CRAFTSMEN IN CAPTIVITY

MASONIC ACTIVITIES OF PRISONERS-OF-WAR

BY BRO. A. R. HEWITT

INTRODUCTION

(1st May, 1964)

WHEN the subject of Freemasonry amongst prisoners of war 

is mentioned, one tends to think immediately of the 

Napoleonic wars and of Thorp's research in this field. His 

work on this aspect of the subject (1) may be regarded as 

definitive, apart from minor items which have occasionally 

come to light in recent years. In the days of which Thorp 

wrote, prisoners, although their plight was distressing, 

enjoyed privileges and liberty unheard of in recent years. 

Prisoners in the two world wars enjoyed no parole; on the 

contrary, their incarceration was rigid. Their accommodation 

was overcrowded, frequently squalid and with few amenities. 

Particularly in the second world war they suffered many 

privations and often cruelty and torture, especially at the 

hands of the Japanese. Many died as the result of ill-

treatment and lack of food. Members of the Armed Forces 

and civilian internees who were members of the Craft turned 

to Freemasonry to sustain them during the rigours of their 

ordeal. In spite of the fact that Masonry was ruthlessly 

suppressed both in Germany and Japan, imprisoned 

brethren made every effort to discover each other, to meet, 

to maintain their Masonic knowledge by rehearsal, and 

generally to comfort, help and sustain one another, well 

knowing that discovery would involve severe punishment. 

They were often subjected to fierce anti-Masonic 

propaganda.

Although this paper is devoted to recent events, it may be 

desirable, by way of introduction, to refer briefly to those 

before the year 1914. Thorp (2) wrote of lodges formed 

amongst French soldiers imprisoned in England and 

elsewhere during the Seven Years' War, 1756-63, and 

during the Napoleonic wars, and records that there were no 

fewer than 44 such lodges in Great Britain. Vibert, Bossu 

and Kay mention others discovered since Thorp's work was 

published in 1935. Most of these lodges were legally 

constituted Masonic bodies which met in the normal way and 

made Masons, and a number of their lodge certificates are in 

existence. Their members visited English lodges, and 

English brethren, in turn, attended French lodges. 

Frenchmen were also made or admitted members in English 

lodges.

Little is known, however, of the activities of English brethren 

in French hands. Thorp tells us that there is only one 

instance on record of a lodge being held amongst them 

during their detention (No. 183, "Antients"). It is a fact, 

however, that many individual brethren on parole attended 

French lodges as guests. Again, it is known that some were 

relieved and assisted by their French brethren, who also 

made representations to the authorities to make the lot of the 

English brethren less harsh. It is believed that the escape of 

some was also made possible with French help and 

connivance. Indeed, a pamphlet was published in Paris in 

1913 accusing French Masons of so doing. A translation of 

the pamphlet appeared in the Leicester Transactions, 1923-

24.

Vibert (3) records a lodge of British soldiers imprisoned in 

Kongsberg, Norway, in 1807. He also mentions a lodge 

formed amongst prisoners at Charlotteville, Virginia, during 

the American War of Independence, but on reference to his 

authority, Tatsch, (4) it is not clear whether this was a 

separate lodge formed by German officers who had joined 

the "Irish Lodge No. 63 of the 20th Regiment of the Line". 

Gould (5) recounts the story of the capture by Washington's 

forces of the lodge box belonging to the Lodge in the 46th 

Foot, and its subsequent return, by Washington's orders, 

under a guard of honour. There is no record, however, of 

Masonic activities amongst British troops captured during 

that war.

Of Masonic activities during the Boer Wars, nothing is 

known.

After these brief references to occurrences before 1914, let 

us now pass to more recent times.

A few papers and personal reminiscences have been written 

on Freemasonry amongst prisoners in Europe and the Far 

East during the last war, but no attempt has been made to 

survey the subject as a whole. This I now attempt to do, my 

sources being: -

(a) Minute books, papers and relics in the Grand Lodge 

Library and Museum;

(b) Papers by former prisoners of war, published and 

unpublished, designed for reading in lodges ;

(c) Information supplied by former prisoners and personal 

reminiscences collected in the course of interviews ;

(d) Gastvrijheid Lodge, first minute book, which I had the 

advantage of examining, a privilege I wish thankfully to 

acknowledge.

Some facts have come to my notice in answer to an appeal 

in the Masonic Press and to a note in a circulated agenda 

paper of the Quatuor Coronati Lodge, but the total result of 

the appeal was somewhat disappointing. I hope that further 

information win come to light in the future, perhaps as a 

result of this paper. The published and unpublished papers 

and personal reminiscences have been invaluable in the 

compilation of this survey, and I desire to express to the 

authors, and to all my correspondents and informants, 

sincere thanks for permission to quote from their papers, 

notes and letters. I am also indebted to the Board of General 

Purposes for permission to use material in the Grand Lodge 

Library and Museum.

(1) Thorp, J. T., French Prisoners' Lodges, 2nd ed., 

Leicester, 1935 ; 304 pp., illus. Further discoveries since 

1935 are recorded in Trans., Lo. of Research, Leicester, by 

S. Kay, 1950-52, pp. 33-44, and 1959-60, pp. 18-29; J. 

Bossu, 1957-58, pp. 62-74, and 1958-59, pp. 39-54. See 

also Vibert, below.

(2) Thorp, op. cit.

(3) Vibert, Lionel, "Masonry Among Prisoners-of-War", in 

Sussex Masters' Lodge Trans., 1937, pp. 4-26. [Also 

published in other Research Lodge Transactions.]

(4) Tatsch, J.H., Freemasonry in the Thirteen Colonies, New 

York, 1929 ; 266 pp., illus.

(5) Gould, R. F., Military Lodges, London, 1899; 264 pp., 

illus.

GERMANY

Part I: FIRST WORLD WAR

There is a dearth of information concerning Masonry 

amongst prisoners of war in Germany during the First World 

War. Doubtless, members of the Craft in prison camps 

became known to each other and found additional solace in 

the bond which united them.

A number of brethren were internees in the civilian camp at 

Ruhleben (Spandau), but nothing is known of any organized 

Masonic activities amongst them. They were able, however, 

to identify each other and to get together from time to time. 

They met on one occasion to draw up an Address to Grand 

Lodge of England in the following terms: -

"We, the undersigned brethren, at present interned with 

other British civilians at the concentration camp at Ruhleben, 

Spandau, Germany, send hearty good wishes to the Grand 

Master, officers and brethren in Great Britain, hoping that we 

may have the pleasure soon of greeting them personally."

It was dated 9th December, 1914, and signed by 112 

brethren. In spite of postal difficulties, it was received by the 

Grand Secretary on the 18th December and acknowledged 

by him on the 21st. In the following February a further list of 

brethren was sent to Grand Lodge, with a letter explaining 

that the brethren listed "were prevented from signing the 

address sent in December, partly from not being identified 

and some from being later arrivals at this concentration 

camp and who wish to be associated with the greetings then 

sent". The lists include brethren from England, Ireland, 

Scotland, Australia, South Africa, India, Hong Kong, the 

West Indies, the United States, South America, Egypt and, 

strangely enough, from Germany. Most of the signatories 

were identified and a photographic copy of the Address was 

sent by the Grand Secretary to each lodge concerned, 

together with a covering letter in which he said: "Amongst 

these names you will observe a member of your lodge, of 

whom the brethren will be interested to hear. Perhaps you 

will kindly acquaint the family of such member of the 

communication, of which I shall be pleased to send them a 

copy." From the same camp, a beautifully-prepared Address, 

signed on behalf of all the brethren by Percy C. Hull, 

P.Dep.G.Org. (now Sir Percy Hull, Kt., P.G.Org., Mus.Doc., 

F.R.C.O), was sent to Grand Lodge on the occasion of the 

bicentenary celebrations in 1917. This also was copied and 

circulated. As the result of a request for aid on their behalf, 

Grand Lodge set up a special committee to act in the matter. 

An appeal Lodges was launched and met with a generous 

and continuous response, thereby enabling parcels of food 

and personal comforts to be regularly despatched to English 

brethren, and the aid was later extended to brethren of other 

jurisdictions under the Crown). (1)

CAPTURES AT SEA

Of Freemasons captured at sea, the Grand Lodge of 

Scotland possesses an interesting relic in the form of a sheet 

from a writing-pad bearing the signatures of a number of 

brethren captured by the German cruiser Karlsruhe on the 

outbreak of war and transferred to the S.S. Crefeld, a cargo 

boat. It was commandeered to serve the cruiser as a prison 

ship in which to accommodate crews and passengers of 

sunken vessels, who were afterwards landed at Santa Rosa, 

Tenerife. Amongst those on board the Crefeld was a W.Bro. 

Alfred Greer, who recognized some of the captives with 

whom he had sat in lodge. Wondering how many brethren 

were on board, he set about the task of collecting a record of 

them. He asked each to write the name of his vessel, 

signature, and name and number of his lodge in the pad. 

The list includes 19 names of brethren of four Constitutions - 

England, Scotland, Victoria and the United States - captured 

from 11 different vessels. To make the list "authentic", Bro. 

Greer asked the purser to place the ship's stamp upon it. 

The purser told him that the Captain of the Crefeld was a 

Freemason, who, when approached, added his signature, 

after which the sheet was duly stamped and dated, 10th 

October, 1914.

HOLLAND

For Servicemen interned in Holland and prisoners of war 

transferred there under the Hague Convention, the story is a 

different one. Two lodges were formed in that country to 

meet their needs, namely, the Gastvrijheid Lodge, at 

Groningen (1915), and the Willem van Oranje Lodge, at the 

Hague (1918), both still flourishing.

