Life in the Forfarshire Lodges 1914 to 1920.(Part 2)

Life in the Forfarshire Lodges during the Great War of 1914 to 1918. (Part 2)

By Bro Iain D. McIntosh, RWM Lodge Discovery No.1789, Past PG Substitute Master (Forfarshire), Grand Steward (Grand Lodge of Scotland).

In 2014, I wrote to all the Lodges in the Province who were in existence at the time (23) seeking their help, asking them to trawl through their minute books, petition books & etc., and to find what was written and recorded for the period 1914 to 1920. The reason for taking the period up to 1920 was because many of the war memorials and commemoration ceremonies were being held.

I am therefore grateful to the many Secretaries and other brethren who took the time to go through the books and send me the details on how the Great War affected the Lodges and their members, what anecdotes and stories were recorded, and the sad details of brethren who were either killed or injured during that conflict. I was also interested in how it impacted on the life of the Lodge (also the Province) regarding their meetings, the office-bearers, degree ceremonies and new members, the relationship with the community what it was doing with regards to helping on the ‘home front’ and generally how it did affect the ‘normal’ life of the Lodge.

The Lodges that were in existence during 1914-1918 and from which information was obtained in various ways are 15, 47, 49, 66, 78, 90, 99, 120, 123, 158, 182, 282, 448, 486, 593, 679, 870, 967, & 1073. Iain D. McIntosh.

PART TWO

OTHER STORIES FROM THE MINUTES

Some interesting extracts appear in the minutes of Lodge Broughty Castle for December 1915 – Brother George Anderson R.N.R. was given a warm welcome into the Lodge, it is recorded that he had been on duty ‘somewhere in the Pacific’ and had also participated in the first Naval Victory at the Falkland Islands.

Also welcomed was Brother Robert Webster on his return from the East, he brought back fraternal greetings from the RWM Bro Taylor of Lodge No. 1066 Yokohama (Japan), he said that they had been very kind to him when he was ‘shipwrecked’. The Lodge secretary was instructed to write thanking Lodge 1066 in Yokohama for helping Brother Webster. From the Broughty Castle minutes we also see that the lodge is providing a place for brethren from other Lodges to seek friendship and a place of welcome, in December they report giving a ‘hearty welcome’ to Bro Major Wallace a Past Master of Lodge St John Crossgates No. 540, on the same evening Bro Captain John McDonald Connell of H.M. Forces, presently stationed in Broughty Ferry and a Fellow Craft of Lodge Kyles of Bute, Tighnabruich, No.1120 was on the request of his lodge, raised to the Third Degree. Again, on another occasion the Lodge gave Bro Captain Carnegie, R.G.A., a welcome, he was also stationed at the Castle.

Bro E. S. Godart (Armourer’s Crew Wireman , Royal Navy) of Lodge Forfar Kilwinning was killed on the 30th December 1915 whilst serving aboard H.M.S. Natal a ‘Warrior’ Class Armoured Cruiser, unfortunately this warship was not lost to enemy action but was sunk whilst at anchor in the Cromarty firth it is thought that faulty cordite caused a series of explosions within the magazines which blew the ship apart, about 400 people died aboard her that day, including some women and children who were aboard for a Film night.

