The Cross Keys November 2021
Cross Keys November 2021
The Monthly Newsletter of Lodge Houstoun St. Johnstone No.242
Number 240
From the Editor 242 met for the first time since February 2020, an unprecedented period of absence in our 211 history. We met last Thursday to hold an AGM—approximately 30 brethren. The Secretary and Treasurer made pleas for brethren to pay their Test Fees (now due) as we have had a great deal of work done on the lodge including the refurb of the social club, new fire alarm system, roof repairs, OBs’ Room completely gutted, external painting, new fencing and much more. All this comes with an expense, so please brethren get the test fees in and even think of a donation. For example £5/month covers your fees and makes a small donation; £10/ month a bit more of a donation towards the lodge building. The meeting was successful and great to be back. An open committee meeting (no regalia & all brethren can attend) will be held before Christmas (date to be confirmed). Keep an eye on your emails and lodge website.
It is also with great sadness, that I report the death of Bro. Walter Smith MM 503. No words can describe this loss adequately. Grant Cover—see Page 11 about the lodge in a concentration camp.
The Cross Keys is a free magazine distributed across the many countries in order to spread the good (and sometimes not so good) qualities of the Craft. All views are of individual brothers and not any organised body. Editor: Bro. N. Grant Macleod PM of Lodge Houstoun St. Johnstone No. 242 PM of The Anchor Lodge of Research No.1814 Past Provincial Grand Secretary of the Province of Renfrewshire East. Proof Reader: Bro. Allan Stobo PM of Lodge Houstoun St. Johnstone No. 242 Treasurer 242
All Scottish Constitution. Cross Keys November 2021
In this issue: 3 4 5 6 7 8 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 21 22 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
The Craft & Nazis Lawrence Dermott Gen Macleod of Macleod Earl of Radnor First PGM of Quebec Bro. Sir Alexr Hamilton Dalrymple, Earl of Stair More VC Winners HLI Masonic Coy 1917 Masonic Miscellany Lodge 1253, Edinburgh Kitchener Lodge No.3402(EC) King’s Irish Regiment Cornwallis Chapter No.1536 John Paul Jones US Navy The Masonic Sacrifice Naval Lodge No.2612 (EC) Sam Frickleton VC Bro. Lord Roberts VC Guernsey Past Master Board The Battle of Arras Bro. Colin Payne DFC Military Tokens SBS Founder GL & PGL News
November Meetings NONE
December Meeting Committee Meeting tbc
The Craft and Nazis Although various articles have appeared in the Cross Keys before (last November being the most recent), this was written by Bro. Alexander Craighead during the period of Nazis atrocities. Grandmaster A.J. MacDonald of Nova Scotia in his 1940 address to his Grand Lodge said, “The dictators of Europe have decreed the death of Masonry, but in this dark hour we thank God that in the British Commonwealth we still have the Great Light of Masonry which has come down to us through the centuries. The living spirit of that Light must be kept alive in the human heart wherever men are determined to be free.”
In Jugoslavia and Bulgaria, Freemasonry was dissolved just prior to the Nazi invasion. In Czechoslovakia, the two Grand Lodges closed their organizations as they saw the approach of their enemy. Many of the Brethren of these two Grand Lodges, as others from the Grand Lodge of Vienna, succeeded in reaching the U.S.A. In New York City they have been assisted by our Grand Lodge and have organized a society named Humanitas which meets regularly in the Masonic Temple.
In Norway Major Vidkun Quisling, Norwegian Nazi Fuehrer, officially banned Freemasonry throughout that country in a decree issued November 29, 1940. Quisling’s order provided penalties for the Craft members who were Immediately on Hitler’s rise to power in Ger- slow in giving up their membership and conmany, the ten Grand Lodges were dissolved verted the Masonic headquarters into a muin countries they have conquered. The Gesta- seum. po seized the membership lists, perse- The living spirit of that Light From Poland, it is reportcuted the members, ed that many of the Mamust be kept alive sold the properties at sonic officials who decidauction, sent promied to stay in Warsaw nent members to concentration camps, and in were condemned to die of starvation or ex1937 held an “anti-Masonic Exposition” in haustion in concentration camps. It is also Munich. reported that the general condition in Poland is worse than any other country that has been On the morning of March 12, 1938, a few conquered by the Nazis; that the people are hours after Hitler’s invasion in Austria, the suffering as never before, even during the premises of the Grand Lodge of Vienna were First World War. seized and closed, and the property was confiscated. A few days later the Grand Master, In Sweden Freemasonry seems to be funcDeputy Grand Master, and all the Masters of tioning as before. There is not much infortwenty-two Lodges and a great number of mation from Denmark. The situation is sometheir members were imprisoned on June 5, what complicated because they were two 1938, the Grand Master Dr. Schlesinger, died, Grand Lodges having the same name, but the being still in custody. news from Holland makes tragic reading:“Following an order calling for the dissolution According to the newspaper reports, the of all Masonic Lodges, gangs of Nazi ruffians three Grand Lodges in France, the Grand Ori- were entrusted with the work of breaking ent, the Grand Lodge and the Grand Lodge Dutch Freemasonry. All Masonic funds were National, were all suppressed. Their property confiscated. This netted the German conquerwas confiscated and many objects were sold ors more than one and a half million guilders, at public auction, after having been on exhibit or approximately $795,000. Masonic jewels for a time. Vishy, France, September 19, 1941 were confiscated and melted down, while Ma- Nine French Army Generals were today dis- sonic aprons were cut up for shoe leather. missed from the service because of their Several Grand Lodge buildings, including two membership in Freemasonry. schools and a home for the aged were taken Cross Keys November 2021
The Craft and Nazis (ctd) over and the inmates forced to carry signs Lodge of the Netherlands was doing. This inscribed with the words, “Parasites of Jews Grand Lodge has 150 Lodges scattered and Freemasons”. throughout Holland, South Africa and the Dutch colonies. They support a boys’ school So severe was the persecution that several at the Hague and a girls’ school at Arnhem, prominent Freemasons committed suicide. and a fund to support distressed Masons, Others were arrested and have never been their widows and orphans. Houses free of heard from since. Included among these, for a rent to the widows of Masons, meet expenses time was the Grand Master, General H. Van for the burial of Masons, care of Masons Torgeren, however word was received that mentally afflicted, and in fact covered everyhe was in a concentration camp and his wife thing that would help a Mason and his deand son had escaped to England. Later, a di- pendents to get a little joy out of life in this rect communication from his son revealed vale to tears. Now all is gone, under a ruthless that he had died in the camp, though no de- heel of the Nazis. tails were included. The situation is tragic when one realizes what a splendid humanitarian task the Grand
Bro. Alexander Craighead was introduced to Masonry in St. George Lodge No.190 in his native city of Aberdeen, Scotland and a charter member & PM of Thistle Lodge No.900, Yonkers, New York. Written before 1920.
War Certificates The certificates below were given by Lodge Doric Kilwinning No.68 to brethren who served in the Great War. These certificates can been seen in the lodge in Port Glasgow; my thanks to Bro. Eddie Lapsley for allowing the use of the images.