The formation of the Gastvrijheid Lodge had its origin in 

1914, when a part of the Royal Naval Division was hurriedly 

despatched to the Continent, at the instigation of Winston 

Churchill, in an attempt to prevent, or at least delay, the 

capture of Antwerp and so halt the German advance until the 

arrival of the main body of British troops. By subterfuge, 

including constant sorties from various parts of the city, the 

enemy were led to believe that many more troops were 

holding the city than was, in fact, the case. The Germans 

accordingly slowed down their advance and Churchill's 

objective was attained. But the city had to be evacuated, and 

when it fell the gallant men of the Naval Brigade inside were 

forced over the Dutch frontier, resulting in their subsequent 

internment at Groningen. Among the 1,500 officers, N.C.O.s 

and men interned were many English Freemasons, including 

the Commanding Officer, Commodore (later Admiral) Wilfred 

Henderson. He and eight others met in the camp library in 

March, 1915, to discuss the formation of a lodge. (2) A 

petition was accordingly sent to Grand Lodge, but as 

"constitutional and international reasons prevented the 

formation of a lodge under the English Constitution in a 

place within the jurisdiction of the Grand Orient of the 

Netherlands", the Grand Master advised the petitioners to 

apply to the Grand Orient for a Warrant for a Lodge to meet 

at Groningen, with permission to use the English ritual. (3) In 

the meantime, Loge L'Union Provinciale at Groningen had 

extended hospitality to all the Freemasons amongst the 

interned forces. The brethren of that Lodge, in the words of 

Bro. Henderson, "welcomed them to their Lodge, invited 

them to their homes, and [had] done everything in their 

power to ease the sting of the restraint which their 

obligations as neutrals forced them to impose". (3)

In accordance with the Grand Master's advice, the British 

brethren thereupon sent a petition to Loge L'Union for 

transmission to the Grand Orient. It was granted immediately 

and arrangements were made for the consecration on the 

22nd May, 1915, in the Masonic Temple of Loge L'Union 

Provinciale. Working tools and English clothing were 

obtained, and by-laws prepared for submission to the Grand 

Orient. The consecration was performed in English, but in 

accordance with Dutch ceremonial, by V.W.Bro. Dop, Grand 

Orator of the Netherlands, assisted by Masters of the 

Groningen, Leeuwarden and Harlingen Lodges, in the 

presence of R.W.Bro. Baron van Ittersum, Representative of 

the U.G.L. of England near the Grand Orient of the 

Netherlands. The ceremony was a most impressive one; 

fortunately, an account of it has been preserved by the 

Lodge (a copy is also in the Grand Lodge Library). After the 

consecration, Commodore Henderson (4) was placed in the 

Master's Chair by Bro. Dop and the Lodge proceeded with 

normal business, which included two propositions for 

initiation, consideration of the by-laws and the presentation 

of a gavel by Loge L'Union Provinciale. The Lodge was 

named "Gastvrijheid", meaning hospitality, and was given 

the number 113 on the roll of the Grand Orient. It led a very 

full and active Masonic life, meeting at least monthly. These 

regular meetings, together with emergencies, totalled 55 

during its three-and-a-half years' sojourn at Groningen. 

There were initiated no fewer than 64 candidates, usually 

two at a time, who were, of course, duly passed and raised, 

so that at every meeting there was much work to be done. 

Four brethren were elected to joining membership and three 

to honorary membership. "Instructional" meetings were also 

held, two or three times a month.

It was resolved that the usual collection should be made at 

each meeting of the Lodge and at the Instructional meetings, 

and that the proceeds should be sent to the Louisa Stichting 

Institution at The Hague. The Book of Constitutions of the 

Netherlands was translated into English by Bro. Henderson 

and printed, so that each member should be presented with 

a copy. At the installation meeting, held on the 23rd May, 

1916, the minutes record that "after the Dutch Installed 

Masters had been obligated in respect of the secrets of an 

Installed Master according to English Ritual . . . the Master-

elect was installed". In June, 1917, congratulations were 

sent to the Grand Lodge of England on its attaining its 

bicentenary.

The Lodge did much to assist the formation of the second 

Lodge already mentioned, the Willem van Oranje, in 1918. 

When the latter lost its Master by repatriation, the 

Gastvrijheid undertook to ensure the attendance of a Past 

Master once a month to confer degrees. Eventually Bro. 

Henderson performed the duties of Master of the Willem van 

Oranje. (5)

The Gastvrijheid Lodge held its last meeting in Holland on 

the 5th November, 1918. The transfer of the Lodge to 

England had been previously under discussion, and the 

minutes of this meeting record that permission had been 

granted by the Grand Orient of the Netherlands for it to 

retain the Warrant and Minute Book. The transfer from one 

jurisdiction to another is referred to later in this paper.

Whereas the Gastvrijheid Lodge was formed amongst 

Service personnel interned in Holland, the Willem van 

Oranie Lodge was founded by actual prisoners of war 

transferred from Germany to Holland under the Hague 

Convention. With the knowledge and approval of the Grand 

Lodge of England, it was, like the Gastvrijheid, constituted 

under the Grand Orient of the Netherlands.

In an account of the Lodge by Bro. H.S. Biggs, (6) it is 

recorded that, before the Lodge was brought into being, a 

number of informal conferences were held. It was decided 

that the proper course to pursue was, firstly, to obtain proof 

of the good standing of those wishing to join. Lists were, 

therefore, prepared of brethren under the English, Irish and 

Scottish Constitutions, and sent to the Grand Secretary of 

England by Baron van Ittersum, Representative of the Grand 

Lodge of England, who asked the Grand Secretary for his 

assistance as regards the Irish and Scottish brethren. In due 

course confirmation was received that the English and 

Scottish lists were in order, but that information from Ireland 

had not, at that time, been received. On the strength of this 

communication from London, the founders-to-be proceeded 

with the task-there were twenty-five brethren of the English 

Constitution, eight Irish, seven Scottish and one Canadian. 

An Inaugural meeting was held under the presidency of 

Baron van Ittersurn and final arrangements were made, 

including the drafting of a Petition to the Grand Orient. The 

Petition was approved and the proposed Lodge was 

allocated the number 118 on the Netherlands Roll. The 

Baron then issued a notice and invitation, printed in Dutch 

and English, and containing the Agenda (a copy of which is 

preserved in the Grand Lodge Museum), stating that the 

ceremony of Founding the Lodge up to and including the 

installation of the Worshipful Master-Elect (W.Bro. Col. J. A. 

C. Gibbs, C.B., P.Prov.G.Reg., N. and E. Yorks.) would be 

performed according to the ritual of the Grand Orient of the 

Netherlands. With sanction of the Grand Orient, the 

remainder of the ceremony, including the investiture of 

officers and the addresses, would be conducted according to 

the ritual of the Grand Lodge of England by W.Bro. Percy C. 

Hull, P.D.G.Org. (Eng.) (to whom reference has already 

been made), acting as Installing Master, assisted by W.Bro. 

Walter Clark and W.Bro. Commodore Wilfred Henderson, 

P.G.D. (Eng.). The notice concludes with the following: "In 

consequence of existing circumstances, the British brethren, 

to their great regret, are unable to invite their guests to their 

fraternal board after the conclusion of the ceremony."

The Lodge was consecrated on the 16th July, 1918, by the 

Grand Master of the Netherlands at a meeting of the Grand 

Orient, an impressive ceremony, an account of which 

appears in Bro. Biggs' paper. The Petition, a transcript and 

translation of the Warrant, and a copy of the form of Lodge 

Certificate are in the Grand Lodge files.

Regalia was of the Netherlands pattern of a colour chosen 

by the Lodge, orange, Forty-one of these aprons were made 

and presented by the sister of the Senior Deacon of the 

Lodge. One of these, together with two group photographs of 

members of the Lodge in regalia, is exhibited in the Grand 

Lodge Museum. Working tools were presented by 

Gastvrijheid, a gavel by Baron van Ittersum, and the square 

and compasses by three local Dutch Lodges. The tracing 

boards were painted by a member of the Lodge.

Under its Warrant the Lodge was given authority to use 

English ritual. One restriction was imposed, namely, that 

only British naval, military and civil prisoners, released from 

belligerent countries for internment in Holland, should be 

admitted to membership, either as initiates or joining 

members.

Soon after its consecration the Lodge suffered the loss, by 

death, of its Director of Ceremonies, (7) and the Master and 

other brethren by repatriation (8) and it was obliged to call 

upon Gastvrijheid for assistance in providing a Past Master 

to confer degrees, as has already been mentioned.

In addition to the 41 Founders, 18 joining brethren and 20 

initiates brought the membership up to 79 (9) during the 

short period of active work in Holland.

The war being ended, the brethren of these two Lodges 

expressed to the Grand Master their desire to be transferred 

from their original jurisdiction to that of the United Grand 

Lodge, as was foreseen when both Lodges were constituted. 

With the full concurrence of the Grand Orient, their petitions 

were approved. As the Lodges already enjoyed full Masonic 

existence, it was not necessary that they should be re-

consecrated. (10) The Grand Master, therefore, issued 

Special Warrants and Charters of Dedication, both dated 7th 

April, 1919, enabling them to continue their Masonic 

functions, but under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of 

England. They were allotted the numbers 3970 and 3976 

respectively. The Board of General Purposes, in its report to 

Grand Lodge in September, 1919, acknowledged the 

kindness and courtesy of the Masonic authorities in the 

Netherlands. The Dedication ceremony in each case was 

performed by the M.W. the Pro Grand Master, Lord Ampthill 

- the Gastvrijheid Lodge on the 31st May, 1919 (an account 

of which appeared in The Freemason (11), and the Willem 

van Oranje Lodge on the 14th July, 1919. The Masters of the 

two Lodges holding office in their Lodges in Holland in 1918 

were again installed as Masters of their respective Lodges 

under the English Constitution.

TURKEY

One well-recorded case of Masonic activity amongst 

prisoners of war in Turkey during the First World War is that 

of a "Lodge of Instruction", named Cappadocia, conducted 

by brethren imprisoned in Yozgat. The inaugural meeting 

was held on the 14th February, 1918, with Bro. Major E. G. 

Dunn as Master. By-laws were approved and a nominal roll 

prepared, which does not seem to have survived, but it 

would appear that there were 14 original members. It was 

later declared that "all newly arriving Freemasons were ipso 

fact members of the Lodge". It met on alternate Fridays, first 

in the "Chapel" and later in a store-room, until the 13th 

September, 1918. At these meetings, of which there were 

12, the opening and closing ceremonies in the three 

degrees, as well as the initiation, were rehearsed or 

addresses on Freemasonry were delivered. Working tools 

and other items were made by the brethren. Collars of 

canvas were fashioned and covered with blue paper, each 

with the appropriate badge of office cut tins. Handkerchiefs, 

trimmed with such ribbon as was available from the local 

bazaar, were worn as aprons. Minutes were kept and have 

survived, having been presented to the Lodge of Antiquity, 

No. 2, by Bro. Durm. (12) Benevolence was not forgotten, for 

sums of money were collected and passed to the Camp 

Chaplain for the benefit of the many starving Armenian 

women and children in the locality.

It would appear from an introductory note to the Minutes by 

Bro. Dunn that "towards the end of 1917 a Petition was sent 

to Grand Lodge for a temporary Charter as a special case in 

view of the peculiar circumstances we were placed in. This, 

however, could not be granted, so we had to be content with 

our Lodge of Instruction".

