BEAUCHAMP LODGE 1422 - The West Kent Military Lodge

Military Lodge June remarkable meeting

Author:
Mark Eyles-Thomas
PDProvGM West Kent, Member of Beauchamp Lodge No.1422
Date:
17 June 2023
Category:

A thoroughly enjoyable time was had by all who attended the West Kent Military Lodge June meeting and our thanks go to all the Brethren for their continued support.

The West Kent Military Lodge meeting Salient Points:

The Military Lodge was ‘Tyled’ at 1730hrs with 86 Brethren in attendance (once again additional chairs were required in the Lodge Room). Of those in attendance there were; 2 x Entered Apprentices, 2 x Fellow-crafts, 16 Master Masons, 2 x reigning Masters & 5 Past Masters, so just under a third attending were light blues.

A photograph of the Beauchamp Lodge members and their guests in the Lodge Room all wearing Masonic regalia along with military headdress and service medals who attended the June meeting
Some of the attendees of the June meeting

The main event was a superb presentation from Lt. Cmdr. Kevin Todd MBE and Lt. Cmdr Pat Drummy (both seated in the front row wearing their Royal Navy berets) on Submarine warfare, which was extremely well received by all in attendance.

A black silhouette image of a submarine with the details of the presentation as depicted on the Beauchamp Lodge summons
A picture of HMS Conqueror flying the Jolly Roger as she reentered port
A picture of a British nuclear submarine at sea. Sailing on the surface.
An image of a Jolly Roger flag

6 new joining members were successfully balloted for during the meeting and welcomed into theMilitary Lodge and 3 further applications were also read out for proposed new members. These members will be balloted for at the October meeting (27th).

The Festive Board celebrated the anniversary of the D-Day landings and the 5 tables (top table and four sprigs) were decorated to represent each of the Normandy beaches (Sword, Juno, Gold, Omaha & Utah).

A picture of the Festive Board tables at the Wilmington Masonic Centre each table having been decorated individually to represent one of the five D Day, Normandy landing beaches i.e. Sword Beach (British) Juno Beach (Canadian) Gold Beach (British) Omaha Beach (American) Utah Beach (American). National flags as table cloths and various hand flags on each table
The Festive Board Tables
(Top Sword, 1st Sprig Juno, 2nd Sprig Gold, 3rd Sprig Omaha & 4th Sprig Utah)
A table card depicting Sword Beach on D Day
A table card detailing the troops that landed on D Day on Sword Beach
A table card depicting Juno Beach on D Day
A table card detailing the troops that landed on D Day on Juno Beach
A table card depicting Omaha Beach on D Day
A table card detailing the troops that landed on D Day on Gold Beach
Beauchamp Lodge West Kent Military Lodge Province of West Kent June meeting D Day Sword Beach Juno Beach Gold Beach Omaha Beach Utah Beach British Canadian American Wilmington Masonic Centre
A table card detailing the troops that landed on D Day on Omaha Beach
A table card depicting Utah Beach on D Day
A table card detailing the troops that landed on D Day on Utah Beach
An image of the dining plan for the June 2023 meeting of the Beauchamp Lodge

83 brethren dined and all were treated to (i) a Ration Book:

An image of the outer cover of a ration book especially created to celebrate the Beauchamp Lodge June 2023 meeting
An image of the inner cover of a ration book especially created to celebrate the Beauchamp Lodge June 2023 meeting
Our IPM’s Ration Book

And (ii) a D-Day clicker:

An image of a D Day clicker or cricket as they were known issued to each and every person who attended the Beauchamp Lodge June 2023 meeting
An image of a D Day clicker or cricket as they were known issued to each and every person who attended the Beauchamp Lodge June 2023 meeting
A D-Day clicker

The D-Day clickers proved to be a roaring success with the brethren and ‘Command and Control’ was maintained by fines being imposed on any irregular or spontaneous clicking, these £1 fines raised £100 for the Combat Stress collection tins. James Marsh, Deputy Grand Superintendent was unable to control himself and so willingly donated £5 to relieve his urges. He later commented that it had been money well spent.

All-in-all another super fun-packed evening …

An image of Mark Eyles-Thomas Worshipful Master of the Beauchamp Lodge explaining to the dining brethren the June 2023 festive board rules associated with the use of the D Day clickers and the fine associated with inappropriate or improper use
The plantation of the D-Day clicker (and use thereof)
An image of the brethren at the Beauchamp Lodge June 2023 festive board singing some traditional hymns at the end of the evening
An image of the brethren at the Beauchamp Lodge June 2023 festive board singing some traditional hymns at the end of the evening and waving their hand flags
An image of the brethren at the Beauchamp Lodge June 2023 festive board singing some traditional hymns at the end of the evening and waving their hand flags

This post has been created by the West Kent Military lodge for information. If you would like to now more about the Lodge contact us here

If you’d like to know more about us or how to join our Military Lodge simply click the contact us link and message us your details. We will be very happy to answer any enquiries you may have.

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