kerry Posted 30 May , 2003 Share Posted 30 May , 2003 Dear All, does anyone have any info on British WW1 POWs at camps in Germany who might have formed Masonic Lodges or held informal gatherings whilst POWs? Plenty of activity of this type recorded for British POW Lodges in WW2, but not found any for WW1. Any ideas? Many thanks. Kerry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest tintin Posted 30 May , 2003 Share Posted 30 May , 2003 I don't know about the Freemasons, but Liverpool Orangemen in the 63rd (Royal Naval) Division who were interned in Holland had their own Lodge. Their battalion was landed at Antwerp in 1914 and had to retreat into neutral Holland to avoid the advancing Germans. As there were, and are, very many more Masons than Orangemen I would be most surprised if they did not do likewise. The Ancient Order of Buffaloes was also very popular in the Army of those days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HERITAGE PLUS Posted 1 August , 2003 Share Posted 1 August , 2003 kerry I am not a Freemason, however having seen your post, my attention was drawn to a little book being sold as part of my local library's book clearance. The Book is 'The Pocket History of Freemasonry' by Fred.Pick & Norman Knight. Chapter XIII has the title 'Freemasonry in the Forces. Unfortunately the content is somewhat limited and no mention is made of WW1 POW Lodges in Germany. The following paragraphs taken from the book may however be of interest: Internees in Holland Holland was the scene of some remarkable masonic activity in the first World War. There the Lodges Gasvrijheid (Hospitality) and Willem van Oranje were warranted by the Grand East of the Netherlands in 1915 and 1918 respectively. These were for British naval and military personnel interned in the country, the second lodge being founded by prisoners-of-war transferred from Germany under the Hague Convention. After the War the Lodges were transferred to London. Under similar conditions, a Gastvrijheid Rose Croix Chapter was founded under Netherlandic authority in 1916 and transferred to London in 1919 as the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Chapter, No.207. Masonic Passports During the 1914-18 War the Ailwyn lodge 3535, among others, provided any of its members entering the armed forces with a card of introduction for use outside the United Kingdom. This was printed in English, French, italian, German and Arabic. Forces of Occupation After the first World War there was formed in Cologne a lodge were Freemasons of the forces occupying the Rhineland could meet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kate Wills Posted 1 August , 2003 Share Posted 1 August , 2003 I have had a quick look at Ketchum's Ruhleben - A Prison Camp Society (comprised mostly of civilians of enemy nations who were in Germany at the outbreak of war) and surprisingly he makes no mention of a Masonic Lodge, which is amazing considering the number of groupings that formed there, including a Lancastrian Society. Waugh's The Prisoners of Mainz makes no mention of Freemasonry either. Sorry to have drawn a blank. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry_Reeves Posted 1 August , 2003 Share Posted 1 August , 2003 Just out of interest, Freemason's in uniform circa 1920's. Some of these SNCO's appear to be wearing WW1 medal ribbons. It might be worth contacting the Feemason's HQ which has a library and museum. They can be found hereThe United Grand Lodge of England Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kerry Posted 5 August , 2003 Author Share Posted 5 August , 2003 Dear All, many thanks for your helpful responses. They have added to the jigsaw of information on a lecture I'm delivering on British Forces Freemasons in Germany 1914-2003. The gem about the masonic passports was particularly fascinating - I wonder if one still exists anywhere? Many thanks once more for taking the time to reply, and for the photo - who/what/where/when? Kerry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HERITAGE PLUS Posted 5 August , 2003 Share Posted 5 August , 2003 Kerry The Ailwyn Lodge 3535 mentioned in my post still exists in Huntingdonshire. Address:Abbey Rooms, 103 High Street, Ramsey PE26 1BZ A contact point is: leo at crossfields.co.uk You may find this site of interest: http://www.geocities.com/lodge34/torrione_....Captivity.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry_Reeves Posted 5 August , 2003 Share Posted 5 August , 2003 Kerry As I said in my post, the photo was probably taken in the 1920's No details on it other than the names at the bottom of the picture. If you want a list of them let me know and I will e-mail it. Terry Reeves Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bert Heyvaert Posted 21 August , 2003 Share Posted 21 August , 2003 Both freemasons and the RAOB were very strong among IWGC-workers ( all ex-servicemen) in France and Belgium also. There were branches in Arras and Ypres. It even caused some troubles in Ypres - at that time more catholic than the pope himself - because the church found them quite suspicious ( stories of freemasons worshiping satan were quite common among Flemish folks before WW2). As for the RAOB, I believe the Mayor of Ypres was made an hon. member to ease the public. I believe a PhD has been written in England about voluntary organisations during WW1. The RAOB is mentioned and maybe it might have something on masons too? I don't recall the autor however, I'll try to come up with the name but can't make any promisses I'm afraid. The only thing I know is that the man who wrote it used to work at the PRO. Maybe they might know something more. Bert. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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