The minutes of the last meeting, held on the 13th 

September, 1918, record that "Bro. Major Dunn expressed 

the sympathies of the Lodge on the recapture of Bro. Lieut. 

Sheridan, and on behalf of the Lodge bid God-speed to Bro. 

Lieut. O'Donoghue. Bro. Capt. Sweet seconded Bro. Major 

Dunn's proposals and suggested that a note of sympathy be 

sent to Bro. Lieut. Sheridan". The natural desire for freedom 

was obviously in many hearts, for Bro. Dunn has added a 

postscript to the minute book. He wrote: "Here the records 

end apruptly, for it was just after this final meeting that some 

25 officers escaped. They scattered in small parties, but all 

excepting eight . . . were recaptured. The inevitable result 

was our confinement to quarters and no further opportunity 

for meeting occurred before we left Yozgad for repatriation."

The minutes of the Cappadocia Lodge of Instruction reveal 

the existence of two others in Turkey. On the 30th August it 

was recorded that hearty greetings were received from the 

Lodge of Instruction at Aflum Karakisa. Again, on the 13th 

September it was reported that a "Lodge" called 

Mesopotamia, of which there were no less than 60 founders, 

had been formed at what appears to be "Busia", but the 

writing is not clear. Apart from these bare references, no 

information concerning these two "Lodges" has come to 

light.

(1) U.G.L. of England, Proceedings, 1st December, 1915; 

6th September, 1916; 7th March, 1917 4th December, 1918.

(2) Gastvrijheid Lodge, No. 113 (Neth. Const.) (now No. 

3970, E.C.), Minutes, prel. meeting, 10th March, 1915.

(3) U.G.L. of England, Proceedings, 1st March, 1916.

(4) The Grand Master of England, "in commemoration of so 

unprecedented and gratifying a Masonic event", the Board of 

General Purposes records, "has conferred on W.Bro. 

Henderson the rank of Past Grand Deacon (Senior)".

(5) The Freemason, 7th June, 1919.

(6) Biggs, H.S., "Some Account of the Willem van Oranie 

Lodge " (including notes by Col. J. A. C. Gibbs), Trans., Lo. 

of Research, Leicester, 1920-21, pp. 71-90.

(7) Gastvrijheid Lodge Minutes, 15th August, 1918.

(8) Ibid., 8th October and 5th November, 1918.

(9) Lodge by-laws, Historical Note,

(10) U.G.L. of England, Proceedings, 3rd September, 1919.

(11) 57th June, 1919.

(12) Record of Proceedings of Lodge of Instruction " 

Cappadocia ", Yozgat, 1918 ; MS.

---------------------------------

Transactions of the Quatuor Coronati Lodge

CRAFTSMEN IN CAPTIVITY

MASONIC ACTIVITIES OF PRISONERS-OF-WAR

BY BRO. A. R. HEWITT

(1st May, 1964)

Part II: SECOND WORLD WAR - EUROPE

Information concerning the Masonic activities of brethren in 

prisoner of war camps in Europe in the Second World War 

has been gathered from correspondence with former 

prisoners, a minute book and other documents and relics in 

the Grand Lodge Library, and two printed and three 

unpublished papers, also in the Grand Lodge, by the 

following brethren: Bros. C. B. Selby-Boothroyd, (1) Sidney 

Brown, (2) D.P. Iggulden, (3) F. S. Payne (4) and H. 

Wallwork, (5) all of which are quoted freely. These sources 

disclose activities of some kind in no less than fourteen 

camps in Germany, Austria and elsewhere in Europe, the 

most extensive being in "lodges" established -

(a) in Oflag VIIIF (Mahrisch Triibau, Czechoslovakia) and 

continued in Oflag 79 (Brunswick, Germany);

(b) in Oflag VIID (Tittmoning, near Salzburg), later in Oflag 

VIB (Warburg, Westphalia), and finally in Oflag VIIB 

(Eichstatt, Bavaria); and

(c) in Stalag 383 (Hohenfels).

Where there was continuity in the work of a particular group 

of brethren transferred from one camp to another, a 

connected story of their activities has been set down as they 

moved from place to place. Activities in other camps are also 

noted in the paragraphs which follow.

LAUFEN (NEAR SALZBURG)

Bro. Selby-Boothroyd was captured, after a brief battle, in 

May, 1940, and found himself in a prisoner of war camp at 

Laufen. On June 6th of that year some 200 British officers 

and a few orderlies arrived there, including Bro. Brown, but 

the paths of these two brethren did not meet (Masonically) in 

captivity. Practically every day more prisoners arrived, so 

that by the end of the month the camp, an old Palace once 

belonging to a Prince Bishop of Salzburg, was occupied by 

about 1,500 British officers and 150 men. Overcrowding was 

extreme. Prisoners lived in rooms holding any number from 

20 to 100, so that privacy of any kind was impossible. Selby-

Boothroyd did not, it seems, discover other brethren, but 

Brown records that he recognized another prisoner as a 

brother Mason who, being a senior officer, shared 

accommodation with only one other. He and Brown decided 

to try and arrange some kind of gathering in his room of such 

members of the Craft as they could discover. Altogether, 

between 15 and 20 brethren were identified and they held a 

meeting. A second projected meeting was never held, as the 

senior officer was moved to a larger room which he shared 

with others, so that privacy could not be ensured. Brown was 

shortly transferred to another camp at Tittmoning (to which 

reference is made later) and lost touch with his fellows. He 

learned later that no meetings were held in Laufen after he 

left, but records that a printed Emulation ritual had been 

found there.

From Laufen, Selby-Boothroyd was sent to Warburg, where 

he discovered two other brethren, and thence to Eichstatt. 

Although he remained there from May, 1942, to the end of 

1943, he never learned of the extensive Masonic activities 

recounted by Brown, a fact which emphasizes the great care 

taken to keep Masonic activities secret.

MAHRISCH TRUBAU (CZECHOSLOVAKIA) AND 

BRUNSWICK (GERMANY)

In January, 1944, Selby-Boothroyd was transferred from 

Eichstatt to Oflag VIIIF at Mahrisch Trubau. Some months 

after his arrival, having made a casual remark, he was 

questioned by his hearer, from whom he learned that some 

40 brethren, transferred from an Italian camp, where they 

first met, were holding regular meetings. Selby-Boothroyd 

was accepted amongst them. At first these brethren had little 

more than the opening and closing ceremonies and the 

initiation, but a "lodge" or society of improvement was 

formed under the Preceptorship of a Bro. Clifford Downing, 

one of the few Past Masters in the camp. It was called a 

society as a "blind", to mislead the enemy, so that the term 

could mean a society for the improvement of anything. Bit by 

bit the ritual was put together, and by May they were able to 

work the three degrees more or less completely, as well as a 

shortened version of the lecture on the 2nd T.B. By this time 

Bro. Iggulden also reached the camp. Within a few hours of 

his arrival he was contacted by Downing and invited to 

attend the "lodge", after, of course, a very thorough proving. 

The Senior Chaplain of the camp was a member of the Craft, 

and he allowed the brethren to meet in the camp Chapel 

under the guise of attending theological lectures. It was a 

common practice at Masonic gatherings in camps for the 

Master, or someone else, to be ready to lecture on some 

pre-arranged subject at a moment's notice if an alarm was 

sounded.

In May, 1944, the whole camp was moved to Brunswick and 

there renamed Oflag 79. Being kept together in this way, the 

brethren were able to keep their "lodge" intact and ready to 

function in the new camp. Although it was several weeks 

before they were able to meet again, it was at Brunswick that 

the "lodge" became firmly established. In due time it included 

brethren from England, Scotland, Australia, Canada, India, 

New Zealand, South Africa and the United States. At first it 

met weekly in the air-raid shelters with which the camp was 

well supplied, it being a former Luftwaffe camp and airfield. 

Fitted with steel doors, secured on the inside, the shelters 

made admirable lodge rooms. They were lit by electricity, but 

during air-raids the power was cut off, so that they were 

obliged to resort to "margarine lamps". These lamps were 

made by purifying margarine (when available) and pouring 

the liquid into a cut-down tin, with a piece of string, or an old 

pyjama-cord, as wick. In winter the temperature in the 

shelters was around freezing point and all attending wore 

coats and gloves. Near the camp was a large aero-engine 

factory and, in consequence, they were frequently bombed. 

Selby-Boothroyd records sardonically that, after one raid, 

"rough ashlars and emblems of mortality were plentiful". 

Working tools were made from wood stripped from sleeping 

bunks and tea chests, the chisel being fashioned out of a 

piece of reinforcing rod from a bombed building and rubbed, 

for many hours, on a stone. These tools were small enough 

to be instantly concealed in the pocket should a meeting be 

interrupted by the guards. Collar jewels were also made, but 

seldom used, as their nature could not have been disguised 

if they had been discovered. When the brethren met for the 

last time these tools were distributed; a set consisting of a 

square, compasses and gavel (used during rehearsals), 

together with a Master's "jewel", is now in the Grand Lodge 

Museum; the chisel in Canada; other pieces in South Africa 

and the United States. Three small T.B.s were prepared by a 

young artist prisoner in charcoal wash of such design that 

they could be used during the rehearsals, yet disclosing 

nothing to the uninitiated. A copy of the Second T.B. is now 

in the Kent Provincial Museum and a photograph in the 

Grand Lodge Museum. Part of the camp equipment were 

four-legged stools, issued to each prisoner, which he took 

with him wherever he went, whether it was to church, to an 

entertainment or to a lecture. Brethren took these stools with 

them to their gatherings; those acting as Warden borrowed 

another for use as a pedestal. No attempt was made, of 

course, to fashion any kind of Masonic apron. In the matter 

of dress, Iggulden recalls the care and trouble taken by 

brethren to attend their meetings "properly dressed". They 

wore their best clothes, such as they were, with collars and 

ties in place of the scarves usually worn, as many 

possessed only one collar. Some of the brethren were even 

able to press their trousers, threadbare and patched though 

they were.

After much discussion a book of ritual was compiled from 

memory, a number of copies of which were made in small 

exercise books easily concealable from searchers. From 

these, brethren learned the ceremonies for rehearsal at the 

meetings, at which they took the various offices in turn. On 

one occasion the Scottish brethren demonstrated the first 

degree according to their Constitution; on another the 

installation was rehearsed without, of course, the inner 

working.