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General Norman Macleod of Macleod Bro. Macleod was born at Brodie House in Nairn on 4 March 1754 the only son of John MacLeod 19th of MacLeod (clan chief), and his wife Emilia Brodie, daughter of Alexander Brodie (1697-1754). He spent his first 10 years with his mother in Hampshire being tutored privately. He was then sent to live with his grandfather in St Andrews then went to St Andrews University 1769/70 but removed due to a “sexual escapade” and then went to University College, Oxford in 1770. In 1771 following a cattle plague in his family home of Dunvegan Castle in Skye he vowed to return and resolve various difficulties. He joined the British Army and became a Captain in the 71st Foot Regiment, and joined Lodge Canongate Kilwinning No.2 in c1760. At this time, he stayed in Whitehouse in Edinburgh in 1765, now St. Margaret's convent, Whitehouse Loan. He sailed with his regiment (and wife) to aid in the colonial war in America, but was captured en route and held prisoner. He moved to the 73rd Foot (MacLeod's Highlanders) as a Major in 1778. In 1780 he became Lt Colonel in the 2nd Battalion, 42nd Foot (Black Watch) which was renamed the 73rd Foot in 1786. The battalion was part of the garrison at Mangalore when it was besieged by Tippoo. The siege lasted from May 1783 to 30 Jan 1784 and was a terrible ordeal for the defenders who starved and were eventually forced to surrender. Macleod, who was not inside Mangalore displayed peculiar and harsh behaviour. The battalion earned the nickname of 'the Mangalores' and later was split from the 42nd to become the 73rd Regiment on 18 April 1786. He served as a Brevet Colonel in the East Indies from 1782 to 1794, fighting against Tipu Sultan (who fired a shot at Macleod and left a scar at his left eye) then in the Malabar region in India where he was second in command. He reached the rank of Major General in 1794. In 1790 (during a return to Britain) he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and a Fellow of the Royal Society of London the following year. As an MP in 1792 he voted against war with France while in 1793 he voted for the relief of Scottish Catholics. In 1794 he was accused of embezzling money whilst in India and never recovered from this accusation. He died on the island of Guernsey on 16 April 1801 whilst preparing for a cruise to restore his health. He was the clan’s 23rd Chief.
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Bro. Earl of Radnor Jacob, 6th Earl of Radnor (1901 – 1926). After two years' service as assistant private secretary to the right Hon. Henry Chaplin, from 1890 to 1892, he was elected to the House of Commons at the 1892 general election as Member of Parliament for the Wilton division of Wiltshire, and held the seat until he succeeded to the peerage in 1900. In November 1901 he was elected Mayor of Folkestone for the following year, and when he vacated the office the following year he donated a sum equal to the salary to the Victoria Hospital. During his year as Mayor, he received the German Emperor Wilhelm II on his visit to Shorncliffe to inspect a cavalry regiment in November 1902. Beyond political life, he was an officer in the 4th (Volunteer) Battalion, the Wiltshire Regiment. He saw active service in South Africa in 1900 when he volunteered to serve in a company attached to a regular battalion during the Second Boer War. Leaving Southampton for Cape Town in February 1900, he returned later the same year as he succeeded to the title on the death of his father. He was promoted to the rank of LtCol and brevet colonel commanding the 4th
Battalion, and later served in India from 1914 to 1917, where he was BrigadierGeneral of the Dehra Dun Brigade. In 1918 he was Director of Agricultural Production for the British Expeditionary Force. He also chaired a Royal Commission on the Care and Control of the FeebleMinded, between 1904 and 1908. On 27 June 1919, he was appointed a deputy lieutenant of Wiltshire. Lord Radnor served as Governor of the French Hospital. Successive Earls of Radnor were governors of the hospital from the eighteenth century to 2015. He was installed both as Grand Superintendent and Provincial Grand Master on 3rd July 1901 in Salisbury. Newspapers declared that some two to three hundred masons were present.
What a splendid idea! The PGL of Derbyshire have a stone dedicated to brethren who fell in both wars. Sadly, I’m sure it will be undated with future conflicts. Cross Keys November 2021
First PGM of Quebec After the capture of Quebec, Lieutenant John Price Guinnett was proclaimed Provincial Grand Master on November 28, 1759, when a Provincial Grand Lodge was founded, which grouped six lodges of Maj. Gen. Wolfe's regiments. He was a member of Lodge 192 (Irish Constitution) of the 47th (Lancashire) Regiment of Foot. He later joins the Officers’ Lodge of that Regiment No. 10 under the PGL of Quebec. Why an unknown lieutenant was elected to this posiiton is strange unless high ranking officers felt they could not take on this job while the campaign was still raging,
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including Wolfe himself who was a member of Minden Military Lodge. It might be because Wolfe had died months earlier and he might well have been considered as the PGM. The Grand Lodge of England never recognized Bro. Guinnett's election as it was deemed to be irregular. However, the situation was regularised when Colonel Simon Fraser was installed as Grand Master on 24 June 1760. A further article about Quebec will appear in the February edition.
Bro. Sir Alexander Hamilton Sir Alexander Hamilton, known to friend and foe alike as 'Dear Sandy', was a Scot who served in both the Danish and Swedish armies. In 1628 he received permission from the Scottish Privy Council to raise and transport 500 men in Ulster to join the regiment of the Earl of Nithsdale in Denmark. Logistical problems meant they did not get there until at least July 1628, but they were recruited in January. After leaving Denmark, Sir Alexander was a Colonel of a recruited infantry regiment in Sweden and was granted by the Privy Council of Scotland, permission to recruit masterless men in Scotland in June 1629. The same year he established cannon foundries in the Arboga in the Orebro region of Sweden. In July 1630, Hamilton's regiment was merged with John Meldrum's. Apparently during this merger a young captain, presumably John Hamilton, from Hamilton's regiment was made colonel of the new merged unit, promoting over his lieutenant colonel William Baillie.
Weimar on a more permanent and started an artillery foundry in Suhla in the Thuringian Forest. He returned to Britain at the end of 1635. There is a record of him signing a receip in Sweden in April 1638, indicating he In a letter from Brandenburg in November may have returned to Sweden to conclude 1631, Hamilton is designated General some business there. of Marquis Hamilton's artillery. In March 1632 Chancellor Axel Oxenstierna wrote to Hamilton was with the Covenanting army in him providing him with a recruitment war- 1638 as General of Artillery. He had a foundry rant and informing him that as King Gustav II at Poterow and made cannon for the CoveAdolf had divided the Marquis Hamilton's ar- nanters. He is sometimes said to have refined my into two sections, Sandy was in charge of the Leather Cannon invented by General Robone of them, comprising 12 companies of ert Scott in Sweden. This may be true, but Scottish soldiers. The other section, the other's content his main invention 'Dear 'English' regiment was under command of the Sandy Stoups' were a frame gun comprising Scot Sir William Bellenden. These two regi- four bronze light cannon mounted together. ments were ordered to join up with Duke These cannon were said to be sometimes carWilliam of Saxe-Wismar in June 1632. ried swivel fashion between two horses and proved very effective at the battle of NewDear Sandy served as governor of Hanau burn in August 1640. However, they were from 1631-34, and was succeeded by James more effectively used in large batteries, with Ramsay. After Gustav II Adolf's death, he en- various records suggesting the Army of the tered the service of Duke William of Saxe- Covenant had over 40 of them. Cross Keys November 2021
Bro. Sir Alexander Hamilton (ctd) A few months prior to the Battle of Newburn, Dear Sandy Hamilton had been initiated into Mary Chapel Lodge as a Freemason signing a Delta as his Mason's Mark. The Lodge minute records "The 20 day off May 1640. The quhilk day, James Hamiltone bing deken off the Craft and Johne Meyenes warden, and the rest off M'rs off meson off edenbr. conuened, doeth admit in amoght them the right honerabell ALEXANDER HAMILTONE, generall of the artilerie of thes kindom, to be fellow and Mr off the forsed Craft: and therto wie heaue set to our handes or markes. A. Hamilton, James Hamilton, John Mylln."
reproduced in that work. Similarly, Pick and Knight naughtily merge the two documents into one quote. However, the transcript of Hamilton's reception above, and of Moray's initiation below make it clear that there are two separate documents and that Hamilton was one of the officiating officers at Moray's ceremony a year after his own initiation.
