Free Mason's in the British Army

Guest

I have often been struck by the number
of officer's who were on ' the square '
i seem to recall from memory that Melvill
and Coghill were mason's, their lodge being
in Gib/Malta.. were all the officer class
mason's if so why?. were they actively
recruited. will some one fill me in on this.. Salute

Posts : 1862 Join date : 2009-03-25

I think your find Melville was fast tracked into the mason. I think to 3rd degree!
Wasn't there a Mason Gavel found at Isandlwana.

Subject: Re: Free Mason's in the British Army Wed Jan 29, 2014 10:44 pm

24th I think you mean Coghill!

"The Victoria Cross and the Royal Lodge of Friendship No. 278

"After the Crimean War the Lodge of Friendship continued to attract many Officers and Gentlemen from visiting Battalions to its ranks. This was primarily due to the falling off in the number of Military Lodges, by 1886 only sixteen Field Lodges remained in the British Army. One Officer in particular, a young Irish Sub-Lieutenant in the 1st Battalion, 24th Regiment, the King’s Own Scottish Borderers by the name of Nevill Joseph Aylmer Coghill aged 22 years, applied for and was accepted a member of the Lodge of Friendship No. 278. In the Masonic Register of members of our District he is recorded as having been initiated on the 2nd September 1874, passed on the 17th of the same month, and raised just a few weeks later, on the 7th October. Bro. Coghill’s rapid initiation into the three degrees in such a short space of time, (including the holding of an emergency meeting for such a purpose) was due to the Battalion’s imminent departure from the Garrison early in November.

Only a few months earlier another Lieutenant from the same Regiment had become a joining member of the Friendship Lodge on the 1st April 1874. Lt. Teignmouth Melville initiated into Glittering Star Lodge No. 322 I.C had like his fellow Officer and Brother Mason Lt. Coghill joined the popular Friendship Lodge as was traditional amongst the Officers and Gentlemen serving in Gibraltar at the time. Both men called off from Friendship Lodge on the 31st December 1874 prior to their departure from the Garrison. The Scottish Borderers headed for South Africa where on the 1st November 1876, Coghill became a joining member of Southern Cross Lodge No. 398 Scottish Constitution, and on joining he stated that his Mother Lodge was the Lodge of Friendship, Gibraltar.

Three years later, on the 22nd January 1879, the thin red line of the Scottish Borderers were no match for the thousands of well disciplined Zulu warriors who overwhelmed them at Isandhlwana. All the officers of the 24th and all but two of the men were killed. In what was later to be immortalized by the film ‘Zulu Dawn’, Lt. Coghill joined another officer who was trying to save the Queen’s Colours, that Officer was none other than his fellow Brother Lt. Melville. Zulu warriors relentlessly pursued the two Officers and whilst crossing the swollen Buffalo River, Lt. Coghill went to the rescue of his brother officer, who had lost his horse and was in mortal danger without heed to his own safety. His gallant effort proved futile as they were overtaken by their pursuers and after a short struggle both men were killed."

Subject: Free Masons in the British Army Thu Jan 30, 2014 5:18 am

I doubt me old mate Martin will enjoy your post Littlehand , with it referring to the Regt as being The South Wales Borderers !
90th

Guest

Three years later, on the 22nd January 1879, the thin red line of the Scottish Borderers...?

Subject: Re: Free Mason's in the British Army Fri Jan 31, 2014 7:12 am

There were a lot more masons at isandlwana other than officers.
Sgnt Edward Daly lists: QMS Davis, CM Smith, MacCracken, Brierley, Byrne, Saunders, "plus others".

Letter to Mrs MaCaffery 5th Feb.

Guest

Three years later, on the 22nd January 1879, the thin red line of the Scottish Borderers...? ?

Subject: Re: Free Mason's in the British Army Mon Mar 03, 2014 8:56 pm

24th wrote:: I think your find Melville was fast tracked into the mason. I think to 3rd degree!

Wasn't there a Mason Gavel found at Isandlwana.

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Subject: Re: Free Mason's in the British Army Mon Mar 03, 2014 9:53 pm

LH,

Well that clarifies that ones Edward Daly mentions were not Freemasons as Springy suggested above but members of the Independent Order of Good Templars, which was a Temperance Society. Giving the article mentions Colonel Harvey, I suggest it dates from post-August 1888, but pre-27th July 1890.

John Y.

Subject: Re: Free Mason's in the British Army Mon Mar 03, 2014 10:27 pm

TEMPERANCE COLUMN.
Evening Post, Volume LX, Issue 60, 8 September 1900, Page 3

Subject: Re: Free Mason's in the British Army Mon Mar 03, 2014 10:33 pm

LH,

Not J. J. Harvey in that case, obviously another Harvey serving in the Bengal Presidency in 1900.

John Y.

Posts : 3415 Join date : 2021-01-04

I knew I'd seen a reference somewhere about Masons at iSandlwana.

Harford 11th January:-
"Well I rode off as hard as I could go, to camp. I found Lonsdale sitting in his tent, looking over his Masonic Orders and paraphernalia...."

Perhap the Gavel in Littlehands post above was Lonsdale's?
Does anyone on the forum who is a mason know anything about an "Isandula memorial Lodge" I'm assuming the masons have an archive and that items from the memorial lodge might now be kept there. They could hold some interesting information.

Subject: Re: Free Mason's in the British Army Sun Feb 13, 2022 7:20 am

Kate
Northern Natal News.
'The 135th anniversary of the Battle of Isandlwana was marked by visiting Free Masons, who used the occasion to dedicate the opening of a new Masonic Lodge, called Isandlwana Lodge.
The 14-strong group were on a tour of the battlefields with KZN historian and guide, Ken Gillings.
Victor Muhlenbeck was installed as Master of Isandlwana Lodge, at an historic gathering at the Royal Country Inn.
He said all the visiting Free Masons were keen military historians, and hailed from Durban and Johannesburg.
For Mr Muhlenbeck and his group it was a stirring experience to stand on the battlefield 135 years to the day when the Zulus overwhelmed the British.
“So many sacrifices were made on both sides. The soldiers and warriors on both sides never questioned the authority of their superiors. Their duty was to do or die.”
His sentiments were echoed by veteran guide, Mr Gillings, who said the group would also visit Talana, Elandslaagte and Spioenkop.
Undoubtedly a trip to remember for these military enthusiasts.

Subject: Re: Free Mason's in the British Army Sun Feb 13, 2022 7:23 am

Sorry that was from 2014.

Posts : 3415 Join date : 2021-01-04

Thanks Frank Salute

Posts : 254 Join date : 2017-07-21 Location : San Diego, CA

"Letters received by Mr. Joseph Malins at the Grand Lodge offices, Birmingham, from Cape Colony, state that an entire lodge of Good Templars was destroyed in the fight at Isandula. It appears that when the 24th Warwickshire Regiment was in Cape Colony, a Good Templar lodge was formed amongst the men belonging to it, and was called the British Pioneer Lodge, and the charter and lodge regalia were carried with the regiment, which subsequently received orders to take part in the present campaign. The correspondent adds that it is generally believed that every member of the lodge was killed, with their gallant comrades, in the conflict. "

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