At first, weekly meetings were held, but by the winter of 1944 

that became impossible. Brethren were growing weaker and 

air-raids were taking place at all hours of the day. A special 

meeting was held on New Year's Day, 1945, at which it was 

decided to make a contribution of 150 guineas to one of the 

Masonic schools as Grand Lodge might decide. The "deed 

of gift", in the form of an illuminated scroll, signed by six 

officers, is preserved in the Grand Lodge. The donation was 

allocated to the R.M.I.B. and is recorded on a mural plaque 

at the school, which reads: "This plaque commemorates the 

British and Overseas Masons in Prisoner of War Camp Oflag 

79 during the Second World War who, in Masonic ritual, 

sought relief from suffering through the uplifting spirit of 

Masonry." The scroll was signed in camp and brought home 

for delivery.

After March, 1945, meetings were limited to one a month. 

Under existing conditions and with constant danger from the 

air, it was realized that the end, whatever it might be, could 

not be far off. It was decided to hold a last meeting, for which 

summonses were sent out. A harmonium was borrowed for 

the meeting, which was held during an air attack on the 

German defences nearby. After the opening a representative 

of each country was invited to speak on what the Craft had 

meant to him in adversity, a fitting conclusion to the life of 

the "lodge".

MOOSBURG (GERMANY)

Bro. Iggulden's Masonic activities really commenced in a 

transit camp at a place called Moosburg, near Munich. It was 

here that he first came in contact with German propaganda 

against Freemasonry, contained in a newspaper called The 

Camp which the enemy issued to British prisoners of war. 

Every opportunity was taken in this and other papers to 

publish antiMasonic articles and cartoons. Bro. Iggulden 

writes: "At this time there were about 200 British officers 

living in one large hut, and for the most part they were quite 

young. Three of us recognized each other as Freemasons, 

and walking together up and down the wire we came to the 

conclusion that the insidious propaganda . . . might prejudice 

the minds of these young men. We decided that a short talk 

should be given explaining the real object of Freemasonry, 

its place in the social structure of Britain and some of the 

fallacies of the German propaganda." The talk was given, 

one result of which was the discovery of other brethren in the 

camp, but, as privacy was impossible, no Masonic activities 

could be arranged. They agreed, however, that when a 

properly-organized Oflag was reached, they would try and 

arrange a meeting. This objective was attained when they 

reached Mdhrisch Triibau, as I have already recounted.

TITTMONING (NEAR SALZBURG) AND EICHSTATT 

(BAVARIA)

The story of the "lodge of instruction", commenced in 

Tittmoning and transferred to Eichstatt, is told by Bro. Brown. 

It was to Tittmoning, near Salzburg, that he and two other 

brethren were transferred from Laufen. The camp was in an 

old Schloss used at one time as a hunting lodge by the same 

Prince Bishop of Salzburg who had owned the Palace at 

Laufen. In the courtyard was a large marble trough bearing a 

bas-relief depicting the pillars, the square and the plumb-

rule, and a date believed to be 1781; nothing could have 

been more appropriate.

Brown and the two others from Laufen were put in the same 

room. They decided to trace other Freemasons in the camp, 

and enough were identified to hold a meeting. Soon there 

were 20 brethren, including two P.M.s, meeting weekly in the 

camp library, and a "lodge of instruction" was formed. As 

they had no ritual at that time, the two P.M.s, assisted by 

Bro. Brown, set out to prepare one from memory, each 

taking a portion, writing it down and passing it to the other, 

doubts being settled by discussion. At a later date this ritual 

was checked and very few corrections were found 

necessary, truly a tribute to the P.M.s who compiled it. It is 

now in the Leicester Provincial Museum.

These brethren commenced modestly with the opening and 

closing ceremonies, moving on to degree work by stages. As 

they became more proficient, so did the preparation of the 

book of ritual until they were able to rehearse an initiation. 

The room was fairly large, so that floorwork was possible, 

but in place of gavelling the left forearm was struck. They 

continued their work until August, 1941, when they learned 

that the camp was to be moved. They set off for Warburg, in 

Westphalia, taking with them their handwritten ritual hidden 

in Brown's records, which he carried in his capacity of camp 

postal officer. Warburg proved a difficult camp in which to 

engage in any Masonic activity, due to the fact that many 

huts were so constructed that words spoken in one room 

could be heard in the next. There were also continuous 

security patrols. Brown records that the most he and his 

companions could do was to learn parts of the ritual 

privately, repeating them to one another as they walked 

about during exercise.

In August, 1942, they were warned of another move which 

they did not regret, except that they discovered the camp 

was to be split into smaller groups. Fortunately, two Past 

Masters remained with the party sent to Oflag VIIB at 

Eichstatt, which they reached in September. Once more the 

ritual went with them concealed in Brown's postal records. 

After a few weeks they settled down to a new camp routine 

and were able to resume their former activities. Membership 

of the group fluctuated, but there were always about 40 

brethren in the camp, in all from ten different Constitutions. 

To provide scope for as many brethren as possible they 

divided into four "lodges", two working under the English 

Constitution, one Scottish and one Australian. Meetings 

were held in the camp Dental Surgery, but it was so small 

that floorwork was impossible. On two occasions, when a 

larger room became available, full-scale demonstrations of a 

degree and of an installation (except for the inner working) 

were arranged, to which all brethren in the camp were 

invited.

Each of the "lodges" met monthly, except during the 

summer, when suspicion would have been aroused if black-

out had been placed over the windows in daylight. Emblems 

were not used, but working tools were made of cardboard for 

rapid destruction in an emergency. It was the custom, 

amongst those working according to Australian rituals, 

during the opening ceremonies for each officer to be asked 

not only his place and duty in the lodge, but to describe his 

badge and what it represented.

After D-Day the brethren were too unsettled to concentrate 

on memorizing the ritual and lectures were given instead. 

Before being moved on by the retreating enemy a final 

gathering was arranged at Eichstatt, at which a "greeting" to 

the Grand Master was prepared and signed by 33 brethren. 

The document reads: "Greetings to the Most Worshipful the 

Grand Master and Brethren of the United Grand Lodge of 

England from the undersigned, on their return from captivity 

in Oflag VIIB, Eichstatt, Bavaria, who, while in Germany, 

have endeavoured to make a daily advancement in Masonic 

knowledge." It was bound, the cover bearing the design 

depicting the columns, square and plumb-rule which had 

been discovered on the marble trough in the courtyard of the 

Schloss at Tirtmoning. Brown was able to retain the greeting, 

and on his return to England it was duly despatched to the 

Grand Master, the Earl of Harewood, who later presented it 

to the Grand Lodge, where it is displayed in the Library.

SALZBURG (AUSTRIA) Am) SPANGENBURG (GERMANY)

The fourth chronicler of events in prisoner of war camps, 

Bro. H. Wallwork, was captured in May, 1940, and sent to a 

Stalag on the outskirts of Salzburg. He had with him two 

books, the New Testament and an "Emulation" book of ritual, 

both of which, although examined, he was allowed to retain. 

Although there was a fairly large number of brethren in the 

Salzburg camp, there is no record of any singly co-ordinated 

group formed to pursue Masonic study, but the fact that 

more than 30 copies were taken from his ritual, or parts 

thereof, indicates that Masonry flourished amongst the 

brethren incarcerated there. He notes that a number of 

"lodges" were formed which met and practised regularly.

From Salzburg, Wallwork was sent to Warburg, but it seems 

the brethren were unable to engage in any Masonic activity 

during the three months he was there. His next move was to 

Spangenburg, near Kassel. Here, a number of brethren 

discovered each other and a "lodge" was formed. Meetings 

were held on Sunday afternoons in a room known as the 

School room. The building itself was a small Schloss, and 

Wallwork used the dry, disused moat surrounding it for 

rehearsing to himself the various parts of the ritual allotted to 

him. He brethren followed the usual practice of filling the 

offices progressively, the meetings being under the direction 

of an expert brother. Working tools were fashioned from 

pieces of wood.

After a short absence, Wallwork returned to Spangenburg, 

where he was able to continue his studies until November, 

1944, when he and a number of others were moved to 

Nordhausen, where a few brethren were able to have 

occasional practices together. It was not long, however, 

before another move was made, but Wallwork, fearing 

keener searches ahead, left his book of ritual at Nordhausen 

in the care of a British officer. Happily, soon after his return 

to England at the end of the war it was returned to him, and 

it now lies in the Grand Lodge Museum. It bears a number of 

signatures of his fellow Masonic prisoners and is a unique 

relic of a Freemason's determination to make a daily 

advancement.

In addition to the Stalags at Warburg and Spangenburg, 

Oflags were also established at each. Selby-Boothroyd, 

mentioned earlier, was sent to the former, but it was some 

time before he discovered, because of another casual 

remark, that a fellow prisoner in an adjacent bunk to his was 

a Freemason. One other in the same room was also 

identified, who was engaged on the task of drafting the 

opening and closing in the three degrees. The three of them 

hoped to start working together, but Selby-Boothroyd's 

companions were moved to the Oflag at Spangenburg, 

where they met intermittently and did a little work.

WOLFSBURG (AUSTRIA) AND HOHENFELS

In the spring of 1942 a number of brethren in Stalag 18A at 

Wolfsburg made themselves known to each other. By 

arrangement they first met together at the gate of the British 

compound, where, on arrival, each contributed one cigarette 

to a common "fund". The cigarettes collected, about 40, 

were then used to bribe one of the guards at the point to 

allow them to meet in one of some new huts in course of 

erection. In the hut they elected four of their number, 

representing England, Scotland, Australia and New Zealand, 

to form a committee to prove and test everyone present. 

This was done. After a discussion on the possibility of 

forming a Masonic group in the camp they dispersed, having 

achieved their purpose and becoming known to one another 

as members of the Craft. The next meeting was held in a 

medical inspection room by arrangement with a British 

doctor, a Freemason. It was then agreed to attempt the 

compilation of a book of ritual to cover the first degree and 

then to conduct meetings as a "lodge of instruction", but 

sitting round a table because of the impossibility of blacking 

out windows in daytime. After five or six meetings the camp 

was split up and transferred to other camps, thus putting an 

end to the group.