Moray's was the first recorded initiation of a Speculative Mason on English soil and was done under the auspices of Mary’s Chapel Lodge (Edinburgh) No.1. Other officers present included John Mylln and James Hamilton. Sandy Hamilton was eventually made General One year later, 20 May 1641, Hamilton was of His Majesties Artillery and Master of his one of the Freemasons in Newcastle who took Ordinance and Ammunition. part in the induction of Sir Robert Moray along with other Scottish officers of the Army In 1648, Bro. Sandy 'gifted to the colledge [of of the Covenant. It is often erroneously cited Aberdeen], for help of the librarie therof, three that Hamilton was initiated at the same time rair and fair volumes upon Ezechiell and vias Moray. David Stevenson (Origins of Free- sions therof, sett forth by Baptisia Vilmasonry), despite often quoting Murray- lalpandus'. Bro. Hamilton died the following Lyon, makes the mistake and it is quite clear year. he has misread or not seen the documents
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Lest We Forget Bro. Hugh Crawford McDougall Hamilton was initiated in Lodge Langside No. 955 on 22nd March 1915 along with his elder brother James. Hugh, aged 27 gave his occupation as a Grocer living at 98 Smith Street in Govanhill. In 955 Minutes dated 23rd April,1917 a letter from Bro. Hugh Hamilton I.G. intimating his resignation owing to his being called to the Colours with the A&SH was read when it was agreed not to accept the resignation. Bro. James Thomson was appointed to act Pro Temp. Sadly on 8th July, 1918 the master Bro Sim expressed regret at the loss to the Lodge of Bro. Hugh Hamilton, a Past Inner Guard, who was killed in action in France on 11th May 1918 and was buried in St. Venal Communal Cemetery in France.
Dalrymple, Grand Master Mason John Dalrymple, 12th Earl of Stair was Grand Master Mason in 1924—26. He was the son of John Dalrymple, 11th Earl of Stair, Dalrymple was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Scots Guards on 16 February 1898, and promoted to lieutenant on 11 October 1899. He fought in the Second Boer War, where he took part in the march to occupy the Boer capitals Bloemfontein and Pretoria, and was present at the successive Battles of Diamond Hill and Bergendal (1900). Following the end of hostilities in early June 1902, he left Cape Town on board the SS Orotava, and arrived at Southampton the next month. He later fought in the First World War. He was captured by the Germans during the Great Retreat in 1914 and remained a prisoner until 1917 when he was repatriated for medical reasons, due to degradation in his eyesight.[3] He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order in 1919, and retired the same year at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel (shown above2nd left). Lord Dalrymple sat as Member of Parliament for Wigtownshire from 1906 to 1914, when he succeeded his father in the earldom and entered the House of Lords. Lord Stair was later Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1927 and 1928.
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Concentration Camp Lodge A lodge was named Liberte Cherie, which means cherished liberty and was created on November 15th 1943 by Belgian resistance fighters and located in Esterwegen Concentration Camp (Hut 6), Lower Saxony, Germany. The seven Freemasons who created the lodge are: - Paul Hanson (master, died 1944) - Luc Somerhausen (survived) - Jean Sugg (died 1945) - Franz Rochat (died 1945) - Guy Hannecart (died 1945) - Amedee Miclotte (last seen in 1945) - Henry Story (died 1944) A memorial (front page) was unveiled by both Belgian and German freemasons to commemorate these brave brethren who hopefully received some solace in their lodge. The above is the latest sculpture to remember the brethren.
New York Resolutions The photo shows a set of Resolutions sent in 1881 from three New York Masons to a West Virginian Mason. The Resolutions highlight one of the many incidents documented during warfare whereby Masonic Brethren helped each other across enemy lines. In this instance, the three New York Freemasons of the Tenth Regiment, New York Volunteers were dying on the battlefield after the Second Battle of Bull Run, when a Southern Captain, also a Freemason, came upon them. Captain Hugh Barr, of the Fifth Regiment of Virginia Riflemen, C.S.A., recognized his Brothers by virtue of a Masonic symbol on the shirt of one of the fallen soldiers, and immediately called for his surgeon, who saved the lives of all three Northern soldiers.
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HLI Masonic Company 1917 In March 1917, the E (Masonic) Company of the Highland Light Infantry (HLI) was raised and placed under the command of Brother Captain Robert Stobo Renfrew, Past Master and also Deacon of the Incorporation of Masons in 1912. The large percentage of members of Lodge Saint John's, No.3bis, in E Company led to the familiar designation of it as the E Bis Company.
The PGM sent a letter to Lodge secretaries dated 21st of June 1917. In it he asked them to remind the Brethren that the Glasgow Volunteer Regiment “is not getting results as rapidly as might be hoped.” This time the correspondence did the trick. The brethren responded in great numbers and the Freemasons’ Company was born. Lodge St John’s, No.3bis, provided 120 volunteers for the war effort, spread right across the armed forces. Sixteen of those brave Brethren did not make it home.
Reproduced from the July 2015 issue of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Glasgow's NewsletTwo letters recently uncovered show that the ter by Bro. Bob Cooper, Curator GLoS. recruitment process was not all plain sailing. The first approach, from Robert Renfrew, PM The 2nd Battalion battle honour has the HLI St John’s 3bis, went out on 2th March 1917. It crest top and the Trades House crest bottom, begins: “ I have been requested by Brother Lt. similar to the City Arms, except the field is Col. John Dodds V.D. to assist him in raising a white and red. Company (250 men) composed of members of the Masonic Craft.
There were various inducements on offer to the Brethren, including a grant of £25 to provide uniforms. Robert Renfrew had hoped to have enough volunteers within a fortnight, but it was not to be. By the day of the deadline, Saturday 24th March, fewer than the 250 Brethren required had signed up. So he invoked the help of the Provincial Grand Mas- The HLI lodge (1459) was formed at Maryhill Barracks in 1950. ter, Brother A. A. Hagart-Speirs of Elderslie.
PGL of Dorset has branded beer that they're selling as part of their festival in 2025 in support of the Masonic Charitable Foundation – talk about Craft ale!
