Steel-Heads and Sappers

A Talk by Clive Moore

Welcome to this very special meeting of the Beauchamp Lodge. My talk is entitled ‘‘Steel-Heads and Sappers’; and it will look not only at the lodge’s history, but also at the exciting new journey it is about to embark upon; one that will, we believe, make it West Kent’s premier military lodge.

The lodge was formed 150 years ago, as a Masonic home for the Brethren passing through the military depot and engineering college at Roorkee in Northern India. Initially nearly all the lodge’s members were drawn from the British Indian Army; but over the years it has been a Masonic home for many distinguished civil and military figures, including Rajas and a holder of the Victoria Cross.

Before telling you more about the lodge, I know that you will be wondering about the title ‘Steel-Heads and Sappers’. Well as you will hear the Lodge was founded by Brethren from two army regiments, the Royal Engineers and the 109th Regiment of Foot. The Royal Engineers were knows as ‘Sappers’ as they dug the zig-zag trenches known as ‘saps’, used to approach an enemy’s fortifications. The men of the 109th Regiment of Foot were known as ‘Steel-Heads’ due to their renowned ability to withstand the hot sun of Central India; as their regiment was first raised in Poona they were also called the ‘Poona Pets’, but ‘Pets and Sappers’ does not have the same ring to it!

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.