The bulk of the members were, fortunately, kept together, 

and towards the end of 1942 were sent to Stalag 383 at 

Hohenfels. Here they re-formed, calling themselves the 

International Group, consisting ultimately of 23 brethren of 

the English Constitution, two Irish, 29 Scottish, 24 from four 

Australian Constitutions and four others. Only one was a 

Past Master. Meetings, at which there was an average 

attendance of 60, were held monthly on Saturday evenings 

in a former stable, then converted into a library and study 

room. To ensure as much warning and delay as possible in 

surprise visits by the guards, the I.G. placed his chair against 

the door, and so enabled the brethren to appear to be doing 

something quite different. At meetings the V.S.L. was 

opened, minutes were kept and read, and "accounts" 

presented. Subscriptions were paid in cigarettes, and the 

"accounts" were records of their receipt and of 

disbursement, which included the purchase of cups of tea 

provided at each meeting - the "cups" consisted mainly of 

odd pots and corned-beef tins. Hot water being available at 

certain times, a bugle was sounded and the Stewards of the 

"lodge" then retired to draw it for tea-making. Surplus 

cigarettes were placed in a "Charity Fund" administered by 

two Charity Representatives, who undertook welfare work, 

including visiting the sick in hospital. The minute book covers 

the period 28th October, 1943, to the 23rd March, 1945, and 

records 16 meetings, but the group first met in about March, 

1943. This book, together with the account books and other 

relics, were carefully preserved by Bro. J. E. Mallory, 

Secretary of the group from March, 1944, and they are now 

deposited in the Grand Lodge Library. Bro. Payne, a 

member of the group both in Stalag 18B and Stalag 383, has 

also compiled notes on its formation and work, so that its 

activities are well recorded.

In addition to rehearsals, which were not minuted, talks were 

given on various topics of general interest. At refreshment 

after meetings, during which the normal toasts were drunk in 

tea, the brethren took turns at providing entertainment. At 

the Christmas, 1943, meeting, Dickens' "Christmas Carol" 

was produced, followed by musical entertainment; a copy of 

the programme is in Grand Lodge. The summons for this 

meeting included an appeal for contributions to "Christmas 

Stockings" for members in hospital. The list of contributions 

reveals an amazing variety of items which must have been 

regarded as treasures by the donors - razor blades a mouth 

organ, a vest, socks, toothbrushes, cigarettes and many 

other items. The following Christmas entertainment included 

Dorothy Sayers' Nativity play, "Kings in Judaea".

The activities of the group ended with the dispersal of the 

camp in April, 1945. 

BIBERACH (SOUTH GERMANY)

An Oflag (No. VB) was established in the town of Biberach, 

and it is known that brethren amongst the prisoners were 

able to hold regular meetings, but apart from the fact that 

one of them possessed a printed ritual, few details of their 

activities are available. (6) One correspondent does, 

however, recall that some English, Australian and New 

Zealand brethren met on one occasion in an unoccupied 

room. An English Past Master occupied the chair and, after 

ensuring the security of the meeting, a discussion took place 

on the ceremony of the first degree as performed by the 

different Constitutions represented by the brethren present. 

Although the experiment does not seem to have been 

repeated, the meeting, in the words of the correspondent, 

"afterwards proved to be responsible for an improvement in 

morale, as each one knew there was somebody to whom he 

could go and discuss the various problems that did crop up 

during our prison life".

ITALY

There is some evidence that brethren imprisoned in Italian 

camps were able to identify one another and to meet from 

time to time. An informant, Bro. B. H. Gordon, recalled that 

at Viano there was an active group of Freemasons of about 

20 who were able to hold a certain number of meetings in 

the library of a building formerly used as a Priests' rest 

house. One of the brethren fashioned the regalia and tools, 

which, when not in use, were hidden in a cavity behind an 

overmantel; they may be still hidden there. This hiding place 

was easily accessible for disposal regalia, etc., in case of an 

alarm, when, as was usual in prisoners' camps, the 

occupants of the room would be found merely reading or 

engaged on some quite innocuous pursuit. This was a drill 

rehearsed many times until it was perfected.

The flourishing Lodge of Improvement at Brunswick, to 

which reference has already been made, had its beginnings 

firstly in Italy and later at Mahrisch Trubau. The brethren 

concerned, numbering about 40, had originally met in Chieti, 

Italy, whence they were transferred after the fall of Mussolini. 

(7) At the time of their removal from Italy they had been 

rehearsing the opening and closing ceremonies and the 

initiation, indicating that the time spent in Italy had been well 

used.

Bro. Brown recounts that at Eichstatt, after D-Day, the 

brethren were unable to concentrate on memorizing the 

ritual, so that lectures were given instead, one of which, he 

recalls, was devoted to Masonic work carried on in prisoner 

of war camps in Italy, given by a brother who had been 

imprisoned there. He told them that "supervision by the 

enemy authorities had been less severe and proper working 

tools had been made, and most meetings had finished up 

with a festive board, if it could be so called". Nothing else is 

recorded of these activities.

The strictness of supervision in Italian camps must have 

varied considerably. The lecturer referred to by Bro. Brown 

mentioned that it was "less severe", but at Viano there were 

constant searches of officers' personal belongings. Searches 

were very thorough and were made at all times.

So ends the summary of Masonic activity among brethren 

prisoners of war in German and Italian hands from 1940 to 

1945. It is necessarily an incomplete record and does not do 

justice to the courage of these men.

(1) Selby-Boothroyd, C.B., Unpublished notes on 

Freemasonry in Prisoner of War Camps (Europe) in the 

Second World War.

(2) Brown, Sidney, "A Daily Advancement in Masonic 

Knowledge-Germany, 1940-45", Trans., Lo. of Research, 

Leicester, 1946-47, pp. 110-7.

(3) Iggulden, D.P., Unpublished notes on Freemasonry in 

Oftag 79.

(4) Payne, F.S., Unpublished notes on Freemasonry in 

Stalag 18A and Stalag 383.

(5) Wallwork, H., " Freemasonry in Captivity " (Notes of an 

informal talk), Trans., Bolton Mas. Res. and Study Soc., xiv, 

1955-56, pp. 15-8.

(6) Brown, op. cit.

(7) Selby-Boothroyd, op. cit.

Transactions of the Quatuor Coronati Lodge

CRAFTSMEN IN CAPTIVITY

MASONIC ACTIVITIES OF PRISONERS-OF-WAR

BY BRO. A. R. HEWITT

(1st May, 1964)

Part III: SECOND WORLD WAR-FAR EAST

What of our brethren in the Far East imprisoned or interned 

by the Japanese from 1942 onwards? Fortunately, the 

Masonic activities of some of these brethren in captivity are 

fairly well documented. A number of accounts have been 

written, (1-6) but some of the periodicals in which they 

appear, particularly The Pentagram, are not widely 

available, and I propose, therefore, to quote them fairly 

freely.

At the fall of Singapore many brethren were among those 

interned as civilian or captured as members of the Armed 

Forces. Both categories were imprisoned in the notorious 

Changi Prison Camp, which was spread over a large area 

and which included the Changi gaol. Civilians were interned 

in the gaol, whilst Service prisoners were incarcerated in the 

surrounding camp, itself divided into a number of separate 

camps. Communication between the gaol and the camp and 

between the separate areas therein was difficult and at most 

times impossible. It is known that the internees numbered 

some 3,000 persons, of whom approximately 250 were 

Freemasons.(4) Service personnel number 55,000. In this 

account I propose to mention the activities of the civilian 

brethren first and the Service brethren afterwards.

SINGAPORE - CHANGI GAOL (CIVILIANS)

Amongst the internees was W.Bro. Baldwyn Lowick, Deputy 

District G.M., Eastern Archipelago, to whom the District 

Grand Master had handed full authority because of his own 

illness. One of Bro. Lowick's first activities was to obtain 

accounts of the last regular meetings of each Lodge before 

internment, so as to preserve some record of continuity of 

the District Grand Lodge and its constituent Lodges. So far 

as possible accounts were written from memory, not, of 

course, always reliable, and the Deputy D.G.M. spent much 

time in checking the information. (4)

Early in the days of internment Bro. Lowick intimated that, so 

far as conditions permitted, Lodges should continue to hold 

meetings, it being his intention to maintain the spirit of 

Freemasonry and the continuity of lodge history. Meetings 

were to be for the transaction of business; no one was to be 

initiated during internment. It was found that lodges were so 

well represented numerically that he issued dispensations 

for them to meet as lodges in the camp. Altogether he 

granted no less than 42 dispensations to hold regular 

meetings, and to hold them without regalia, exhibited 

warrants or lodge furniture. The texts of the dispensations 

and a list of those issued are set out in The Pentagram of 

1947 (p. 7). "Lodges met with fair regularity", the record tells 

us, "in order to carry out essential business as the 

confirmation of minutes, consideration of approximate 

statement of accounts, whereabouts of Lodge furniture, 

regalia and such-like matters; looking forward always to the 

day of release in the unknown future and the resumption of 

normal Masonic activities in the world of freedom. Some 

Lodges were in a position to elect Masters in the accepted 

succession. Of these, Lodge St. George, Singapore, the 

strongest Lodge numerically of the camp, was the most 

fortunate and was able to hand on the succession of the 

Chair in regular order. But in the case of a number of 

Lodges, this was impossible by reason of inadequate 

representation in the camp." Brief accounts of their 

proceedings are also included in the same volume (ibid., pp. 

14-19). Wherever possible, minutes were typewritten on 

foolscap paper. One of the Lodge Secretaries (W.Bro. R.W. 

Stainforth) recalls that, after typing, the sheets were torn 

carefully across and stuck on a nail to resemble scrap or 

toilet paper. After liberation he repaired the sheets and 

pasted them in his Lodge minute book.

Secrecy was the main problem. A committee of brethren met 

to consider the matter, and it was decided to hold meetings 

in a dispensary, a room about the size of the prison cells. 

