THE ROYAL DRAGOON GUARDS
PAST MASTER'S JEWEL 1957
CATEGORIES OF JEWELS
ST. PATRICK'S LODGE NO. 295
PAST MASTER'S JEWEL 1957
CONTENTS:-
[TO JUMP DIRECTLY TO A SECTION CLICK ON NUMBER ]
- ~ -
1. DESCRIPTION OF JEWEL.
2. HISTORY OF ST. PATRICK'S LODGE NO. 295 - 1758 - TODATE.
3. HISTORY OF "THE ROYAL DRAGOON GUARDS".
4. ST. PATRICK'S LODGE NO. 295 WEBLINK.
- ~ -
OBVERSE OF JEWEL
A nice silver Compass and Square Past Master's neck Jewel.
The Jewel comprises of a normal silver Compass and Square, with a suspended "G".
The jewel itself is suspended from a silver badge, which is actually a miniature star of the the Order of St. Patrick which was founded on the 17th March 1783 [See Footnote]. The Star comprises the cross of St Patrick, a red saltire on a white background, with the motto "Quis Separabit" (Who will separate [us]) above the cross and below the cross "MDCCLXXXIII" (1783) the year the Order was founded. On the cross is a green enamelled shamrock with a crown on each leaf.
REVERSE OF JEWEL
The reverse of the Jewel bears the inscription :
"W.Bro. F.Weaver
Master 1957
St. Patrick's Lodge No. 295"
- ~ -
[Footnote]
Order of St. Patrick
The Order was founded in 1783, a year after the grant of substantial autonomy to Ireland, as a means of rewarding (or obtaining) political support in the Irish Parliament. The Order of the Bath, founded in 1725, was instituted for similar reasons. The statutes of the Order restricted membership to men who were both knights and gentlemen, the latter being defined as having three generations of "noblesse" (i.e. ancestors bearing coats of arms) on both their father's and mother's side. In practice however only Irish Peers (and occasionally foreign princes) were ever appointed to the Order. The cross of St Patrick (a red saltire on a white background) was chosen as one of the symbols of the Order. A flag of this design was later used semi-officially to represent Ireland from that time until the Act of Union 1800, when it was incorporated into the Union Flag. Its association with St. Patrick or with Ireland prior to the foundation of the Order is unclear, however. One of the first knights was the 2nd Duke of Leinster (Grand Master 1770 - 1722 and 1777 - 1778), whose arms carry the same cross.
- ~ -
2. HISTORY OF ST. PATRICK'S LODGE NO. 295.
The Warrant of saint patrick's lodge no. 295 issued to Andrew Watts; James Leatham and Robert Sanderson to form "St. Patrick's Lodge" in The 1st IRISH HORSE OR THE BLUE HORSE, 24th June 1758.
The Warrant was signed by “Right Hon. Charles, Viscount Moore, Grand Master; John Burry, Esq., D.G.M.; Major Edward Windus and Charles Gardner, Esqrs., Grand Wardens.”
The Regiment was at this time under the command of Lieut. General Brown. [From a photograph of the original Warrant presented to the Lodge of Research CC.
the Second series Vol. 2 of the Grand lodge Register shows concerning Lodge 295 - " Warrant No. 295 to1st Regt. Of Horse 24th June 1758, now 4th Dragoon Guards".
Meeting at "Price's", Horse Barracks Gate, DUBLIN 1818.
Letter to Deputy Grand Sec. Dated 23 June 1828 from Joseph Donegan.
"In consequence of our late march from Dorchester to Exeter as well as other military duties, 295 has not been able to meet as usual, consequently the returns of Officers for the next half yr. is later than it should be: not from neglect but unavoidable circumstances."
112 Members were registered by Grand Lodge up to 19th June 1830
The Minutes of Grand Lodge dated 6th May 1835 regarding Lodge 295 show -
"The Deputy Grand Secretary stated that the remaining Members of Lodge 295 had sent in their Warrant to the Grand Lodge, and also a donation of One Guinea for the Orphan School. Ordered that same be received and acknowledged".