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Question: It is customary, at the erection of all place of least light (for the same reason, few peostately and superb edifices to lay the first or foun- ple were buried on the North side of the dation stone at the NE corner of the building. church. This side was usually reserved for the Why the NE corner?
graves of suicides or unbaptised children). Further symbolism tells that the East represents Wis-
Bro. Rev Neville Barker Cryer tells us that the NE dom; the West, Strength and the South, Beauty, corner is the place in all medieval churches where therefore, placing the Entered Apprentice at the the Easter sepulchre, the symbolic tomb of Christ North East corner symbolises the fact that he has was set and from that position the first light of come from darkness in the North and is aspiring Easter came. Easter proclaimed the great prom- towards the East, the place of greatest light. In ise of God’s love and care for his people and fits case you haven’t noticed, the candidates gradual well with the stress on Charity and Brotherly approach towards the East (if your Lodge follows Love of which the WM speaks in his address at the rubric strictly according to the Emulation ritthis part of the Initiation ceremony.
ual). He is placed in the West by the SW’s pedestal for “The 1st Degree Charge”, the Lecture on
The ceremony of laying a foundation stone is per- the 2nd Degree Tracing Board has him in the cenhaps the last remaining link between operative tre of the Lodge at the West side of the Tracing and speculative masonry, a link possessing the Board and for the 3rd Degree Tracing Board he most ancient and historical traditions. The VSL stands before the Masters pedestal in the East has many references to foundation stones eg: Ez- (Note: In strict Emulation working the Traditional ra iii, 10, 11, records the high significance of the History is delivered by the WM). This movement laying of the foundation stone of the Tem- through the Degrees symbolises his advancement ple: “And when the builders laid the temple of the in knowledge and the acquisition of greater Lord, they set the priests in their apparel with light. Perhaps DC’s have forgotten the symbolism trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with implied here as not many Lodges follow the exact cymbals, to praise the Lord, after the ordinance of path as described above. David King of Israel…………… And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the The initiate enters the Lodge and begins his spirLord, because the foundation of the house of the itual journey in the West – Have you ever thought Lord was laid.” Clearly this was a very important why most baptismal fonts in churches are situatoccasion.
ed at the West end of the building? It’s because the West is also where we begin our journey
In Freemasonry Entered Apprentices are seated through Christian life - yet another link with the in the North of the Lodge because the North is the early Christian influence on Freemasonry.
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Queen’s Edinburgh Rifles Lodge No.1253 The Queen's Edinburgh Rifles was a brigade of Rifle Volunteers raised in the City of Edinburgh in 1859. It later formed two battalions of the Royal Scots, which fought in World War I at Gallipoli, in Palestine and on the Western Front. The two battalions combined between the world wars before being converted into an air defence regiment of the Royal Artillery. This served in Anti-Aircraft Command during World War II and continued in the post-war Territorial Army (TA) until 1961, when its successors were converted into Royal Engineers. The drill hall at Forrest Hill is shown. The lodge was at first named Queen's Edinburgh Rifles in 1921, but at a Regular Meeting in April 1925, a Notice of Motion was intimated by the Master stating “That the words Royal Scots” be added to the existing title of the Lodge making the full title Lodge Queen's Edinburgh Rifles (The Royal Scots) No.1253, that being the correct designation of the Units of which the Lodge is a memorial. Today, each initiate receives a badge (old jewel above and modern to the right). This is probably unusual, but a unique way to further bind the initiate to the lodge and its regimental traditions. The lodge meets at 7 Figgate St, Portobello also on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month.
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Lord Kitchener Lodge No.3402 (EC) The lodge which was named after Bro. Lord Kitchener, now meets in Dhekelia Garrsion, Cypress. Its Roll of Honour is: Oscar James Evans Frederick G. Hughes Edward Baddeley TD Francis D. Irvine John Montgomery William Pritchard Oscar Fitzgerald William H. Crouch Fergus H. Reid Samuel Bryce
Welsh Guards Gordon Highlanders Lancs Fusiliers Australian Inf Gordon Highlanders Surgeon, RAMC AGC 7th Dragoon Gds RA 1st Dragoon Gds
One brother above, Oscar Arthur Gerald Fitzgerald, was the son of Sir Charles Fitzgerald. He was educated at Wellington College then commissioned into the Indian Staff Corps in 1895. He was gazetted into the 18th K.G.O. Lancers two years later. In 1906, he was initiated into Kitchener Lodge No. 2998 in India where Bro. Lord Kitchener was a founder. Both men appear on the roll of honour of that lodge which also has two VC winners—Bros. Maj. Herbert Carter and Capt. Douglas Reynolds. In 1909 it was the consensus of military Freemasons in Egypt that that the time was right for the formation of a lodge for military and naval brethren in Egypt which would operate under the English Constitution. The (then) Field Marshall Kitchener had affirmed a request to use his title by telegram using one word – “Certainly” and Lord Kitchener Lodge No. 3402 was constituted and consecrated by District Grand Lodge of Egypt and Sudan on 17th November 1909.
KIA in Gallipoli, Turkey 1916 KIA France, 1915 KIA in Gallipoli, Turkey 1915 Shot by sniper, Gallipoli 1915 KIA Ypres, Belgium 1914 Died of wounds, buried at sea. Died on sinking of HMS Hampshire Recorded as ‘died’ in Cairo KIA Festubert, France Died of wounds, Pas de Calais, France Kitchener Lodge No. 3402 on 18th September 1912. Major Bro. Oswald FitzGerald PDG Stwd. was Junior Warden of Kitchener Lodge in 1912 and Worshipful Master in 1913. He was one of four known Freemasons in Kitchener's party who perished on the HMS Hampshire (Kitchener, Fitzgerald, Robertson and Surguy). FitzGerald and Lord Kitchener were lost when HMS Hampshire struck a German mine with the loss of 737 lives. Oswald FitzGerald's body was one of the few recovered and only one of two, of around 100, that were not buried in the mass grave at Lyness Royal Navy Cemetery, Orkney.
The body of Bro. Fitzgerald was taken to Inverness and then transferred to London for burial at the Eastbourne (Ocklynge) Cemetery in Sussex with a stone deigned by Bro. FitzGerald (Kitchener Lodge 2998, Simla Charles Rennie MacIntosh. and McMahon Lodge, Quetta) joined Lord
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Did You Know? 1801, Brother Henry Fowle, Grand Master, learning that a brother was conferring Royal Arch and Knights Templar degrees under the charter of a lodge. He asked a fellow companion from St. Andrew’s RA Chapter, Bro. Benjamin Russell, to go to the lodge and ’arrest’ him under the authority of the Grand Master. He duly went and allegedly said “I arrest you, Sir, in the name of the GL of Massachusetts.” The brother immediately replied that they were in the Royal Arch and as such he had no such authority. However, as Bro. Russell was Grand King in the Chapter (head), he proceeded to arrest him again in the name of that body! Can you imagine today?
