Masons | Remember The Fallen
11 November 2018
Bro. Lt Col Ian Harper
Remembrance is always a deeply moving and reflective time with so many generations across Britain and the Common Wealth having been deeply touched by the Great War and the many conflicts since.
One hundred years to the day. At eleven o’clock, the guns fell silent, and today we individually stop to pay our deepest respects, give thanks and above all, remember those who paid the ultimate price so we can enjoy the many privileges of the freedoms which are now readily available.
As an old soldier whose two brothers served, a father who fought in Korea, Malaya and Borneo and a Grandfather who fought in the Great war, joining at 16 having lied about his age, and was returned home at 17.5 when they found out he was too young.
He did return to the trenches but shortly after he was severely wounded loosing an arm but living a long and fulfilling life. Whilst a short story this is only a mirror of so many other families across our ancient but noble land.
During a very social exchange at the post meeting luncheon following the installation of the Knights Templar Provincial Prior, R.E. Kt. Kevin Stannard, plans were hatched for the “old and bold soldiers” of Northumberland to attend the Royal Victoria Rifles Lodge Service of remembrance at Great Queens street on 10 November.
The event being the preserve of the Craft with over 800 attending, 500 Masters representing all Provinces in the UK.
The travelling contingent included 21 masonic brothers from Northumberland, representing 12 Lodges (three being Forces affiliated) of whom, Major, Dr and Brother Greg Smith, late 2 Para (Provincial Assistant Grand Master), a veteran of Northern Ireland and the Falklands and W. Bro. David Armstrong Provincial D.C.
Maj Greg Smith, Sup Int David Armstrong and Lt Col Ian Harper
Peter Geoffrey Lowndes, Pro Grand Master
The meeting was held by the brethren of the Royal Victoria Rifles Lodge No.822 in the Grand Temple in the presence of Peter Lowndes, the Pro Grand Master.
With all key Lodge officers wearing period uniforms added more gravitas to the occasion.
Banners of the Circuit of Service Lodges of England were marched in, paraded in due form, with final tribute being graced by seven in-pensioners of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, magnificently dressed in scarlets, but wearing masonic regalia (all being Grand or Metropolitan in rank).
Brethren laying poppies alongside the “Silent Gun”, remembering the fallen
Following readings, war poems, narrated by Simon Callow, and communal singing of three well know songs that epitomised the period, the final act was the silent dropping of poppy petals symbolical of every Servicemen who lost his life in the Great War.
Even the act of closing the Lodge contained a poignant reminder, as brethren left the Lodge, they each and everyone laid a poppy on the table adorned with several helmets from the trenches and a WW1 Lewis gun, symbolical of the silent gun.
“When you go home tell them of us and say for your tomorrow, we gave our to-day”.
Kohima Epitaph - Major John Maxwell Edwards (1875-1958)
