7th SERVICE BN. ROYAL IRISH FUSILIERS

FOUNDATION-INITIATE JEWEL 1915

CATEGORIES OF JEWELS

   Active Service Lodge No. 415

   FOUNDATION-INITIATE JEWEL 1915

   CONTENTS:-

     [TO JUMP DIRECTLY TO A SECTION CLICK ON NUMBER ]

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1.   DESCRIPTION OF JEWEL            

2.   SHORT HISTORY WARRANT NO.415.

3.   HISTORY OF "ACTIVE SERVICE"        LODGE NO.19  (1914 - 1924)

4.   Short History of the 7th (Service)        Bn., Royal Irish Fusiliers

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1.  DESCRIPTION OF JEWEL.

 OBVERSE OF JEWEL

This Jewel is suspended from two silver gilt blue enamel bars and a sky blue ribbon.

On the top bar is the word "Foundation",

and the bottom, "Initiate".

The words "Foundation & Initiate" would suggest that the recipient of the Jewel was initiated into Freemasonry after the ceremony of Constitution of the Lodge.

The Jewel itself comprises of a plaque onto which is embedded a Compass and Square which is decorated by two fusilier cap badges. The eagle on the cap badge on the left commemorates the capture of the eagle of the 8th French Regiment by the 87th at the battle of Barrosa in 1811.

The Crown above the two cap badges refers to the fact that the Royal Irish Fusiliers were also known as the "Princess Victoria's" a title granted in honour of the fact that Princess Victoria presented the Colours to The Royal Irish Fusiliers in1833 on her first public ceremony.

Below the Compass and Square is "No. 415 I.C."

On the circumference of the Jewel is the name of the Lodge "Active Service " and on the bottom the word "Tipperary" with three shamrocks. Tipperary is where  the 7th (Service) Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers (Princess Victoria's) were stationed.

 REVERSE OF JEWEL

There is nothing on the Reverse.

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2.  SHORT HISTORY OF WARRANT       NO. 415.

Warrant No. 415 issued to brethren in KILLETER, Castlederg, Co. Tyrone on the 5th April 1764. At MAGHERACREGGAN, Co. Tyrone August 1828. Warrant No. 415 cancelled on the 7th September 1843.

Warrant No. 415 reissued to `Penola Lodge' in PENOLA, South Australia on the 4th September 1869,ceased working c.1881 and Warrant No. 415 was surrendered to Grand Lodge in 1883.

[The above represents the barest of facts relating to Warrant No. 415 before same reissued to Active Service Lodge No. 415 - the IRISH MASONIC RECORDS cd-rom gives a very full account of the Lodges who held Warrant No. 415 for the years setout above]

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3.  HISTORY OF

"ACTIVE SERVICE" LODGE NO. 415

THE 7th SERVICE BN.,THE ROYAL IRISH FUSILIERS

1914 - 1924

We see from the Minutes of the Grand Lodge Board of General Purposes of 1st March 1915 that a Memorial was read from Bros. White, Litton, Robinson and four others praying for a Warrant to establish a Lodge in the 7th Battalion of the Royal Irish Fusiliers to be called the "Active Service".This Application was recommended by Lodge 250. The issue of the Warrant No. 415 was recommended by theGrand Lodge Board of General Purposes.

The Minutes of Grand Lodge of 4th March, 1915 show "Confirmed"and Series four Vol. 16 shown as Volume 4a of the extant Grand Lodge Registers shows "Warrant No. 415 to 7th Batt. Royal Irish Fusiliers as “Active Service Lodge”, 5th March, 1915."

Robert Ross White, Captain (Lodge 287); Marshall W. Litton, Captain (Lodge 1) and George Robinson, Captain (Lodge 342) registered along with four others from various lodges, 5th March, 1915. There was no indication as to Master or Wardens.

A further twenty brethren registered up to 13th March, 1916.  In most cases the dates when the issue of certificates is shown, together with the occupation of the brother.

It is of interest that the Lodge struck a jewel showing the cap badges of the Royal Irish Fusiliers and the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, square and compass and Coronet of Princess Victoria and inscribed "Active Service - Tipperary". [Hallmarked Birmingham 1915][THIS IS THE ACTUAL JEWEL SHOWN ABOVE]

On 5 March the Royal Irish Fusiliers commemorate The Battle of Barrosa (Peninsular War 5 March 1811) ( DESCRIPTION OF JEWEL ABOVE)

The 87th Regt., or Princess Victoria's Own Royal Irish Fusiliers, passed through the First World War having this Lodge working in its midst.

There is no entry for the 1914-18 War.

The Battalion which contained the Lodge having become extinct in 1924, and an extract from the Minutes of the Grand Lodge Board of General Purposes of 2nd June 1924 concerning Active Service Lodge No. 415 shows - "Read letter from Royal Irish Fusiliers returning the Warrant as the Lodge has not met for some time.  Recommended acceptance to Grand Lodge"

The Minutes of Grand Lodge of 5th  June 1924 show - " Confirmed" and the IMR shows "Surrendered, 5th June 1924."

As is said of "Actice Service" Lodge No. 415 in IRISH MASONIC RECORDS:-

"A brief span of life for any Lodge, but not altogether inglorious."

 [Quote from Irish Masonic records]

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4.  Short History of the 7th (Service) Bn., Royal Irish Fusiliers

CAP BADGE ~ ROYAL IRISH FUSILIERS    The 7th (service) battalion, royal irish fusiliers were formed at Armagh, September 1914, as part of K2 [Kitchener's  second volunteer army], when the strength of The Royal Irish Fusiliers was increased to 14 Battalions. Historically the Depot of the Royal Irish Fusiliers was at Armagh, County Down and the Fusiliers recruited from Counties Armagh, Cavan, Monaghan, and Louth. In September 1914 they were  attached to 49th Brigade, 16th (irish) division. the 7th & 8th battalions of the royal Irish fusiliers were stationed at  tippperary town barracks, county tipperary. The 7th formed part of the headquarters of the 49th brigade of the 16th Irish division. this division had its headquarters in tipperary town barracks throughout world war one.  During October 1916 as a result of losses  the 7th & 8th battalions, the Royal Irish Fusiliers amalgamated at Locre to form   7th/8th Battalion, the royal Irish fusiliers. On the 10th February 1918 whilst at peronne 7th/8th Battalion, the royal Irish fusiliers were disbanded in France.

Royal Irish Fusiliers Regimental Band,

Tipperary Town Barracks.

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