King’s Royal Regiment of Guards The King’s Royal Regiment of Guards, one of the first regiments constituted by Charles II in 1661, as a lynch pin in his new standing army. Colonel John Russell (shown), was its first commander, and the regiment was known as” The King’s Regiment of Foot Guards for Ireland”.
ing Officers and Men left from Limerick, and went with their King to France. The regiment, under a number of Colonels In chief, were officers such as Michael Roth. Interestingly whilst in the Court of James II, Roth would have met relations of The Earl of Rosse (first recorded Grand Master of Ireland), Nicholas, 5th Viscount Netterville (third For the first 30 years of its existence, this regi- Grand Master of Ireland) and 4th Viscount Barnement was permanently quartered in the City of wall of Kingsland (fourth Grand Master of IreDublin, which at the time was considered to be land). the Second City in The British Empire. When James II became King he made a number of Following their departure, there would be no changes to the Officer corps in the regiment, Irish Guards regiment until the formation of bringing Lieutenant Colonel William Dorrington, the Irish Guards in 1900. an English Jacobite, in as their new Commander. It was the Officers of this Regiment that have been recorded on the 25th March 1688 as Constituting a Lodge of Freemasons in the City of Dublin. A mere 11 weeks later, on the 11th July 1688, in the famous Trinity College Tripos, one of the students called John Jones, presented his humorous and ribald satire, upon Trinity College and events of the day in Dublin. Sadly Jones’s Tripos was not well received by the College authorities, and as a result he was deprived of his Degree. On the other hand, the regiment grew from strength to strength, eventually having some 28 companies by the time of the Williamite invasion in 1690. The Regiment fought bravely, throughout the Glorious Revolution, participating in all the major battles, such as The Boyne, Aughrim, and the Retreat to Limerick. Under the eventual terms of Surrender, the Regiment with its surviv-
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Cornwallis Chapter No.1536
T
he Cornwallis family have for a long time been closely associated with Freemasonry in Kent. Col. Wykeham Cornwallis, 2nd Baron Cornwallis, succeeded his father as Provincial Grand Master of Kent in 1935 until the county was divided into East and West Kent in 1973. He then served as Provincial Grand Master of East Kent until his death in 1982.
The inaugural lecture, “Freemasonry Universal”, was written and delivered by the late The Right Honourable The Lord Cornwallis in 2002. It was delivered at the Winter Gardens, Margate, and was atHis son, Fiennes Neil Wykeham, 3rd Baron Corn- tended by approximatewallis, rose to become Pro Grand Master and Pro ly 600 Freemasons and First Grand Principal in 1982—92. Sadly his their ladies. death broke a 100 year close link between the Cornwallis family and the Craft. His name was also used for the new Royal Arch Chapter consecrated in In 1919 the East Kent Masters Lodge No.3931 1916 which now meets in the Masonic Centre, was consecrated in Canterbury and its first Mas- Sidcup. Below is a founder’s jewel and the first ter was Colonel Fiennes Stanley Wykeham Corn- three pages of the summons of the first convocawallis, (later the first Lord Cornwallis), the Pro- tion on 10th March, 1916 which had three joining vincial Grand Master of the time. After seeing the members (affiliates) and 13 to be exalted into the growing collection of masonic artefacts and chapter, most of which are military men. books, he conceived the idea of the Kent ProvinCornwallis Chapter is one of the chapters with a cial Library & Museum in Canterbury. different name to their attached lodge—United There is also an annual Cornwallis Lecture is or- Military Lodge No.1536. ganised under the auspices of the Kent Masonic Museum & Library Trust to promote Masonic thought, discussion, and understanding.
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Bro. John Paul Jones Bro. John Paul Jones is better known as the father of the US Navy—he was a Scot from Kirkcudbright in the Borders and there joined St. Bernard’s Lodge No.122 in 1770, later becoming a member of the Lodge of Nine Sisters in Paris. On 19th July, 1792, the body of American Revolutionary naval hero John Paul Jones was found on the floor of his apartment in Paris. He had died of kidney disease at the age of 45. The French took great pains to preserve Jones's body in case the Americans ever came for it, embalming it and sealing it in a lead-lined coffin before burying it in the only cemetery in Paris that would take Protestants. Six months later the cemetery was closed by the French Revolutionary government, the property sold, and the cemetery forgotten.
After the remains arrived in the U.S., President Bro. Roosevelt (himself a former Assistant Secretary of the Navy) presided over an epic memorial service for Jones, after which the "Father of the American Navy" was interred in a marble sarThen, in 1899, Horace Porter, a Civil War veteran cophagus at the United States Naval Academy at and the American Ambassador to France, made it Annapolis, Maryland where it remains to this day. his personal mission to find Jones's grave, which was complicated by the fact that several buildings had been built over the site. Porter hired men to dig multiple shafts under the buildings, and finally located several lead-lined coffins in 1905. One of them contained remains matching the description of Jones at the time of his death, so an autopsy was performed, showing that the deceased passed due to the same kidney disease that claimed Jones. Porter then compared the facial structure of the The GL of Maryland honoured his memory in remains to a bust of Jones made during his life, 2016. and a positive identification was made. Porter had a photograph taken of Jones's body before resealing it for transport to America. On the orders of President Theodore Roosevelt, a U.S. Navy flotilla of 11 battleships arrived in France and, following a parade of honour given by the government of France, Jones's body was transferred to the armoured cruiser U.S.S. Brooklyn for transport to America.
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The Masonic Sacrifice
In time of war so great, when all are embroiled, The duty of our countrymen, to volunteer and become soiled. As men of honour, free, accepted and true, Among them brothers and masons, volunteer to see it through. ………. In fields of the second, and trenches of the first, Masons were involved, whilst war waged its worst. Fighting on Land or Sea, and also in the Air, Tales of derring-do, they fought for what’s fair. ………. They fell in their thousands, alongside brothers in blood, Duty to Country, masonic ideals, fulfilled as one should. The horrors of war become a tale to be told, Sacrifice of countrymen and masons, all so bold. ………. In the month of November, on Armistice Day, We remember the fallen, and brothers this way. In services, parades, and odes so true, For our countrymen and Freemason Brothers, Our eternal thanks, belong to you. ……….
By Bro Anthony Wilkins. Penwith Lodge No 8538 & Millennium Lodge No 9708 https://www.masonryrhymes.co.uk/
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Churchill Apron Bro. Winston Churchill, known as the Prime Minister who won the war, was voted greatest ever Briton the 2002 BBC poll. Although a fairly plain apron, certainly by the very ornate PGL or GL aprons nowadays, it is actually quite a neat apron. If you look closely, the centre rosette has a small square & compasses in the centre while the other two have the five pointed star. The apron can be viewed in the UGLE Museum in London,
Ayr St. Paul No.204 Certificate Many brethren responded to the call of duty in 1914 onwards and lodges were acutely aware that brethren could and would affiliate or visit lodges wherever posted. As such, some lodge produced certificates for their brethren who were serving as proof of being in good stranding. This is a great example of one such certificate from a ‘military’ lodge, originally known as Ayr and Renfrew Militia St Paul No 271. The founding members of the Lodge were serving in the Ayr and Renfrew Militia and due to the troubles prevailing in Europe, and those closer to home, this Regiment found itself more or less on permanent duty. This of course involved frequent moves around the country and due to this the Freemasons within the Regiment found it almost impossible to form ties with any resident Lodges near where they were stationed so applied to Grand Lodge for their own charter which was received in 1799.
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Naval Lodge No. 2612 (EC) The summons is dated 10th November 1925 and for a meeting to be held at 10, Duke Street, London. The Master named on the summons is Bro. H.R.H. The Duke of York, K.G. (Later H.M. King George VI) and the Deputy Master is W.Bro. Major C.F.O. Graham. The Duke of York was Master of the Lodge 1921-1931 & 193237. When a Master is a Prince of the Royal Blood a Lodge may install a Deputy Master. The summons is for the Installation of Bro. Commander J.B. Adams, D.S.O., R.N.R. The second item of business is to ballot for as a joining member Bro. Admiral of the Fleet Earl Jellicoe, G.C.B.,O.M., G.C.V.O., Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of New Zealand (below). Earl Jellicoe 1859-1935 was a National Hero he Commander the Grand Fleet at the Battle of Jutland in May 1916, First Sea Lord 1916-1918, President of the British (Now Royal) Legion 1928-1935 served as Governor- General of New Zealand 1920-1924 and is buried in St. Paul’s.