The Pentagram, 1947, reports: "Here, in a lodge room, 

surrounded by shelves bearing drugs, medical books, 

balances and all the evidence of the medical art, the first 

meetings of the Lodges were held. Ventilation was adequate 

for two or three persons; most inadequate for 20 Lodge 

members. All familiar signs were lacking, except, of course, 

the V.S.L. Lodge furniture there was none, regalia there was 

none. Voices were hushed. Outside the door stood a tyler 

more vigilant than ever before, and supported by a string of 

assistant tylers picketed at intervals . . . each in possession 

of a preconcerted signal to give warning of Japanese 

Cowans and intruders." Subsequent meetings were held in 

another dispensary and later in the camp library. One 

meeting was held in a cell measuring 13ft. by 7ft. Meetings 

continued fairly regularly until the "ill-omened Double 

Tenth", 1943. (7) After that date the camp languished under 

a harsh and vigilant Gestapo-type supervision for many 

months and it was impossible to risk the holding of 

meetings. Freemasonry then went underground, but, to 

quote The Pentagram (8) "it lived on in the hearts of the 

members of the Craft". At this time Bro. Lowick, looking to 

the future, checked the whereabouts of Masonic documents 

in the camp, keeping many himself and ready to assume 

responsibility in the event of trouble. "When the camp was 

moved from Changi Prison to Sime Road, the Gestapo 

supervision was relaxed. But the open nature of the site of 

the camp, the crowd of internees, now increased in number 

to something like 5,000, and the impossibility of finding any 

privacy in the huts made it extremely difficult to hold regular 

meetings; a scanty score of rituals passed surreptitiously 

from hand to hand." (9) One brother conducted a small but 

efficient Lodge of Instruction in front of a hut every Tuesday 

night, and similar study groups were organized in various 

parts of the camp. Incredible though it may seem, "a shadow 

headquarters" was established and, at Bro. Lowick's 

instigation, a "convocation" of the District Grand Lodge was 

held, at which a Masonic policy to be followed on 

deliverance was determined.

To assist in the identification of brethren, typewritten 

certificates were issued reading:

"Bro ...  having lost or destroyed his Grand Lodge 

Certificate during the enemy occupation of Malaya, is 

hereby certified to be a qualified member of Lodge .. No. 

.. on the Roll of the United Grand Lodge of England." They 

were signed by the Master, Wardens and Secretary of the 

Lodge and by the member concerned, and countersigned. 

as "Confirmed, B. Lowick, D.G.L.E.A." Looking back, it 

would seem that the possession of such a document might 

have proved a great danger to the holder should it have 

been discovered by the Japanese authorities.

In addition to meetings of Craft Lodges, five R.A. Chapters 

and three Mark Lodges held meetings from time to time. A 

list of dispensations issued and a brief account of their 

proceedings is also to be found in The Pentagram of 1947. 

(10)

SINGAPORE - CHANGI CAMP (P.O.W.)

In the military area of Changi a meeting of imprisoned 

brethren was held as early as June 8th, 1942, at which 45 

were present, and which was presided over by W.Bro. H. W. 

Wylie, P.G.D. of England and a Past Assistant District 

Grand Master, who, ever since the arrival of prisoners in 

Changi, had had in mind the desirability of holding Masonic 

meetings of some kind. Anxious not to bring the Craft into 

disrepute, he, with two other officers of the District Grand 

Lodge, approached the British Commandant, Lieut.-General 

A. E. Percival, on the matter. The General, though not a 

Mason, was most sympathetic and helpful, and promised to 

consult area commanders in the camp and the Japanese 

authorities. Assurances were given to the General that 

meetings would be confined strictly to Masonic business 

among existing Freemasons, and that no attempt would be 

made to initiate candidates, etc. Area Commanders agreed, 

but the Japanese stated that the matter must be referred to 

higher authority and, finally, to Tokyo. No answer was 

received from the Japanese, and the General, in the 

absence of a direct negative, decided that the brethren 

might carry on in a discreet manner. (11) General Percival's 

ready encouragement is evident from a letter written by Bro. 

Wylie to another Masonic organization (12) (to which 

reference will be made later). He quotes the General as 

saying that the project "supplied yet another means of 

preventing the deterioration of character and morale which 

began to show itself in some parts of the large camp, at any 

rate, in the early stages", and "anything which will assist in 

the preservation of the discipline for which, I believe, your 

Craft is universally noted, will undoubtedly prove valuable to 

me in the enormous difficulties I see already arising". When 

the General was later sent to Japan, his successor, Bro. Lt.-

Col. E. Holmes, gave equal encouragement to the brethren, 

duly acknowledged by the Grand Secretary, who, after the 

war, sent him a letter of thanks.

At this first meeting, Bro. Wylie, anxious not to contravene 

the Constitution, decided that, under the Patent of his office, 

he was prepared to grant authority for meetings for the 

purpose of practising ritual and lectures. There were two 

Preceptors of the Lodge of Instruction attached to Lodge St. 

George, No. 1152, Singapore, as well as several members 

of the Lodge, among the prisoners. To these two brethren, 

Bro. Wylie issued a Dispensation under which the place of 

meeting was changed to Changi, (13) and meetings were 

arranged accordingly. Nights were specially set aside for 

various separate Lodges of Instruction to meet, at which 

Preceptors were provided and records kept by the Past 

Masters of Lodge St. George. Meetings were held in a room, 

in a building used for educational purposes, containing a 

number of desks and benches which were used to represent 

seating in a regular lodge. (14) When it was later placed out 

of bounds, meetings were held in the Church of England 

Chapel, a much larger building. R.W.Bro. E. G. Holiday 

records (14) that "lights were successfully represented by 

candles and that the working tools were obtained from 

school boxes of mathematical instruments. Later on these 

were replaced by excellent pieces of craftsmanship in 

aluminium by brethren who were skilled artificers in metal. 

Suitably mounted wands were also constructed for the 

Deacons; tracing boards were skilfully designed so that, but 

for the absence of Masonic clothing, the Lodge could be 

considered to be reasonably furnished".

Weekly meetings were held and degrees were practised in 

English, Scottish and Irish workings. At first the only lighting 

was provided by rags in cigarette tins containing oil 

surreptitiously obtained from Japanese lorries, etc. 

Preparations were always made to convert the meetings into 

something of a different nature in case of surprise. Tylers 

were placed at strategic points, and Bro. Wylie tells us that 

on one occasion there were four rings of six each, i.e., 24 

tylers for one meeting!  Attendances rose from about 50 to 

over 100 and parties from the "Australian area" of the camp 

also joined in. Towards the end of 1942, large parties of 

prisoners in this particular area of the camp were being 

moved to Siam to work on the infamous railway and it was 

realized that meetings would have to end. Minute books and 

working tools were buried in a tin box by Bro. Holiday, but, 

unfortunately, they were never regained, as by chance the 

building near which the tin was buried was levelled off and a 

new structure erected on the site. The Grand Lodge 

possesses a certified copy of the minutes of the first meeting 

of these brethren, including Bro. Wylie's Dispensation, and 

some copies of his correspondence and other papers. (15) 

One letter, the original, is to the Lodge of St. George Lodge 

of Instruction and is indicative of his concern for the 

preservation of the niceties of the Craft. News of the death 

of the M.W. Grand Master, H.R.H. the Duke of Kent, in 

August, 1942, having reached him, he forthwith directed that 

members of the Lodge should observe Masonic mourning 

for three months.

With the functioning of this Lodge of Instruction a curious 

state of affairs existed. In the civilian gaol the Lodge itself 

was working under the authority of Bro. Lowick, the 

Dep.D.G.M. In the military area of the camp its Lodge of 

Instruction was working under the authority of Bro. Wylie, a 

P.A.D.G.M., each unaware of the other's activities.

Soon after the meetings held under the auspices of the 

Lodge of St. George came to an end, some British and 

Australian brethren in another part of the camp called a 

meeting, held on December 18th, 1942, in an Officers' Mess 

lecture-room in the Roberts Hospital, Changi. The Chair was 

taken by Bro. F.C. Stuart (No. 392, Victoria Const.), and the 

meeting commenced with an address by Bro. L.J. Kingston 

(No. 1118, E.C.), who outlined proposals for the formation of 

an Association. As a result, the Prisoners of War Masonic 

Association was formed, Bro. Stuart being elected 

Chairman, and Bro. Kingston, Secretary. A Treasurer and an 

Executive Committee of four brethren from the Victoria, 

Queensland and English Constitutions were also appointed. 

(16) W.Bro. Lt.-Col. H. S. Ling took a prominent part in the 

formation of the Association and its activities, of which he 

has written an account. (17)

Subsequent meetings are described as meetings of the 

Association, but they were conducted as Lodges, with a 

Worshipful Master and Officers. There was no "official" 

sanction for these meetings, as was obtained in the case of 

the Lodge of St. George Lodge of Instruction activities, 

which were approved by Bro. Wylie in his capacity as an 

Officer of both the United Grand Lodge of England and the 

District Grand Lodge. It was not long, however, before the 

Association teamed of his presence in the camp, and the 

Executive Committee took immediate steps to communicate 

with him by letter, dated February 15th, 1943, (18) in which 

he was informed of the Association's formation. The letter 

concluded: "As the English Constitution has always been 

recognized as having paramount power throughout Malaya, 

and in the absence of the District Grand Master of the 

District Grand Lodge of the Eastern Archipelago, his Deputy 

or Assistant, in this camp, it is our desire as a matter of 

courtesy to inform you of our action; and we hope that you 

will approve thereof, and that both you and all Brothers of 

your Constitution will support the Association and join in its 

assemblies." Bro. Wylie replied: "I have felt all along the 

necessity, and indeed moral obligation, to avoid 

contravention of those excellent rules governing the Craft as 

much as possible and endeavour to restrict such error to the 

absolute minimum. This object has, I feel, been attained 

and, with a perfectly clear conscience, am in a position to 

approve my brethren embracing such opportunities as your 

Association offers to any extent that you are prepared to 

allow them." (19) Thus did the meetings receive some 

official sanction.

Meetings were held with the full knowledge and approval of 

the Commander, and were subject to the following 

conditions: -

1. That there should be no discussion of political or military 

matters.

2. That all discussion of the conditions of prisoners of war in 

the camp were prohibited.

3. That reasonable precautions usually observed by 

Freemasons should be adopted and maintained, to prevent 

surprise interruption of a meeting.

4. That the President of the Association or other authorized 

officer should be responsible to the Commander for the 

fulfilment of these conditions. (18)

Although the United Grand Lodge of England was 

recognized as the paramount Masonic authority in Malaya, it 

was intended that the Association should be organized 

under the Constitution of Victoria, Australia. (18) It had been 

agreed that regular meetings should be held at which 

Masonic ritual would be carried out in an exemplary style, 

with correctness in detail, and that rituals of the various 

Constitutions (represented by members of the Association) 

would, if circumstances permitted, be worked in turn. In 

June, 1943, the Association asked Bro. Wylie for a 

"testimonial" upon the standard of its labours. (20) Bro. 

