Magnificent - Among The Thousands Who Range Under Its Banners

Among the thousands who …

Among the thousands … We tend to think of Masonic gatherings in terms of lodges or chapters; but whilst they are certainly the building blocks of Freemasonry it is the Brethren themselves who are its heart and soul; to paraphrase Brother Robert Burns, ‘The [lodge] is but the guinea’s stamp; the man’s the gold’. Throughout Freemasonry’s long history its members have continued to meet in times of both peace and war, but not always within the confines of a Masonic Hall or local hostelry. Indeed meetings have taken place in many diverse locations; including Brethren’s homes and workplaces, public buildings, military establishments, on ships at sea, in the open air, in prisoner-of-war camps, and even in war zones.

Among the thousands … continued - Whilst on military service Freemasons have always sought to meet in Masonic Harmony with other Brethren; some have visited local civilian lodges, and others have formed their own lodges. Maybe the most evocative military lodge meetings are those held by Brethren whilst serving in enemy territory. The Beauchamp Lodge No.1422, and other military lodges, have held such meetings; and they are a unique testament to the value Brethren have placed upon the sharing of the Masonic experience with others, whatever the difficulties facing them.

Among the thousands … continued - Let’s look at one such meeting that took place in NW India in 1935; it was held by the Lodge Jamrud No.4372, but other military Brethren were also in attendance, including members of the Beauchamp Lodge No.1422. They were all part of a military force sent by the British government to quell the marauding Mohmand tribes on India’s North West frontier.

Known as the ‘Mohforce’ it was initially commanded by the then Brigadier Claude Auchinleck, but later by General Muspratt. The force comprised both British and Indian troops; and included heavy artillery and tanks. This was in fact the first operational deployment of tanks in India; they were Vickers Mark II Light Tanks armed with a 3pdr gun and a single machine gun; the Mohmand language did not have a word for a tank, so they called them ‘the snakes that spit’.

Among the thousands … continued - In late summer 1935 the assembled Mohforce, led by two tanks, started their advance towards the Nahakki Pass; with Sappers, including members of Beauchamp Lodge, organising fresh water supplies and preparing the way for the force’s heavy vehicles. The advance took six weeks; but the heights above the Pass were quickly taken in a daring night operation, and the next day the British cavalry passed through the Pass on to the plains beyond.

The Mohforce established its headquarters in the village of Kamalai; after some often fierce fighting the tribal revolt was quelled and order restored, and in October the Mohforce was able to withdraw back to British territory. In was in this campaign that Captain Godfrey Meynell of the Indian Army won a posthumous Victoria Cross for ‘conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty’; despite being heavily outnumbered he led a desperate last stand against Mohmand tribesmen in the Nahqui Pass, remaining at his post even when fatally wounded.

Among the thousands … continued - During the campaign the Highland Light Infantry had occupied the village of Nahakki, now in modern Pakistan; and a tented military camp was erected close to the village. Several Brethren from Lodge Jamrud were serving in the military units based at Nahakki, and they obtained a dispensation for their lodge to meet there, even though they might be doing so in sight of enemy tribesmen hiding in the surrounding hills. Members of Beauchamp Lodge were amongst the visiting Brethren at Lodge Jamrud’s first meeting in Nahakki on the 17th October 1935; and both lodges have written accounts of that remarkable meeting.

Among the thousands … continued - The attending Brethren did have some aprons and collars, but not all the furniture and equipment needed for a regular lodge meeting, so they had to improvise and make-do. They met in the open air under the ‘clear blue canopy of heaven’ in “a small straw covered yard’ between some ramshackle mud buildings on the outskirts of the village; a former member of Lodge Jamrud, who was in the RAF, recalled flying over the open lodge.

Waterproof sheets were spread on the ground for Brethren to sit upon; and a chequered ground sheet was made by joining together black and white squares cut from old cloth; with a cardboard letter ‘G’ hung above it on a wire strung across the yard.

Among the thousands … continued - They used ‘mud heaps’ and possibly wooden crates for the pedestals; the ‘candles [were] stuck into old bottles’ their flames flickering in the breeze. A small tracing board had been borrowed from the Grand Secretary of the Punjab; and a rough ashlar was easily found, but they could not find a perfect one. The wands were pick-handles, and tent peg mallets were used as gavels; the Tyler was very well armed as he seemingly had both a service revolver and a bayonet! The VSL was the Master’s own pocket Bible, which the Brethren present all signed; and set upon it were a Square & Compasses borrowed from a Sapper’s tool box.

Among the thousands … continued - We still have the summons for this meeting; it simply tells us that after the lodge was opened, the minutes of the previous meeting held at Peshawar were approved, notice was given of two joining members, and a Masonic lecture was delivered. However, we can imagine the feelings of the Brethren present at this unique meeting; the pleasure and comfort they derived from the familiar Masonic proceedings, and the warmth of the fraternal feelings they would have shared; the meeting must also have provided a welcome opportunity to share news of comrades and recall absent Brethren.

Let’s now skip forward to the 26th February 2022, and the 150th anniversary meeting of the Beauchamp Lodge, which was held in the much safer surroundings of Wilmington in Kent. This was we believe the next occasion when Brethren from the Lodge Jamrud and Beauchamp Lodge would meet together in open lodge, an interval of 87 years!

Among the thousands … continued - However, happily this time it would not be decades before the two lodges met again, as Brethren from the Beauchamp Lodge attended the Centenary celebrations of the Jamrud Lodge on the 20th of May. These were important landmark meetings for each lodge, with both celebrating their historical links to India and distinguished histories of military service; but they have also rekindled the warm friendship between the two lodges that was first formed on a far distant battlefield so long ago.

Among the thousands … continued - Our grateful thanks go to our good friends in the Lodge Jamrud, for giving permission to use in this article information from their excellent Lodge Centenary history compiled by W. Bro Simon Burrows.

This Among the thousands … post has been provided by the West Kent Military Lodge. If you would like to know more about the Lodge contact us here