The late Cliff Jellicoe who died very recently was a Past Principle of Magdalen Chapter No.242 Doncaster and a member of the Province of Durham and served in the R.N.V.R. during the war, was Admiral Jellicoe’s 2nd cousin. Other well known members are Earnest Shackleton, Captain Robert Scott and of course Bro. HRH Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh. Navy Lodge meets in Freemasons' Hall, Great Queen Street, London on the first Friday in January, March, May, October and December.
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Bro. Sam Frickleton VC The Rangers Supporters Erskine Appeal was formed in 2007 by Rangers Fans in an effort to raise £1000 for the Erskine Home for Ex Service personnel. Such was the enthusiasm for the venture that it is still going strong 7 years later, with Rangers Fans working hard on a completely voluntary basis to raise over £560,000 for the Erskine Home. One of the Fundraising ventures is an Annual Golf Day, named in memory of the Scots Kiwi war hero. Golfers play in teams of 4 to compete for the Sam Frickleton VC Golf Trophy. But who is he? Samuel Frickleton was born on 2nd April 1891 at Old Lodge, Slamannan, Stirlingshire, Scotland. His father, also Samuel, was a coal miner, who came from Airdrie, Lanarkshire. He married Elizabeth Logan in 1877 at Holytown, Lanarkshire. Samuel Frickleton won his Victoria Cross during the attack at Messines on 7 June 1917. Later that same year he was presented with his VC on Ibrox Park by King George V. The citation notes that "although slightly wounded, Lance Corporal Frickleton dashed forward at the head of his section, rushed through a barrage and personally destroyed with bombs an enemy machine gun and crew, which were causing heavy casualties. He then attacked the second gun, killing the whole of the crew of twelve. By the destruction of these two guns he undoubtedly saved his own and other units from very severe casualties and his magnificent courage and gallantry ensured the capture of the objective.” Bro. Frickleton was a member of Lodge Kawatiri, Scinde No 5 of Napier and Lodge Taia No 229 of Kilbirnie, NZ. He died following a long illness near Wellington, on 6th August 1971. He was buried in Taita Servicemen’s Cemetery, Naenae. In addition to his VC, he was also awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal 1914-20, Victory Medal 1914-19, George VI Coronation Medal 1937, Elizabeth II Coronation Medal 1953 and the New Zealand Long and Efficient Service Medal. His widow presented the medals to the Queen Elizabeth II Army Memorial Museum in November 1977, where they are held. The RSEA presented a quaich to Mr Steve Tew, CEO of NZ Rugby All Blacks on 28th July 2014 to mark the occasion of the Kiwis visit to Ibrox Stadium and to commemorate that Bro. Frickleton received his VC on this pich 97 years before engraved with: “PRESENTED BY THE RANGERS SUPPORTERS ERSKINE APPEAL TO THE NEW ZEALAND ALL BLACKS TO MARK THE OCCASION OF THEIR APPEARANCE AT IBROX STADIUM, 2014”
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James Hamilton Spiers Bro. Spiers, commonly known as Jimmy, was born in Glasgow he worked as a clerk while playing youth football for Annandale. He started his adult football career with local junior team Maryhill. Where he played for less than a season before he moved to Rangers in 1905. He spent three years with the club, but won only the Glasgow Merchants’ Charity Cup, before he joined a third Glasgow side Clyde. After one season he left Clyde and Scotland, and joined Bradford City for their second season in the First Division. His greatest success came in his second season with Bradford, when he was the club’s captain and goal scorer in their FA Cup Final victory of 1911, in a team featuring eight Scottish born players. He was initiated into Lodge Saint Vincent Sandyford No 533 in Glasgow, on 11 March 1908; just four days after he had made his only Scottish appearance. When his football career took him away from Glasgow, Speirs maintained links with the lodge. He became a Master Mason then a life member on 12 February 1913. In April 1917, Speirs took part in the Second Battle of Arras with the Cameron Highlanders, for which he was awarded the Military Medal for bravery in 1917, before he was promoted to Sergeant in June. The following month, he returned home to Scotland on leave, but he soon returned to France and was killed during the battle of Passchendaele on or about 20 August 1917, aged 31. He is buried at Dochy Farm New British Cemetery near Ypres in Belgium. My thanks to Bro. John Easdale (626) who runs a very interesting Facebook page “Glasgow Rangers Friends” which has a full article about Bro. Spiers.
National Artillery Lodge No.2578 (EC) The Past Masters jewel from the National Artillery Lodge No.2578 was presented to Bro. Reginald Bentley who is listed as a Secretary by profession amongst all the founding officers of the lodge when it was consecrated in 1896. It was formed under Ubique Lodge No.1789 (EC) which is the original Royal Artillery lodge. Today, it is no longer a military lodge, but the jewel does not hide it’s origins. The lodge has moved around various locations in London now meeting in Great Queen Street for the third time. However, it did meet in the Croydon Masonic Centre where Selsdon Park Lodge meet.
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Bro. Lord Roberts VC Field Marshal Lord Roberts was the son of a General, Lord Roberts of Kandahar Pretoria and Waterford was born in Cawnpore and educated at Eton and Sandhurst before joining the Indian Army. Nicknamed ‘Bobs Bahadur’ (Bobs the Lion) and later just ‘Bobs’. He served during the Mutiny, was awarded the Victoria Cross at Khudaganj, assisted in the siege and capture of Delhi, the relief of Lucknow, and the battle of his birthplace, Cawnpore. In the 2nd Afghan War he took Kabul, entering the city in 1879. It was from there that he led the famous march to Kandahar to relieve the city.
Navy Lodge No 1971, then ruled by the Duke of Connaught & Strathearn, and Lodge of Edinburgh (Mary’s Chapel) No 1 (under the Scottish Constitution). Lord Roberts died of pneumonia at St Omer, France, on 14 November 1914 whilst visiting Indian troops on the Western Front in the early days of the Great War. He was one of only two non-Royals to lie in state at Westminster in the 20th century, the other being Winston Churchill, and was given a state funeral. Lord Roberts was sometimes called ‘Kipling’s General’, as the author and mason dedicated two poems to him: ‘Bobs’ and ‘Lord Roberts’. He was one of five Field Marshals to join the Lodge. Below is a PM jewel and the Connaught Jewel named after the first master and also the Grand Master of UGLE which each member can wear.
