonry recreated the mystery play of the ancient guilds,thenrewroteitwitha secret teaching that you wouldonlyunderstandifyou haddecipheredthesteganographyintheseconddegree.

The Third Degree still has elements of both alchemy andChineseDaoisminit,but thesearehiddenintheritual using steganography. There are even aspects of Jewish mysticism, the Tree of Life, depicted in the Lodge in an attempttomaketheLodgeas syncretic as possible. On top of this, the early Grand Masters may have used Sir Francis Bacon’s “New Atlantis” as atemplatetobuildtheirneworganization,in recognitionofhisroleinstartingtheEnlightenment. Though this series of books is groupedtogetheras“SpiritualFreemasonry,” the most spiritual lessons are reserved for thefourthandlastbook, “Freemasonry:RoyalArch.”

Christopher J. Earnshaw PhD 33° is a British Citizen living in Tokyo and author of the “Spiritual Freemasonry” books. He is a Past Grand Historian, Grand Lodge of Japan, Past Master of the Research Lodge, Grand Lodge of Japan, Scottish Rite 33° IGH, Past Chairman of Education Committee, recipient of the Order of Merit, Grand Lodge of Japan, for educational activities and a Past Master of Sinim Lodge, Grand Lodge of Massachusetts.

Social Media Links: Spiritual Freemasonry videos: http://youtube.com/c/spiritualfreemasonry Twitter: @AuthorEarnshaw: https://twitter.com/AuthorEarnshaw Podcasts: Freemasonry in 7 Minutes or Less: https://anchor.fm/earnshaw christopher Website: http://chris earnshaw.com

Colonel Merry 3rd LRV

Bro.ColonelJamesMerryhadalongconnectionwiththe3rdLanarkshire Rifle Volunteers (LRV). He joined the regiment when it formed in 1859, having helped to raise the 14th Lanarkshire (SouthWesternCompany),whichbecamethe3rdLRV.Merrywas inattendanceatthefirstRoyalReviewofVolunteersinEdinburgh on7August1860.

Steadily rising through the ranks, Merry took command in 1877 andstayedwiththeregimentuntil1895.Heencouragedtheskillof marksmanship,presentingashootingtrophythattakeshisname.

OutsidetheLRV,MerrywasthePrincipalPartnerofJamesMerry& Co.CalicoPrintersofRenfieldStreet,Glasgow.HewasChairmanof theGlasgowCharityCupCommittee,afundraisingfootballcompetition which ran annually from 1877 to 1966. This personal passion for football reflects the development of the 3rd LRV football team into the Third Lanark team. Bro. Merry was initiated into LodgeGovandaleNo.437andmaster1864 66.

Bro.Merrydiedin1900,aged63.

Mauritius & Kurrachee No.337

In 1810, the Regiment that took part in the occupation of Mauritius was the 22nd Regt of Foot(theCheshires). Mauritiuswascaptured on 3rd December 1810 by the British under CommodoreJosiasRowley.Britishpossession of the island was confirmed four years later bytheTreatyofParisin1814.

The 22nd remained garrisoned there until 1819withthefirstgovernorbeingaScotand aFreemason. SirRobertTownsendFarquhar camefromacadetbranchoftheFarquharsof Gilminscroft,Ayrshire,whomigratedtoAberdeenshire in the seventeenth century. His grandfather,theRev.RobertFarquhar(1699 1787),wasministerofGarioch. Hewasinitiated into the Lodge of Friendship No.3 (now No6)onthe12thFebruary1807.

HewastheGovernorofMauritiusfrom1810 to 1823 when the 22nd were on the Island. Whilst Governor he embraced the concept of a Mauritian fraternity and by 1816 the first

British lodge had been founded, Faith and LoyaltyNo.676. Farquharwasrecognisedas ProvincialGrandMaster.

DidhemeetthemembersoftheMountMoriah Lodge that ultimately became The Lodge, Hope of Kurrachee, I doubt we will ever know. TheRegimentreturnedtoIndiaduring theSecondSikhWar(1848 1849)fightingat the Battles of Meeanee, Hyderabad and ScindeandthatiswhereTheLodge, Hopeof Kurracheewasborn.

AYM

AYM Officially Inaugurated

History was made in the Province of Ayrshire on Saturday the 17th of June 2022 in Kilmarnock Masonic Social club. The Constitution and Laws of the Ayrshire Young Masons association was officially adopted and signed by the Provincial Grand Master, Brother William C. Steele, the AYM Chairman, Brother William J. Rowan and Secretary Brother Jason B. Cairns. The PGM presented the AYM members in attendance with their membership packs (AYM tie, Membership cards and AYM Jubilee numbered tokens 1 70).

After the official portion of the evening, the AYM held a “Gala Night at the Races” social event which is now a fixed event on the annual calendar.

A Roadmap for the Future

The association has released it’s official road map for the rest of 2022 into the summer of 2023. The calendar (above) includes all official events that the AYM will be conducting out with Lodge meetings and Masonic visits. These events have been constructed in this way so that any Brother (member of the AYM or not) can attend. The AYM association is passionate about bringing together all Brethren across the Scottish Craft, regardless of age and in particular within the Province of Ayrshire. For details on any of these events please get in contact with the AYM Secretary via the email address in the footer of this page.

Autumn Assembly

On Saturday the 15th of October the AYM held a Masonic education day in the premises of Lodge Burns St. Mary’s 505 in Hurlford. The five speakers of the day were Brother Dr. Kevin Pollock who presented “Freemasonry and the Holy Land”, Brother Robert Geddes who presented “Mozart and Freemasonry”, Brother Grant MacLeod who presented “An Angle on Symbolism”, Brother Alan Cuthill who presented “Masonic Literature” and our very own Ayrshire Brother James Hodge who presented “A Masonic Accommodation”. The presentations were highly interesting and thought provoking which was received very well by the Brethren in attendance. Ayrshire Stovies then followed the event which were also well received! The AYM association thanks the speakers for sacrificing their time and Lodge 505 for allowing us to use their hall. Keep your eyes peeled for this event happening again in the future.

A quarterly newsletter brought to you by The Ayrshire Young Masons association

Selsdon Park Installation

Congratulations to Bro. Ian Gurling (centre back row) and his office bearers on being installed as master of Selsdon Park Lodge No.5005 (EC) in Croydon last month.

Good to see the old crocks seated in the front row. . .

Queen’s Edinburgh Rifles

Depute Provincial Grand Master Bro. Gordon J Mackay accompanied brethren of The Lodge Queen’sEdinburghRifles(TheRoyalScots)No1253atSt.GilesCathedrallayingwreathsat thememorialsof the4th&5th battalionsRoyalScots(QueensEdinburgh Rifles) whom the lodgewasraised,erectedandconsecratedasamemoriallodgeto101yearsago.

Thewhite tabletontherightofthepicsisdedicatedtothe9thbattalionwhichalsohasit's rootsfromtheQueen'sEdinburghRifleVolunteers.

“When you go home, tell them of us and say, for your tomorrow, we gave our today".

Lest we forgot those that made the ultimate sacrifice.

To submit an article or want added to the mail list or Facebook group, contact the Editor, Grant Macleod:

E Mail: sec242pm@yahoo.co.uk Website: http://lodge242.bravesites.com/