Wylie was, naturally, diffident in expressing an opinion on 

the work carried out by teams using rituals of Constitutions 

of which he had had little or no experience, but "as far as I 

have been able to judge", he replied, "those conversant with 

these rituals have been quite satisfied with the renderings of 

them, and to me the earnestness with which the work has 

been performed is a sure sign that no effort has been 

spared to make the meetings compare very favourably with 

the usual ceremonies of their kind. All the English workings 

have been of a high standard, in fact excellent, especially 

when one takes into consideration the lack of rituals and 

experienced Preceptors". (21)

The inaugural meeting was attended by 47 brethren from 11 

Constitutions. Membership rapidly increased and later 

meetings saw attendances of members and visitors 

numbering 116, 149, 169 and 133. On two occasions 

elections to membership numbered no fewer than 30. 

Meetings were generally held in the Garrison Church, but, 

with the various changes in camp accommodation, other 

places were found. One building used was a former petrol 

station with open sides. These the brethren filled in with 

screens of palm leaves and attap fronds. Although it was 

fairly isolated, Bro. Wylie felt that it was not secure enough 

for the practise of ritual and decreed that only lectures and 

talks should be given during the time they used it. The 

brethren met fairly regularly, but one meeting "had to be 

cancelled owing to the uncertain circumstances then 

prevailing" -- one can imagine the reason as expressed was 

something of an understatement!

Bro. Ling records: (22) "Great care was taken to prove each 

unknown Mason. The brethren drifted in to the meeting in 

ones and twos without attracting too much attention. Just 

inside the entrance an Assistant D.C., who was deputed on 

each separate occasion to obtain on a list the signatures 

and names of the Lodges of the brethren attending. Before 

attending the first meeting, those of us who had formed the 

society proved each other; then as each new member came 

along he would be proved by a P.M. of the Constitution to 

which he belonged, and his name then added to the list. By 

this arrangement no one was admitted without being proved 

unless his name was already on the list, and we were able 

thus to ensure that no unauthorized person gained 

admission."

Punctiliousness in behaviour and obedience to the 

Constitutions was always observed and, on one occasion, 

amply demonstrated when it was discovered that a visitor to 

a meeting had been "initiated" by a foreign "field lodge" in 

the camp. The matter was considered by the Executive 

Committee and it was decided that the facts should be 

reported to Bro. Wylie. It was found that the brethren of this 

other jurisdiction had held a meeting within the camp area at 

which an "initiation" had been performed without informing 

Bro. Wylie - a fact which they considered distinctly 

discourteous, irrespective of the validity of the proceedings. 

The Committee felt that in dealing with a matter concerning 

a Grand Lodge in amity with the United Grand Lodge of 

England, "vision of a wide scope was needed". Bro. Wylie, 

after consultation with a legal brother, offered his guidance 

to the Committee. As a result, the Committee informed the 

gentleman concerned that, pending the regularization of his 

initiation, he must consider himself debarred from 

attendance at meetings of the Association. (23)

The three degrees were regularly demonstrated in 

accordance with the several Constitutions represented, or 

else lectures on a variety of Masonic and other subjects 

were delivered, or the T.B.s were explained. Officers were 

changed at each meeting, so that members of the different 

Constitutions each took their turn.

Minutes were first prepared in duplicate, one copy being 

intended for Grand Lodge. Later it is recorded that "in order 

to safeguard the records . . . from possible mishap or 

adventure, due to matters international . . . two further 

copies . . . would, as a precautionary measure, be deposited 

with certain of the brethren for safe custody ".

The subscription was provisionally fixed at 10 cents per 

month (later reduced to 5 cents) and the Treasurer regularly 

reported on the state of the funds. On one occasion it was 

decided that no subscriptions should be payable by brethren 

for periods of stay in hospital or "up country" - the 

implication of this expression leaves little to the imagination! 

On another occasion the members stood in silence to the 

memory of those who did not return from "up country".

Charity was not forgotten. Cigarettes were regularly 

purchased out of the prisoners' all-too-meagre cash 

allowance for distribution to those in hospital, such gifts 

being particularly welcome to the troops who, when sick and 

unable to work, received no pay from the Japanese. When 

the supply of drugs gave out, the suffering of those in 

hospital went unrelieved and the brethren did as much as 

possible for them all, Masons and non-Masons alike. Many 

of the patients were without friends or were the only 

remaining members of their regiments, or were otherwise in 

need of what Bro. Wylie describes as "mental strength". 

Even when cigarettes were no longer available and other 

gifts impossible, regular visits to the hospital continued to 

the end. In December, 1943, a donation to the Christmas 

Toy Fund for Children interned in the gaol was made.

Candlesticks were salvaged from the ruins of a bombed 

church; two ashlars were fashioned working tools 

improvised; and deacons' wands were made, each being 

surmounted by the appropriate emblems made from 

aluminium taken from a wrecked aircraft. A first degree T.B. 

was "artistically 

99999

prepared and presented by Capt. C. Pickersgill, No. 1230, 

E.C., now, unfortunately, up country ". Mention is made 

elsewhere of a second T.B. drawn and painted by a skilful 

artist who later lost his life on the railway.

Meetings opened and closed with the usual odes, and 

occasionally some light refreshment was provided, which 

must have been " light " indeed. Bro. Ling records: " It was 

possible at certain times . . . to bring coffee from the 

Japanese-run canteens, and from the small subscriptions 

which were collected . . . it was decided to hold one festive 

evening. So with black coffee and rice biscuits we made 

merry, gave toasts and made speeches." (24) On the 18th 

December, 1943, an anniversary meeting was held, when 

122 members and visiting brethren attended. It was followed 

by refreshments, for which the brethren had previously been 

asked to bring small cups. The usual toasts were drunk and 

a musical interlude, consisting of songs, was arranged. Any 

surplus food left over from the "banquet" was sent to the 

brethren in hospital.

It is of interest to mention here that, occasionally, books 

were sent into the camp by the Red Cross, amongst which 

were some on ancient Freemasonry and King Solomon's 

Temple. They had been looted from Freemasons' Hall, 

Singapore, and sent to the general library from which the 

Red Cross were permitted to take books for prisoners. By 

this extraordinary chance did a few Masonic works reach the 

brethren.

In May, 1944, the tide was turning against the enemy, and 

life in Changi was, in consequence, made increasingly 

difficult for the prisoners. The minute of the last meeting of 

the Association mentions the reorganization of the camp 

and the consequent move and segregation of officers and 

men and of the hospital, resulting in the suspension of 

regular meetings. In any case, to have continued would 

have involved too great a risk, as discovery would certainly 

have meant unnecessary suffering and, perhaps, the 

sacrifice of lives.

Bro. Wylie records (25) that, towards the end of 1943, a 

brother was brought into the Camp Hospital in a most 

dreadful condition. He had been sentenced to four years' 

imprisonment in the infamous Outram Road Gaol, 

Singapore. At the time of his arrest a Masonic ritual was 

found amongst his effects, which resulted in terrible 

beatings and other cruelties. Bro. Wylie stood at his bedside 

and caught a whispered warning advising immediate 

cessation of Masonic activities, for "they" are starting an 

intensive investigation. Bro. Wylie interviewed the senior 

officers of the British and Australian troops, both 

Freemasons, and received official sanction and approval to 

issue an order to the Association to close down immediately.

In a letter of thanks to Lt.-Col. Holmes, dated 17th August, 

1945, Bro. Wylie said: "Possibly more so than most others, I 

appreciate very deeply the very real personal responsibility 

and risk attached to our activities which you assumed on our 

behalf when Lt.-Gen. Percival left for Taiwan. That the risk 

was real was evident on the return to the camp of Major S. 

[probably the brother mentioned above] when we both 

realized the extreme hate and suspicion with which our 

'hosts' regarded us and his experiences, which resulted in 

your unqualified approval of my request to suspend Masonic 

activities of any kind indefinitely."

Over a period of 17 months, 21 meetings of the Association 

were held, the last being on the 4th May, 1944. The minutes 

of this meeting record that: " There being no further 

business, the closing Prayer was given and the Lodge 

closed. The brethren departing in Harmony at 6 p.m. - being 

sorrowful at the thought that they had, perhaps, attended the 

last Regular Meeting of the Association; yet mindful of the 

blessing of the G.A.U. Who had allowed us to have, during 

this period of stress, strain and anxiety, so many happy 

evenings together, reviving the Spirit of the Craft, and 

sharing mutually in the benefits and joys of its message."

This is, perhaps, a fitting epitaph for so noble an endeavour, 

but a further testimony of the great part which Freemasonry 

played in sustaining the brethren was written by Bro. Wylie:- 

(26)

"The peace and tranquility of those meetings", he says, 

"stood out in great contrast against the turmoil and irritations 

of the day. Although it was very hot, and most of the time all 

of us were in rags, ill, hungry, tired and dirty, yet it was 

possible during these meetings almost completely to forget 

the normal conditions of our lives as prisoners of war. To sit 

quietly among proven friends and listen to the Ceremonies 

took one's thought very far from a prison camp and lifted the 

mind above the reach of petty annoyances, restored one's 

balance and demonstrated the possibility of the victory of 

mind over matter, a very important factor at such a time.

Little help could come to us from outside; many died from 

malaria and dysentery: many were sick from beri-beri, and 

as drugs were not available it was important than mental 

strength was maintained, and in that sense a great work was 

done. Indeed, the Craft fully justified its existence thereby, 

and many who survived owed it to the love and care of some 

Brother, and without discrimination, whether he was a 

Mason or not."

There was at least one other organized gathering of 

brethren in Changi - the Southern Area Masonic Group, 

about which little is recorded. In fact, the only information 

available is the occasional reference to the Group in the 

minutes of the P.O.W. Masonic Association. On the 22nd 

February, 1943, the hope was expressed that additional 

meetings might be arranged to give Masons in the Southern 

Area the opportunity of participating in Masonic work. 

Arrangements were, in fact, made for the Group to attend a 

meeting on the 12th April, when its team gave a practice 

rendering of the initiation ceremony in accordance with the 

Revised Ritual. Finally, at the last meeting of the 

Association, reference is made to the "funds" of the late 

Southern Area Masonic Group, to which the Association had 

succeeded on the winding up of the former body.

According to a short note on the Changi activities in a 

Bulletin of the A.I.F. Memorial Lodge, "daughter" 

associations of the main P.O.W. Association sprung up in 

other parts of the camp, working on the same lines under a 

controlling body known as " Headquarters (H.Q.)", 

consisting of five Australian and five British brethren. In 

addition, there were a number of unofficial gatherings of 

brethren in Changi which caused Bro. Wylie grave anxiety. 

Many brethren, keen to continue some kind of Masonic 

activity, gave little thought to the dangers. Copies of the 

ritual were being made, but the mere possession of a ritual 

involved the risk of death. Wylie, with his wide knowledge of 

Far Eastern affairs and of Masonry in that part of the world, 

together with certain experiences in the Volunteer Forces, 

knew the dangers, not only to those inside the camp, but to 

the Asian brethren outside.