[It appears that St. Patrick's Lodge actually ceased working in 1833 "owing to the disapproval of the military authorities"]
The Minutes of the Grand Lodge Board of General Purposes dated 31st December 1877 show in relation to "Lodge 295" that a Memorial was -
"Read from Bro. Major Shaw Hollier, John Hauly, Vet. Surg., Capt. Laurence Murphy and other brethren of the Fourth Royal Irish Dragoon Guards praying for a reissue of old Warrant No. 295, 4th Dragoon Guards which had been sent in in Trust in 1835 Recommended by Lodges 47, 215 and 570. The Fee of £10 enclosed. The Board recommend that the prayer of the Memorialists be granted."
The Grand Lodge acted on this recommendation and The Grand Lodge Minutes of 3rd January 1878 show - "Confirmed".
The Warrant returned to the 4th royal irish dragoon guards, 7th January 1878.
[At the foot of the Warrant is the following Endorsement:- "This Warrant re-issued January 1878 to Bros. Thos. Shaw-Hellier, John Hanly and Lawrence Murphy (4th Royal Irish Dragoon Guards). Signed Saml. Olsham, Dep. Grand Sec., 11th Jan. 1878.]
Extracts from the Records of Lodge St. Patrick 295 I.C.
"Newbridge - 3rd April 1878 Lodge 295 St Patrick, 4th R.I. Dragoon Guards.
The Lodge was opened in due form in the First Degree.
The Secretary read the minutes of the Meeting of Lodge No. 570, 5th Dragoon Guards of 14th January 1878, at which Meeting the Warrant of No. 295 St. Patrick's Lodge was presented to the Brethren of the 4th Dragoon Guards, and the Lodge constituted in due form and Saluted.
Bro. Thomas Bradley Shaw-Hellier was then installed Wor. Master for the usual time, and saluted according to ancient custom.
Bro. Hanly proposed that a vote of thanks be conveyed to the W.M. and Brethren of Lodge No. 215 for their kind assistance in giving the use of their Lodge Room, and also for the aid given in constitution the Lodge, seconded by the W.M. and carried unanimously."
It is notified that on the re-consecration of Lodge No. 295 the Wor. Master presented to the Brethren a case containing a Silver Trowel, Square, Compasses, Ivory Maul and Ten Collars with the Star of St. Patrick. [These are still in possession of the Lodge]
A total of 82 brethren registered up to 15th November, 1899. In most cases the dates when the degrees were conferred and the issue of certificates is shown.
The Minutes of Grand Lodge dated 5th June 1879 show in regard to Lodge 295 -
"5 June, 1879 – Read a Communication from Lodge 295 Fourth Dragoon Guards for permission to use as a Jewel for the W.M., a Jewel which belonged to the Old Lodge. The Jewel, a sketch of which was enclosed, is a Past Masters jewel and the Board have directed that the Lodge be informed that the correct Jewel for the W.M. to wear is the Square – but that the Jewel referred to may be worn by the Immediate Past Master of the Lodge"
The Regiment transferred to Ireland in 1887 and one meeting was held at the Royal Barracks and eight at the Masonic Hall, Molesworth Street.
In 1888 nine meetings were held in the Masonic Hall and two further at the Royal Barracks.
One hundred and six members served in the 1914 -18 War and Bros. J. Attenborough, Lieut. A. Hunt, W. Johnstone, R.C. McFarlane, A.J. Pegler, F.C. Talbot, Lieut. M. Thwaithes and E.G. Whiteman made the supreme sacrifice.
Series five Vol. 19 shown as Vol. 3 of the extant Grand Lodge Registers shows:- Warrant No. 295 to 4th Dragoon Guards as “St. Patrick’s Lodge”. This Register commences with the registration William W. Linfield, Soldier, registered 12 December, 1923.