He retired in 1904 and continued to serve the Country: he founded the Pilgrim Society in 1902, was a member of the National Service League, he promoted rifle shooting through his presidency of the National Smallbore Rifle Association (whose targets have a facsimile of his signature to this day), and became vice-president of the Public Schools Alpine Sports Club in 1903. Many of these actions were founded on a belief that there was a need to instil a sense of military training and skill, teamwork, and personal fitness into the population ahead of what he regarded as the inevitable war in Europe
A good history can be found here; it has an He was initiated into Khyber Lodge No 582 enviable rule: (EC) in 1850, a military lodge founded in Peshawar and was made an honorary member of the Old Wellingtonians Lodge No.3404 (EC) in Berkshire at the second meeting in 1910. He also joined the Aldershot Army &
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Past Master Board
To the left, it looks like a normal Past Master Board, but in closer detail we see a British lodge under German occupation during WW2. It belongs to Doyle’s Lodge of Fellowship No.83 in the Guernsey Masonic Centre which was chartered in 1806. The lodge was named after a soldier – Sir John Doyle – had been born in Ireland. After entering the Inns of Court in London, and subsequently finding the practice of law too dull, he became an ensign in 1771, and subsequently had a hugely successful military career in which he distinguished himself in actions both in the American War of Independence and in the war against the French in Egypt. (When war broke out with the French in 1793, he obtained permission for the raising of a regiment which, in honour of his patron, he called “the Prince of Wales’s Irish Regiment”.) Sir John’s friendship with the Prince of Wales (he was for a time his secretary) resulted in his being appointed Lieutenant Governor of Guernsey. In that capacity, and consequently as Commander in Chief of the Bailiwick, he did more than any other office-holder to defend the Island. One of his more remarkable
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achievements was to persuade the States of Guernsey to go to the expense of recovering a vast (for Guernsey) area of land from the sea which at that time divided that northern portion of Guernsey from its southern counterpart. All in all, he was a brilliant man and he would have added immense lustre to the new Doyle’s Lodge, of which he became a member. As a military lodge, it had the usual problems associated with the comings and goings of soldiers at short notice, and with the reduction in number of soldiers in the Island as a consequence of the ending of the threat of French invasion. Meetings of the lodge were suspended between 1825 and 1826, because the number of members had become so few. Meetings of the lodge were banned during the German occupation of the Island between 1940 and 1945. Happily, the lodge has experienced other, more successful times – no more so than at present, when it has over 50 members. Thanks to Bro. John Muir for the photos.
The Battle of Arras, 1917 Remembering the brethren of Glasgow who fell during the Battle of Arras, 9th April to 16th May 1917: Bennett, Ewart 581 Plantation. KIA 09/04/1917 age 35 Sergeant 39491 Royal Scots 2nd Batt. (8th Bde. 3rd Div.) Tilloy British Cemetery, PdC IV. D. 8. Arras. Reid, David Alexander 553 St Vincent Sandyford. KIA 09/04/1917 age 26 Lance Corporal 82033 CEF Canadian Infantry 5th Battalion, Saskatchewan (2nd Bde. 1st Can. Div.) QuatreVents Military Cemetery, NW of Arras, PdC III. B. 10. Arras. Monroe, Louis Frederick 553 St Vincent Sandyford. KIA 09/04/1917 age 36 Sergeant 300349 Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders 1st/8th Batt. (152nd Bde. 51st Div.) Highland Cemetery, Roclincourt, N. Arras, PdC II. A. 43. Arras. McLeod, Andrew 419 Neptune. DoW 14/04/1917 age 33 Private 28027 Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) 9th Batt. (27th Bde. 9th Div.) Etaples Military Cemetery, S. of Boulogne, PdC XXII. H. 13. Channel. Turnbull, George King 3 bis Glasgow St John KIA 23/04/1917 age 36 Lieutenant RNVR Royal Naval Division, Nelson Battalion. Arras Memorial, PdC Bay 1 Arras. McVicar, Peter 102 St Marks. KIA 23/04/1917 age 27 Lance Corporal 204478 Durham Light Infantry 1/5th Batt. Arras Memorial, PdC Bay 8 Arras. Ferguson, Findlay 609 ‘The Gael’. KIA 23/04/1917 age 39 Private S/16848 Black Watch 9th Batt. (44th Bde. 15th Div.) Arras Memorial, PdC Bay 6 Arras. Simpson, John 553 St Vincent Sandyford. KIA 23/04/1917 age 36 Private S/10408 Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders 2nd Batt. (98th Bde. 33rd Div.) Heninel Croisilles Road Cemetery, SE of Arras, PdC I. C. 5. Arras. Naismith, Walter 817 Blythswood KIA 23/04/1917 age 34 Private 278559 Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders 1st/7th Batt. (154th Bde. 51st Div.) Roeux British Cemetery, Nr Arras PdC A. 20. Arras. Laing, George Milne 27 Lodge of Glasgow St Mungo. KIA 26/04/1917 age 25 Private 34882 The Prince of Wales's (North Staffordshire Regt.) 9th Batt. Pioneer (37th Div.) Point-Du-Jour Military Cemetery Athies, Nr Arras, PdC Lonely House Cem. Mem. 1. Arras.
Johnstone, Peter 128 Shettleston St John. KIA 16/05/1917 29 Private 285250 Seaforth Highlanders 6th Batt. (152nd Bde. 51st Div.) Arras Memorial, PdC Bay 8 Arras. Carruth, Andrew Simpson 570 Kenmuir Springburn. KIA 16/05/1917 age 27 Private 14717 Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders 1st/8th Batt. (152nd Bde. 51st Div.) Duisans British Cemetery, Etrun, PdC IV. L. 16. Arras.
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Bro. Colin Payne DFC Bro. Colin Payne enlisted as an Aircraftsman at RAF Cardington, Bedfordshire. He was selected to become a pilot and was trained both in the UK and in Falcon Fields Arizona. Training in Arizona guaranteed clear skies therefore plenty of practice flying hours.
flew safely to base. Flight Lieutenant Payne is an outstanding Captain, and his example has greatly inspired his crew”
During his training in the States, when he was not on duty, Colin could be found helping on the local ranches. One of the locals wrote a moving poem “To an RAF Cadet from Falcon Fields” about him.
His Tour of 30 “operations” complete, Colin was promoted to Squadron Leader, Flight Commander toward the end of 1944 and transferred to 149 Squadron RAF Mildenhall, there he began his second Tour, with four of his previous crew, their first bombing mission together was 13 February 1945, at the behest of the Russians, was Dresden.
Following his pilot training, he was posted to 514 Squadron, No.3 Group, Bomber Command, based at RAF Foulsham in Norfolk. The Squadron later moved to RAF Waterbeach in Cambridgeshire.
The Squadron were also involved in “Operation Manna,” dropping desperately needed food parcels, from 500 feet, to the starving Dutch people, who were still under German occupation.
514 squadron was instrumental in saturation bombing of Berlin, bombing by night as the American air force bombed by day. They played a major part in the defeat of the V1 and V2 rockets by bombing construction sites and storage depots, they also targeted German occupied Channel ports and naval bases, they were also tasked with the “Oil Plan” targeting oil production and storage. By February 1944, Colin had been made Acting Squadron Leader and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the citation is in full below: “Acting Flight Lieutenant Colin PAYNE (149559), Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, No. 514 Squadron. This officer has completed very many sorties, including 10 attacks against the German capital, and has invariably displayed great courage and resolution. On several occasions his aircraft has been subjected to fighter interference but each time he has outmanoeuvred the enemy aircraft and completed his mission. In one flight, when nearing the target area. Flight Lieutenant Payne's aircraft was hit and one of the engines was put out of action. Nevertheless, he went on to bomb the target and afterwards
On the 3rd September 1952 Colin was initiated into the Lodge of Stability No 4321, which met at the Carlton Restaurant Eberle St Liverpool.
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Colin didn’t progress to become Master of the Lodge of Stability, but continued as an active member attending many Lodge functions with his wife, until he sadly passed away suddenly on the 14th September 1984, whilst on holiday in California.
Thanks to Caroline Crook, Archivist at Warrington Museum of Freemasonry.