The striking of a commemorative medallion was considered 

by the Association and a design submitted by Bro. Ling was 

approved, the intention being to seek approval of the United 

Grand Lodge of England and of the 12 Grand Lodges and 

400 Lodges whose members took part in the proceedings of 

the Association. (27) The medallion was to consist of a blue 

enamel circle bearing the words "Changi P.O.W. Masonic 

Association", with a replica of the Changi tree in the centre 

and the motto, "Dissectus non Mortuus", to symbolize that, 

during the time of captivity, the members were broken but 

not dead. It should be explained that in the centre of the 

Changi area was a hill, on the top of which grew a large, 

isolated tree. The top of the tree had been blown off in 

battle. Bro. Ling describes the immense trunk as resembling 

a large artificial pillar. It dominated the camp and became 

known as the "Changi tree", and was a focal point of the 

early meetings of the Association. It is not known how far the 

project proceeded.

SINGAPORE-RIVER VALLEY ROAD MASONIC CLUB

Another small body about which little is known was the River 

Valley Road (Singapore) P.O.W. Masonic Club. (28) It was 

formed by 25 zealous Master Masons to continue and 

promote the tenets of Freemasonry during the period at 

River Valley Road Camp. It was named a "club" because 

none of the members had any power to grant a Dispensation 

to enable it to function in any other way. It met once a week, 

when lectures were given and the ceremonies practised. A 

roll of members, prepared by Bro. Pickersgill, survived and 

is preserved in the Masonic Temple, Singapore. A 

photographic copy of the roll (supplied by the Grand Lodge 

of Scotland) is in the Grand Lodge Library. It bears the 

names of fourteen brethren of the English Constitution, five 

Irish, one Scottish and five Australian. It is sadly reported 

that the majority of the members died whilst working on the 

infamous Burma/Siam railway.

Memorial Service., September, 1945.

The Masonic activities of the Singapore prisoners finally 

terminated with a memorial service at St. David's Church, 

Sime Road Internment Camp, on the 2nd September, 1945, 

in memory of those who died between February, 1942, and 

August, 1945. During the service their names were read. An 

account of the service, which was attended by 180 brethren, 

is given in The Pentagram, 1947 (pp. 32-35).

SIAM

Mention has been made above to the ending of activities by 

Lodge St. George (working under Bro. Wylie's Dispensation) 

because of the removal of prisoners from Changi to Siam to 

work on the notorious railway. Bro. Holiday recorded (29) 

something of the activities of the brethren in Siam, where 

they were dispersed in small groups. It was not until 1944, 

the railway having been completed, that they were formed 

into large concentrations, but overcrowding was so great, 

and Japanese objections to meetings and lectures so 

pronounced, that it was only possible for the brethren to 

hold talks in small groups in the open. At Tamung, however, 

on New Year's Day, 1945, some 60 to 70 brethren were able 

to meet, and were afterwards served with rice cakes and 

coffee, in which they drank the Loyal toast. On August 22nd, 

after the Japanese surrender, an untyled meeting was held 

at Nekom Chai, attended by some 50 brethren from a 

number of Constitutions. All were in rags and the only 

Masonic ornament was the V.S.L.

SUMATRA

Some information concerning the brethren interned in 

Sumatra is recorded by Bro. Hasselhuhn in The Pentagram, 

1958, (30) who recounts that, after the fall of Singapore, 

about 1,000 evacuees from Malaya were herded together at 

Muntok, on Banka Island, Sumatra. In the camp a number of 

Masonic friends met and agreed that it might be of future 

interest to prepare a list of them. Two lists were made, one 

containing names and the other their ranks and the Lodges 

to which they belonged, so that if they were discovered one 

list would appear to have no connection with the other. The 

brethren agreed that it would not be proper to carry on 

Masonic activity without authority, there being no one 

among them of sufficiently high rank to give any 

Dispensation to hold meetings. "Nevertheless", it is noted, 

"the principles of the Craft, as much as possible, were 

practised outside the lodge." The number of brethren 

signifying their wish to be recorded on the list reached 57 

out of a total of only 197 British internees. Out of this figure 

of 57, only 16 (together with five Dutch brethren) remained 

alive at the end of their ordeal.

HONG KONG AND SHANGHAI

There is evidence of some activity amongst brethren of the 

Hong Kong and South China Lodges whilst prisoners in the 

Stanley Internment Camp and the military camp at 

Shamshuipo, Hong Kong. The District Grand Secretary, 

reporting to Grand Lodge in 1948. (31) mentioned that 

Minutes of Lodges which were rehabilitated soon after the 

end of the war contain references to "unofficial meetings 

held in Stanley by the different Lodges". (These Lodge 

minutes are not accessible to me in London.) He also 

reported that:-

"Being the Officer Commanding the Hongkong Volunteer 

Defence Corps, I was a prisoner in a military camp at 

Shamshuipo, so none of those who were mobilized could 

take part in these meetings in the strictly civilian camp of 

Stanley. I was, however, able to hold a Lodge of Instruction, 

as a Preceptor, for the first four months of our captivity. After 

that we were separated from our men and put into a 

punishment camp, where we had no room to move, and 

absolutely no privacy or possibility of conducting meetings."

More precise information concerning one Lodge - Zetland, 

No. 525 - is on record. (31) In the Stanley camp a meeting of 

members of the Lodge was held on December 1st, 1942, 

with 28 present. A year later, on December 7th, 1943, 

another meeting was held (in the open, because of the 

danger of assembling in a room), when 10 were present. 

Another year elapsed before the next meeting, on December 

5th, 1944, when only five members could be mustered 

because, at that time, few of the brethren were fit enough to 

walk the comparatively Ion distance to the place of meeting.

In the Shanghai theatre, two camps for civilian prisoners 

were set up - one in Haiphong Road, Shanghai, and 

another, Fengtai, about four miles outside Pekin. There was 

also a Services' prison camp just outside Shanghai. Bro. Dr. 

S. D. Sturton records (32) that there were a number of 

brethren of his Lodge, Tuscan, No. 1027 (now the Shanghai 

Tuscan Lodge), imprisoned in the Haiphong Road camp, but 

it proved impossible for them to arrange any organized 

Masonic activity. He recollects that there were altogether 

about 110 Freemasons of various jurisdictions - English, 

Irish, Scottish, Massachusetts and the Philippines - and a 

few Masonic gatherings were arranged. Brethren included 

District Grand Officers of the five Constitutions represented. 

Sturton was present on one occasion when the Philippine 

brethren "entertained" the District Grand Officers of other 

jurisdictions in celebration of the liberation of Manila.

Although supervision was strict in the Shanghai camps, the 

brethren were left alone and were not, with two known 

exceptions, subjected to torture. Unhappily, two brethren 

were tortured, however, during questioning in the 

Gendarmerie, the Japanese "Gestapo" headquarters. 

Interrogation of brethren was most searching, and was 

conducted, oddly enough, in the presence of a Japanese 

woman who had a most intimate knowledge of Freemasonry.

No more is known of activities of the brethren imprisoned in 

these theatres of war.

(1) Frisby, A. W., "English Freemasonry in Malaya and 

Borneo, 1765-1956 ", The Pentagram, 1958, vol. 43, ch. 9, 

pp. 83-92. [This account includes extracts from earlier 

volumes.]

(2) Wylie, H. W., An unpublished account of Freemasonry in 

Singapore Prisoner of War Camp, 1949. Short accounts 

also appeared in the Trans., Essex Masters' Lo., 1949-54, 

and in The Pentagram, 1954, vol. 39, pp. 15-17.

(3) Ling, H. S., "Masonry as a Prisoner of War", The Ashlar, 

October, 1948, pp. 4-9 ; The Pentagram, 1954, vol. 39, pp. 

19-25.

(4) The Pentagram, 1947, vol. 32. [An issue intended mainly 

to record Masonic activities of imprisoned brethren, 1941-

45.]

(5) Frisby, A. W., " District Grand Lodge (of the Eastern 

Archipelago] under Japanese Occupation The Masonic 

Record, 1961, January-April. Based on material previously 

published in The Pentagram.

(6) A paper by W.A.G. Edwards, entitled "The Broken 

Column: Some Thoughts on Masonry in the Far East, 1940-

45", was written for delivery, but not published - a copy is 

deposited in the Grand Lodge Library.

(7) Presumably the 10th October, 1943. It was about this 

date that a number of Chinese prisoners were massacred.

(8) The Pentagram, 1947, vol. 32, p. 7.

(9) Ibid.

(10) Ibid., pp. 13, 19-21.

(11) Minutes, 8th June, 1942.

(12) Wylie to Sec., P.O.W. Masonic Assoc., 23rd June, 

1943.

(13) Bro. Wylie's action was later approved and confirmed 

by the Grand Secretary.

(14) Holiday, E.G., "Masonry in Prisoner of War Camps", 

The Pentagram, 1947, vol. 32, pp. 3".

(15) Prisoner of War Masonic Assoc., Changi. 

Correspondence and copies of Correspondence in 

possession of Grand Lodge.

(16) Prisoner of War Masonic Assoc., Changi, Singapore. 

(a) Minutes, 18th December, 1942, to 4th May, 1944 ; (b) 

Attendance Registers.

(17) See footnote 4, p. 89.

(18) From Assoc. to Wylie, 15th February, 1943 (Grand 

Lodge); also recorded in Minute book.

(19) Wylie to Assoc., 25th February, 1943 (Minute book).

(20) Minutes, 12th June, 1943.

(21) Wylie to Assoc., 23rd June, 1943 (copy in G.L.); Minute 

book.

(22) See footnote 4, p. 89.

(23) Correspondence between Assoc. and Wylie, and 

Minutes, 18th December, 1943.

(24) See footnote 4, p. 89.

(25) Wylie, The Pentagram, 1954.

(26) Wylie, Trans., Essex Masters' Lodge, 1949-54, pp. 15-

17.

(27) See footnote 4, P. 89.

(28) Molesworth, W., "River Valley P.O.W. Masonic Club", 

The Pentagram, 1950, vol. 35, p. 2.

(29) See footnote 2, p. 91.

(30) Hasselhuhn, E. T. [Notes on brethren interned in 

Sumatra], The Pentagram, 1958, vol. 43, pp. 88-9.

(31) Grand Lodge files.

(32) Personal correspondence