1916 – CONSCRIPTION, THE SOMME

During 1916 The Grand Lodge issues the following
I am directed by the Most Worshipful, the Grand Master, to direct your attention to certain resolutions which were passed by Grand Lodge at a Quarterly Communication held on 3rd inst., and to request that your Lodge shall give effect to them. These resolutions affect the right of Brethren of alien enemy birth or nationality to attend Lodge Meetings during the continuance of the War and until Grand Lodge shall determine otherwise. The first resolution is as follows: ‘that in order to prevent the peace and harmony of the Craft being disturbed, it is necessary that all Brethren of alien enemy birth or nationality should not during the continuance of the War and until Grand Lodge, after the treaty of peace has been signed, shall otherwise determine, attend any Meeting of or authorized by Grand Lodge or any Provincial of District Grand Lodge or Daughter Lodge, and that such Brethren be, and that they are hereby, required by Grand Lodge to abstain from such attendance’. You will therefore see that abstention from attendance at meetings is made compulsory on the Brethren to whom the resolution applies. Grand Lodge however, has by a proviso made it possible for a Lodge with the approval of the Provincial or District Grand Masters to exempt from the operation of the resolution such of its members as would otherwise fall thereunder, as appears from the following clause of the resolution: ‘It shall however be competent to exempt a member, in good standing from the operation of this resolution provided that
(1) that notice of motion be given on the circular calling the meeting at which it is to be considered, on which circular, the name, designation and address of the member must appear,
(2) that the vote for such exemption shall receive the approval of the Provincial or District Grand Masters or the Chairman of the Visitation of Metropolitan Lodges Committee under whose jurisdiction such Lodge is placed.’ Grand Lodge has also resolved that during the period of non-attendance, in obedience to the resolution, such Brethren shall be exempted from any annual contribution which may become due.
I have to request that this communication be read in open Lodge at the first Ordinary Meeting and afterwards engrossed in the Minutes of your Lodge.
I am,
David Reid,
Grand Secretary.

During 1916 the Lodges seem to try to have as much of a normal life as was possible – considering the tribulations of the times, but it is obvious, however, that with the terrible attrition of able bodied men, caused by the war, more Lodge minutes are recording the departure of men to the forces, mention is made of men called up under the ‘Derby Scheme’ – by the middle of 1915 it was clear to the government that the ‘voluntary recruitment was not sufficient to replace those killed and wounded, the government passed the ‘National Registration Act on 15th July 1915,’ All men in the age range of 15 to 65 were obliged to register, also giving details of employment, trade, etc. In October 1915 Lord Derby was made Director-General of Recruiting and he established a programme for calling up men between the ages of 18 to 40, who were informed that under the scheme they could continue to enlist voluntarily or attest with an obligation to come if called up later. The War Office notified the public that voluntary enlistment would soon cease and that the last day of registration would be 15 December 1915. An extension to the scheme was made in Oct 1916. Finally, in January 1916 conscription was introduce by David Lloyd George with his ‘Military Service Act’.

It was also becoming clear, that from the minutes of the Lodges, that, as more and more of the younger men were going into the armed forces the duties in the Lodges such as holding office, working degrees and keeping the Lodges going were now being undertaken by Past Masters and other older members. Lodges were also having to hold ‘special’ meetings to cater for those leaving for active service, and needing to complete their degrees. Grand Lodge were also requiring Lodges to hold ‘Enquiry Meetings’ to meet with applicants. Like in the case of Lodge Broughty Castle when in Sept 1916 they report having to hold a Second degree at 6 pm because the candidate is having to leave for active service, other candidates requiring the same degree, on hearing about this early time, also turned up, consequently when the Lodge opened at its normal time of 8 pm, there were no candidates left to work the advertised degree.
The Lodges were also still very much concerned with supporting national war charities like The Red Cross, continuing donations to the Belgian Refugees Fund and to the Scottish Hospitals for Limbless sailors and soldiers at Erskine and Eden Hall. Lodge Broughty Castle in May 1916 report that the Red Cross were wanting to use the Lodge Hall for practise – ‘in the event of an Air Raid’.

Lodge Minutes record various anecdotes for 1916 – Lodge Thistle Operative No.158 report of a welcome to a visiting brother from the Black Watch, they gave him a hearty welcome, and cigarettes. Lodge Broughty Castle report receipt of a postcard from Bro George Gall a P.O.W. in Germany, thanking the Lodge for sending him a parcel, also Bro John W. Tyrie reporting on a visit to Lodges in Bermuda whilst on ‘Transport Service.’ Lodge St Peter in Montrose report visits from London brethren, who were serving with the Royal Flying Corps at the Montrose Air Station. This Lodge also report in October 1916 that Captain Thomas Lyell was home on sick leave and that he had been awarded the Military Cross. They also report that Captain David Thomson of the SS Strathkinnes, was in the Lodge, he gave a report on their actions in the sinking of a U-Boat near Algiers.
Lodge Progress reported wishing ‘God speed’ to Brothers Whyte & Gablin about to leave for Chatham Dockyard. On a lighter side, the Lodge report that one of their members, Brother Alexander Maiden (initiated in Jan 1906 and described as a Mercantile Clerk) had been elected as ‘Provost of Monifieth’ (he would serve in that capacity from 1916 to 1919) The R.W. Master of Lodge Broughty Castle Bro William Gibson was also being called up for the ‘Senior Service’ this in July 1916, in November he sends a report to the Lodge on how his training is progressing.

