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Viking cruise
I was surprised to see the photograph of
Masons aboard the SY Viking (MQ, Issue
No. 8) as I have a similar photograph taken
at the end of June 1913.
The Viking was specially adapted for the
cruises and catered for 348 passengers, of
which more than 30 were Freemasons. The
Masonic meetings were not on board as you
indicated, but held in the open air at
midnight and in broad daylight.
This was 968 feet above sea level near a
hut which stood adjacent to a monument,
previously erected to mark the Kaiser’s visit.
The Masonic meeting of which I have a
record was held on 27 June 1913 when 34
Masons, 30 from Britain and four from
overseas, took part. The officers appointed
to take part were:
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WM: W Bro Harry Tipper PAGP
Tranquillity Lodge No. 185, W Bro W H
Snow (St Peter’s No. 442), W Bro Robert
Mitchell and Bro W H Burridge (Robert
Mitchell No. 2956), Bro J Wagstaff
(Paddington No. 3267) and Bro Reverend
H Mervyn Knuckley (Wodonga, Victoria,
Australia).
Peterborough
Richard Williams’ medals
As a military history enthusiast I was very
interested in the article on Richard
Williams, a Charge of the Light Brigade
veteran (MQ, Issue No. 8).
I was intrigued by the photograph of him
in his Provincial regalia, as he is wearing his
campaign medals and his Masonic jewels.
I have never heard of this, or seen it, and
wonder if this was something that was
permitted in those days.
The medals he is wearing in the
photograph are, left to right: Crimea Medal
with four clasps, Turkish Crimea medal and
the Indian Mutiny medal with no clasp
(most unusual).
Peeping out from under these is probably
his Long Service and Good Conduct medal,
although why he would wear it separately I
don’t know.
Witney, Oxfordshire
Conan Doyle’s apron
I visited Chicago to view a large Conan
Doyle collection that is owned privately,
and on display was the Masonic apron and
wallet that belonged to Sir Arthur Conan
Doyle.
It is on display in a glass case along with
the pouch in which it was kept. The apron is
described as of white lambskin, lined with
turquoise silk and trimmed with a two-inch
border of turquoise moiré.
There is a triangular flap on the front, also
trimmed in turquoise moiré, three silk blue
rosettes on flap and in two lower corners of
apron. There are two pendent purl wire
tassels, turquoise ribbon ties with silver
serpent clasp.
It is accompanied by an original black
morocco wallet with silver clasp, 14 x 20cm,
lined in red and white kid leather, and
stamped in gilt: “Bro. A Conan Doyle,
Phoenix Lodge No. 257.”
It forms part of the Core Materials of the
C. Frederick Kittle Collection of Doyleana
at the Newberry Library, Chicago.
Brian Pugh, Curator The Conan Doyle, (Crowborough) Establishment, Lewes, Sussex
The Heavy Brigade
In your otherwise excellent article about Sgt
Richard Williams, there is an absolute
howler. The defence of Balaclava by the
Highlanders and various ‘invalids’ was
indeed commanded by Sir Colin Campbell:
‘The thin red line capped with steel’.
However, the Charge of the Heavy
Brigade, consisting of the Royal Scots Greys
and the Iniskilling Dragoons, supported by
the 5th Dragoons and the Royals, all under
strength, was commanded by General
The Hon. James Scarlett, a 55-year-old
squire/soldier who had never seen action.
Against all the usages of war, Scarlett
proceeded to slowly ‘dress’ his Brigade and
then charge uphill into a mass of Russian
cavalry that outnumbered them at least 3:1,
if not greater.
“The Russians fled in the greatest
disorder, our splendid cavalry not leaving
them till they had got under protection of
their artillery” (Lt. Henry Clifford).
Tennyson published a poem “The
Charge of the Light Brigade”, but in
typically English fashion, Scarlett’s triumph
is virtually unknown, while Cardigan’s
tragedy is universally known!
Hitchin, Herts
Balaclava sword
Your article on The Charge of the Light
Brigade (MQ, Issue No. 8) was of great
interest me as another (albeit adopted)
Lancastrian took part in the Charge of the
Heavy Brigade earlier in the day.
This was Colonel James Yorke Scarlett of
the 5th Royal Dragoons, who commanded
and led the Heavy Brigade in the battle, and
who came home from the Crimea as a
Lieutenant-General.
His sword is in the possession of Thursby
Lodge No. 3855, consecrated 26 September
1918 – first Master John Ormerod Scarlett
Thursby – and is used by all Burnley
Masonic Hall Lodges.
Scarlett Lodge of Mark Master Masons
No. 189 was named after him and was
consecrated in October 1875, four years
after his death.
Burnley, Lancashire
On the carpet
We are a recently formed Chapter in
Devon, and have been fortunate enough to
have all our Chapter furniture either made,
or donated by the founders, with the
exception of a Chapter carpet.
Is there any Chapter with a carpet to sell
or dispose of, as we can assure the present
owners that it would be “gratefully received,
and faithfully applied.”
Exeter, Devon
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