On the 14th June 1924 it was proposed and seconded that the Lodge continue to use the English Constitution ritual .
during the Second World War The Lodge Warrant No. 295 remained in the United Kingdom and was put in charge of V.W. Bro. Captain Thos. E. Johnston so it could be carried on in the best possible manner and this was done as set forth. One meeting was held at the Clarendon Restaurant, Hammersmith in 1940 when V.W. Bro. Thos. E. Johnston Affiliated, he being a member of several Lodges mainly in the Irish Constitution. He was appointed, by Grand Lodge, as Past-Master in Charge of the Lodge. It was at this meeting that it was proposed and seconded that Members serving with the Forces should be excused paying dues for the duration of the War, and this was Carried. Few meetings were held during the War but the ones that could be arranged were well supported by members of the Lodge, when available, and visiting brethren.
In 1946 three meetings were held and regrettably at one V.W. Bro. T.E. Johnston, who had served St. Patrick's Lodge valiantly throughout hostilities, stated that as the War was over and the Regiment was about to undertake a tour of Foreign Service he was no longer in a position to act as Treasurer and Secretary.
He had joined St. Patrick's Lodge to carry out the directions of the Deputy Grand Master relative to the continuance of the Lodge during the late War, and he now desired to tender his resignation to take effect immediately the Lodge went abroad. He was subsequently made an Honorary Member of the Lodge and he said he would continue with his duties until the Lodge re-established itself.
A total of 131 brethren registered up to 16 November, 1946. In most cases the dates when the issue of certificates is shown, together with the occupation or the rank of the brother.
One further registration that of Lt. Col. Roderick G. Lawrence on affiliation from Lodge No. 3548 EC, received his G.L. Certificate dated 26th October, 1953. No date of his registration in this lodge.
Series six Vol. 21 of the extant Grand Lodge Registers shows:-
"Warrant No. 295 to 4th Dragoon Guards (Scored Out) 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards (Amalgamation of Regiments and Battalions in Her Majesty’s Army 1 January, 1958) as “St. Patrick’s Lodge".
This particular register commences with the registration of Reginald C. Dougherty. W.O. II, registered 12 February, 1955 (in Lodge No. 570).
In 1958 a Special Committee was set up to ensure that the St. Patrick's Lodge Bi-Centenary celebrations went according to plan and also to ensure that the Lodge history was printed prior to the Bi-Centenary meeting.
A total of 156 brethren registered up to 12 July, 1984. In most cases the dates when the issue of certificates is shown, together with the occupation and military rank of the brother.
From 1984 the registration of members is held, in alphabetical order, in a computerised register by Grand Lodge, Freemasons’ Hall, 17 Molesworth Street, Dublin 2. The Registration of the Worshipful Master, Wardens and Secretary of Lodges are held in separate Registers, the first Volume covering the period 1983 to 1994 inclusive and the second Volume covering from 1995 to date.
[The above is only a very small extract of the Lodge History - for a more complete History please purchase IRISH MASONIC RECORDS - see Acknowledgments as how to purchase same.]
- ~ -
3. Short History of "THE ROYAL DRAGOON GUARDS" previously styled "THE 4th/7th ROYAL DRAGOON GUARDS "previously styled "THE 4th (ROYAL IRISH) DRAGOON GUARDS" previously styled "THE FIRST REGIMENT OF HORSE (1st IRISH HORSE) BLUE HORSE " in 1758
The First Regiment of Horse (1st Irish Horse) Blue Horse (1746).
James Hamilton, 4th Duke of Hamilton, Earl of Arran ~(web link)
(11 November 1658 – 15 November 1712)
The 4th Royal Irish Dragoon Guards was a cavalry regiment in the British Army, first raised in 1685.The regiment was first raised as the Earl of Arran's Regiment of Cuirassiers in 1685.
by the regimenting of various independent troops, and ranked as the 6th Regiment of Horse. It was based in Ireland during Marlborough's campaigns and in 1746, when the old Horse regiments were reorganised, it became the 1st (or Blue) Irish Horse. In 1788 the 1st (or blue) irish horse returned to the British establishment, as the 4th (Royal Irish) Dragoon Guards.