THE SHACKLETON RESCUE

In July of 1916, Lodge Progress also report on Brother Henry Moar – who was involved with the relief ship for rescuing the ‘Shackleton Expedition.’ This highlights a little known famous expedition, launched just before war broke out – which had now become a forgotten casualty of the War. The Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition (or called the Endurance Expedition) was started in August in 1914, mostly financed by Dundee’s Jute Baron, Sir James Caird, along with the ‘Endurance’, the Dundee whaler ‘Aurora’ was also involved, the ‘Endurance’ with Shackleton party had been stranded in the Antarctic, the expedition was cut off from the outside world, totally oblivious of the Great War which had broken out, they made an amazing survival trek to South Georgia to be rescued, and here was a Dundee mason involved with such a rescue.

CHANGING FACE OF WARFARE

An interesting aspect being reported in some minute books, i.e., Lodge Broughty Castle (26th Aug 1915) and in early 1916 by Lodge Caledonian reflects the changing nature of war – they report having to take out insurance for ‘aerial attack and bombardment.’ Considering that Germany started using air ships, (Zeppelins) in early 1915 to attack English towns and the German Navy attacking Scarborough, Hartlepool and Whitby in late 1915, this was a wise precaution indeed. In 1916 Lodge Caledonian are valuing their Lodge furniture and jewels at £200 – taking out a combined insurance for both aircraft attack and bombardment was to cost 14 shillings.

THE IMPACT OF THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME

During 1916, like in previous years the Lodges report on the continued toll of members killed in action
Many brethren from the Forfarshire Lodges died during the Battle of the Somme (July to November 1916).

Included in the above table was Bro John Cairns a Petty Officer in the Royal Naval Reserve, killed on the Somme. It was Winston Churchill (M.P. for Dundee 1908-1922) and First Lord of the Admiralty, who formed the Naval Divisions, from surplus men of the Royal Navy Reserve, to fight alongside the Army, these divisions were named after famous admirals of the past – like ‘Drake’, ‘Collinwood’, ‘Nelson’, ‘Hood’ & etc.

Lodge St Peter in Montrose record a moving tribute to Bro George Cranston in the following terms -
“The RWM made a feeling reference to the loss which the Lodge had sustained through the death of Bro Sergeant Cranston, Highland Infantry. Brother Cranston had made the supreme sacrifice ‘somewhere in France’, in the service of his King & Country. He expressed the great appreciation of Brother Cranston’s worth and service and moved that these should be recorded in the Minutes of the Lodge, along with an expression of their deep sympathy with his mother in her sore bereavement. As a mark of respect for the deceased Brother, the Dead March was played on the organ. After singing the National Anthem, the Lodge was closed in solemn manner to meet again at the command of the RWM.”
Another casualty listed above is that of Bro George Albert Stephens, (organist of St Luke’s Church, Montrose) and recorded as being the son of Henry and Emily Stephens of 14 Berkley Road, Crouch End, London. It seems that he returned to London to enlisted with that old and illustrious Artillery Company.
Another interesting aspect of the names on Rolls of Honour and War Memorials are the listing of members serving in the Colonial and Commonwealth Forces, men who originally lived in the area and joined Forfarshire Lodges, but who have now emigrated to new lands, but still being remembered and listed on the memorials.

OTHER BATTLES AND CONFLICTS ON LAND AND SEA.

Of course, during the year of 1916, other battles were being fought by British Forces on land and at sea and the Forfarshire Lodges were seeing casualties among their members. Lodge Panmure No.299 saw the death of Brother Captain Alex R Gibb (Royal Field Artillery, killed 12th October 1916 at Ypres) his obituary in the Arbroath Roll of Honour is very telling of the type of men that were being lost during the war.