Military Tokens
Corp Colin Fraser Barron was born in Banffshire in 1893, he emigrated to Canada in 1910 and served in WWI in the Canadian army, he received his VC for taking a machine gun post at the battle of Passchendaele in 1917. He returned to Scotland briefly in 1918 and became a freemason being admitted to Lodge St Andrew Banff. He died in Canada in 1958. The token is St. Andrew Banff No.52. Commemorating Bro Sgt. John Carmichael VC He was awarded his medal for action with the North Staffordshire Regiment in WWI He was born in and lived mostly in North Lanarkshire. The token is New Monkland Montrose No.88.
his foot but saved the other members of the bombing party. He survived and died in 1972. The token is Royal Blues Kilbirnie No.399. Commemorating Bro Capt Alexander HoreRuthven !st Earl of Gowrie, was commissioned in the HLI in 1893 and received his VC for saving an Egyptian officer's life under fire from the Dervishes during the Sudan campaign. He also served in WWI. The token is St. Andrew’s Military Larkhall No. 668.
Commemorating Lt Col Robert Shankland VC. He was awarded his VC for action in 1916. He was born in Ayr and emigrated to Canada in his early 20s He served in WWI in the Queens Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada He later served in WWII and died in Vancouver in 1968. The token is Ayr |St. Paul Sgt Alexander Edwards was born in Lossiemouth in No.204. 1885 and joined the Seaforth Highlanders in 1915. Issued to commemorate Bro Cpl David Hunter who He was awarded his VC for two actions in 1917, he won his VC in an action in 1918 near Moeuvres in survived these actions but was posted missing in France when held and a few men held a forward po- March 1918. The token is Pitgaveny No.681 (Moray sition for nearly 3 days despite being surrounded and & Nairn). frequently attacked. He was a miner and returned to his job at Kingseat Colliery after the war. He died in Bro Adam Archibald received his VC for action under extreme and prolonged fire and a gas attack in 1965. The token is Union Dunfermline Mo.250. WWI whilst serving with the Royal Engineers. He Commemorating Pte David Lauder, who received was born in Leith in 1887 and died in Edinburgh in his VC for action at Gallipoli, he put his foot on a 1957. The token is Elgin & Bruce No.1077. bomb in a trench to smother the explosion, he lost
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SBS Founder Dorset Freemason, Major Stuart Syrad, who has died in August aged 88, won the MC at Suez, piloted a hovercraft on the Amazon and commanded what is known today as the Special Boat Service. In 1956, 23-year-old Lieutenant Syrad was second-in-command of X troop, 45 Commando, when the Suez Crisis broke out and Britain launched Operation Musketeer, part of the AngloFrench landings to recover the Canal from nationalisation by Egypt.
pore, conducted covert beach surveys around the world, participated in operations during the Indonesian Confrontation and a threatened Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1964, and helped to establish the SBS in Bahrain and Gibraltar.
In 1965 Syrad’s career took an unexpected turn when he joined the Interservice Hovercraft Trials Unit, training as a pilot on the prototype SR.N1 hovercraft. Later he trialled the SR.N5 as a potential troop carrier on the rivers of Borneo during At dawn on November 6 1956, Syrad and his the Indonesian Confrontation, and in Thailand troop were landed by Sycamore helicopter next to demonstrated its capability to US forces who the de Lesseps statue in Port Said, the first large- were fighting in Vietnam. scale helicopter landing in history. But B troop and the headquarters troop were badly mauled in At Poole, between 1968 and 1972 Syrad coma blue-on-blue air strike, requiring hurried battle- manded the Special Boat Company, as it was then field reorganisation. Syrad immediately climbed known. In May 1972 it came into prominence on to the roof, crawled along a narrow parapet when Syrad put together a team to parachute into and jumped on to the balcony. Ignoring sniper the Atlantic Ocean after a bomb threat on board and machine-gun fire attracted by his move- RMS Queen Elizabeth. ments, he carried the wounded man to safety. Syrad was appointed OBE in 1973; the Special Then, in a series of well-planned section attacks, Boat Company became the Special Boat Squadron he finished the task of clearin 1974 and the Special Boat ing the building. ThroughService in 1987. His last apout, Syrad displayed outpointment was as second-instanding courage, fearlesscommand of 41 Commando ness and aggression, and his Group in Malta, before retirbearing contributed largely ing in 1979 having attained to the overall success of the the rank of major operation. His brigadier, in (equivalent of lieutenantendorsing the citation for colonel in the Army). Syrad’s Military Cross, wrote: “At all times during the battle he behaved The charitable function of the Masons was one of with the utmost gallantry, and his example was an the important elements in his life. He was almoninspiration to his men.” er of Old Hamptonians Lodge for 17 years, a Bro. Stuart Lawrence Syrad was born on August 7 member of Purbeck Lodge No.4355 (originally a 1933 in Twickenham, the third of four brothers, lodge for tankies RTR), and a frequent guest and and educated at Hampton Grammar School, diner among the many Royal Marine and military where he was boxing captain and a sea scout. In masons at the Amphibious Lodge No.9050, where the late 1950s and early 1960s Syrad commanded he helped to raise and distribute charitable funds. various Special Boat Sections in Malta and Singa-
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The latest Grand Lodge Year Book is now available and can be purchased at (https://www.grandlodgescotland.com/ product/year-book-2021/)
PGL Renfrewshire East Installations
Brethren, I’m very honoured to have been appointed as the next Provincial Grand Master of Renfrewshire East and I would like to thank the brethren of the Province, for the trust they’ve placed in me. I’d like to take this early opportunity to share with you, the names of the brethren that have accepted my offer to be part of the next Commission. DPGM Bro Chris Kerr PM, Lodge Renfrew County Kilwinning No 370 SPGM Bro Gavin Burt PM, Pollokshaws Royal Arch Lodge No 153 SPGM Bro Brian Shields PM, Lodge St John Busby No 458 SPGM Bro Scott Bogle PM, Lodge St Barchan No 156 PG Secretary Bro William McMahon PM, Lodge Kil Bryd No 1667 PG Chaplain Bro William Shirlaw PM, Lodge St Christopher No 1453 PG Chaplain Bro George Paul PM, Lodge Thistle and Crown No 1167 PG Chaplain Bro Ian Duncan PM, The St John’s Operative Lodge No 347 The Installation of myself and the Commissioned Office Bearers will take place on Saturday 19th February, 2022 in Lodge Prince of Wales No 426. Unfortunately, the numbers attending will be limited due to the size of the venue and the situation we find ourselves in with the pandemic.
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PGL Renfrewshire East (ctd) At this point in time it’s not my intention to have a full sit down meal after the ceremony as things are going to be very unpredictable over the winter months. I’d prefer to concentrate on what I expect to be the highlight of the Commission, our 200th Anniversary in Feb 2026. Hopefully, Paisley Town hall will be back in use, and we’ll be able to have a full scale event with everyone who wishes to attend, being able to do so. I also look forward to visiting the Daughter Lodges in my role as Provincial Grand Master and I thank them in advance for their continued support of Provincial Grand Lodge. Yours fraternally, Bro Ronald E. Fraser Provincial Grand Master Designate
70th Anniversary of HM The Queen Last month the brethren of Thistle Lodge No.127 in Stewarton planted a tree to commemorate the 70th Anniversary of the Coronation of HM The Queen. What a splendid idea and good to see our connection with the Royals continues at local level.
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