The 4th (Royal Irish) Dragoon Guards (1758).
Perhaps the most notable engagement of the regiment was at the out break of World War I on 22nd August 1914, when a squadron of the regiment became the first members of the British Expeditionary Force to engage the German army, outside Mons; four patrolling German cavalrymen of the 2nd Kuirassiers were surprised by two full troops of British cavalry, and after a brief pursuit several were killed.
The 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards (1922).
The 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards was a cavalry regiment of the British Army from 1922 to 1992.
It was formed in India in 1922 by the amalgamation of the 4th Royal Irish Dragoon Guards and 7th Dragoon Guards (Princess Royal's), as the 4th/7th Dragoon Guards; It returned to the UK in 1929, it gained the distinction Royal in 1935, mechanised in 1938, and transferred to the Royal Armoured Corps in 1939 prior to the outbreak of war.
In 1939, it deployed to France with the British Expeditionary Force, as the reconnaissance regiment of the 2nd Infantry Division under I Corps. It participated in the Battle of France, fighting in northern France and Belgium, and evacuated from Dunkirk in Operation Dynamo. The personnel of the regiment landed in England on 3 June 1940, having abandoned their vehicles.
After re-equipping with Beaverette armoured cars, the regiment was posted to 1st Armoured Reconnaissance Brigade, and then in December 1940 to 27th Armoured Brigade, part of 9th Armoured Division, equipped with Covenanter tanks. At this time, a small group of personnel was detached to form the cadre of a new regiment, the 22nd Dragoons. In 1943 they joined 79th Armoured Division, equipping with amphibious Valentine tanks, and later re-equipping with M4 Sherman DD tanks.
Under the 8th Armoured Brigade, the regiment landed on King Green, Gold Beach, at 0720 on 6th June 1944 as part of the Operation Overlord landings, supporting the 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division. The regiment later participated in the battle for the Falaise pocket, and as part of the armoured forces in Operation Market Garden - the regiment pushing as far as Driel, on the south bank of the Rhine a couple of miles from Arnhem. Among other notable achievements, it was the first armoured unit to cross the Seine.
The regiment ended the war in Bremerhaven, and a year later was deployed to Palestine for a tour of duty lasting from 1946-1948. The regiment was then deployed to Libya, rotated back to England in 1952, and then to Germany in 1954 as part of 7th Armoured Division. The regiment then rotated regularly between England and Germany, with two squadrons deployed to Aden in 1965 and a squadron to Cyprus in 1966 as part of the UN forces. There was also a two-year tour in Omagh in Northern Ireland, from 1966 to 1968, following which the regiment returned to rotation between the UK and Germany.
Following the reduction of forces at the end of the Cold War, the Options for Change proposal amalgamated the 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards with the 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards, to form the new Royal Dragoon Guards regiment
The Royal Dragoon Guards (1992).
The Royal Dragoon Guards (RDG) is a cavalry regiment of the British Army. It was formed in 1992 by the amalgamation of two other regiments namely The 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards and The 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards
Because of its lineage through the 5th Royal Inniskillings and the 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards -- the 4th had been known as the 4th Royal Irish Dragoon Guards and the 7th also had Irish ancestry -- the Royal Dragoon Guards retains strong links to Northern Ireland.
The regiment was based in Paderborn, Germany when it was formed, and was part of 20 Armoured Brigade. In 1996 it returned to the United Kingdom, being based at Tidworth. The regiment currently serves in the armoured role, equipped with Challenger 2. It returned to Germany in 2000, being based in Münster as part of 4 Armoured Brigade (later 4 Mechanized Brigade).
The regiment currently recruits soldiers from the North of England and Northern Ireland but predominately from Yorkshire.
- ~ -
4. WEB LINK ~ SAINT PATRICK'S LODGE NO. 295
- ~ -
EMAIL
~ IRISHMASONICJEWELS.IE