“Captain Alexander Reid Gibb, Royal Field Artillery, Arbroath, forty-one years of age, was the son of John Smith Gibb, treasurer of the Edinburgh and Leith Gas Com¬mission. After leaving Edinburgh University, he was for some time with Mr. J. Gordon Mason, S.S.C., Edinburgh, and in 1906 he entered into partnership with Mr. H. Victor Neill, solicitor, Arbroath. Captain Gibb was well-known when in Edin¬burgh as an athlete and an all-round sportsman, and he was at one time a prominent cross-country runner. In Arbroath he took a keen interest in tennis, and when called away on active service he was treasurer of the Club. He was also an enthusiastic golfer, and as a member of the Ar¬broath Club was a winner of the Storrer Cup. As a Freemason, he was a member of Lodge Panmure (No. 299) and held the office of Deputy-Master. To the Arbroath Literary Club he had contributed interesting papers. Soon after com¬ing to Arbroath he became an officer in the Forfarshire Battery R.F.A., with which he left for the front in1915. He, however, was subse¬quently transferred to a regular battery and was attached to the Highland Brigade. On the 12th of October 1916, he was hit by a shell while observing from a front trench, and died almost instantaneously. The Colonel in command of the Bri¬gade said that during the short time Captain Gibb had been with him he had done some exceptionally good work, and that he was very popular with everybody.”

Also at Ypres - Brother Private Frederick Connon, of King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (K.O.Y.L.I.) was killed on the 23rd of December 1916, he was a member of Lodge St David No.78. Interestingly the Lodge Memorial lists him as being in the King’s Own Scottish Borderers, whilst the Commonwealth Graves Commission list him as being in the K.O.Y.L.I. This is also confirmed by the Dundee Roll of Honour which also lists him as being in the K.O.Y.L.I.
At Sea, Engine Room Artificer James Alexander of Lodge Dalhousie No.679 was reported as being lost aboard HM Submarine E37 in the North Sea on the 3rd December 1916.

HMS HAMPSHIRE

Brother Warrant Engineer George Mitchell Hunter on the Royal Navy, also of Lodge Dalhousie, was reported lost on the 5th June 1916. Of great interest is the date – 5th June 1916, Field Marshal Lord Kitchener, the Secretary of State for War was on his way to a secret meeting in Russia aboard the armoured cruiser H.M.S. Hampshire, whilst sailing through the Pentland Firth, just off Orkney, the ship hit a German mine, only 12 crew of the 655 on board survived, Lord Kitchener went down with the ship, also too did Brother Mitchell of Lodge Dalhousie. He is commemorated at the Lyness Royal Naval Cemetery in Orkney.

1916 DRAWS TO A CLOSE

By the end of 1916 Britain, her forces and her people had experienced the major conflicts of Gallipoli, Jutland and the Somme.
Actions on the Somme front had petered by the end of November 1916. From the first day of the offensive on the Somme on the 1st July (Battle of Albert) to the end of the Battle of the Ancre on the 18th November 1916 (3 phases, 13 different Battles) Total British and Commonwealth casualties amounted to nearly 420,000, of which nearly 96,000 were killed or missing.
However, on the Home Front the Lodges carried on as normal as possible. To end this part of this study It may be relevant to insert some minutes from Lodge Broughty Castle No.486, to give readers a feel of the situation of the times and how a typical east coast small town Lodge operated during the closing months of 1916.

16th Nov 1916 – A Typical 1916 meeting. Bro James Nicol the I.P.M. was in the chair as the R.W.M. Bro William Gibson had been ‘called up’.
The Lodge was opened in the first degree, passed to the second degree then raised to the Master Mason degree and 3 brethren raised to that degree. The Lodge was then taken back down to the first degree when 3 applications and general correspondence was read out, the correspondence included a request from Grand Lodge for a return of office-bearers, also 25/- being the fee for representation in Grand Lodge, also a letter from Lance Sergeant Brown of the Highland Cycle Brigade based in Arbroath asking the secretary to send him his Master Mason’s Diploma, also information as to the date of the next Mark Degree. Mr Colin McKenzie Morrison aged 37, A Teacher, of Roslyn Cottage, Broughty Ferry, also described as at present a Corporal in the N.S., R.G.A. (Royal Garrison Artillery – stationed at Broughty Castle) was both balloted and then initiated into the Craft. A collection was taken for the benevolent fund, which raised 4 shillings. The office-bearers for 1917 were then nominated (there was only one candidate per office). The brethren then discussed the arrangements for the forthcoming festival of St Andrew’s, it was decided, that due to the War conditions, to have it on similar lines to the previous year, i.e. a quiet affair with no supper, only light refreshments, the brethren exercising ‘self-denial’ with no intoxicating liquor, and the ticket money of 2/6 collected, after purveying expenses had been deducted, be donated to the Hall fund.

24th Nov 1916 – Intimation was read that one of our brethren, Brother Private George Ramsay Stewart (Canadian Expeditionary Force) had made the supreme sacrifice (23rd Sept 1916 - The Somme).

30th Nov 1916 – Abstract of Accounts were published, office-bearers were elected. Correspondence, from Grand Lodge ‘Notice of Motion’ to have its minutes printed for the information of members. Fraternal greetings from Brother Sapper J.K. Williams 4/3 London field Coy, 3/2 divisional Engineers, Sandown Park, Esher, Surrey, and asking to pay his membership dues to the Lodge, also requesting about taking out Life Membership. Letter from Brother T.M. Sparks requesting a list of office bearers for inclusion in the ‘Forfarshire Masonic Directory’.
The Secretary in his annual report mentioned that two members of 486 who had left the district have now become Masters of Lodges in their adopted countries. Bro W.S. Nicoll now R.W.M. of the ‘Frontier Lodge No 2092 (E.C.) Cathcart, South Africa and Bro Daniel Fleming, R.W.M. of Newcastle Lodge No. 24 (E.C.) in England.
The Lodge was called from labour to refreshment and the festival of St Andrew was celebrated, after tea a collection was taken for the Grand Lodge Annuity Fund, which raised 32/-. Thereafter an hour or two was spent in harmony with an enjoyable programme with the brethren and their visitors. After the Lodge was resumed it was decided to hold a Whist Drive and dance to raise funds for the Hall fund and a committee was formed to organise this.

7th Dec 1916 – Two New members balloted and initiated. George Deans Duffus aged 26, Soldier, Tay Square, Long Lane, at present Corporal 180th Canadian Expeditionary Force and Frederick Knox, Soldier, Bombardier 6440, 1/2 Coy, N.S. R.G.A. (Royal Garrison Artillery) Broughty Castle, Home address 1 Wilson Terrace, Forest Hill, Newcastle upon Tyne.
A letter was received from a 486 member, Bro Alexander Aitken sending fraternal greetings from his affiliate Lodge – Gold Coast No. 773 (E.C.) Africa and describing a Masonic meeting out there.
It was intimated that at the St Andrew’s meeting the sum of £6 had been raised for the hall fund – ‘due to the self-denying ordinance of the Brethren’.

22nd Dec 1916 – Installation of office bearers, ceremony undertaken by Bro Joseph B. McGregor, P.M. Lodge Thistle Operative No. 158 assisted by Bro John B Shaw, P.M. also of Lodge No. 158.
As 1916 drew to a close with the fighting died down at the Somme, Ypres, Verdun and all along the rest Western Front, David Lloyd George had taken over as Prime Minister from Asquith, Admiral David Beattie had replaced Admiral Jellico as Commander in Chief of the Home Fleet, after Jellico is blamed for the inconclusive Battle of Jutland, Jellico is made 1st Sea Lord and General Douglas Haig would soon be made a Field Marshal, in St Petersburg Russia, Grigori Rasputin is assassinated. 1917 would be just as bad on the Western Front with Ypres, Passchendaele, Cambrai and Vimy Ridge. More would be expected from the Country and the Lodges.

Words in a Poem by Joseph Lee, 4th Battalion (Dundee’s Own) The Black Watch

I have not wept when I have seen,
My stricken Comrades die;
I have not wept when we have made
The place where they should lie;
My heart seemed drowned in tears, but still
No tear came from my eye’

Joseph Lee was also known as the Black Watch Poet. He was one of Dundee’s ‘Fighter Writers’ - men from the Dundee Publishing industry like D.C. Thomson and John Leng who had joined the forces.

TO BE CONTINUED

Link back to Part One of this article

Iain D. McIntosh, 2020