The Lodge of Tranquillity No. 185
Founded 1787
News
© Epping Forest District Council
We were delighted to welcome W.Bro Mark Smith PSGD APGM (Essex) to our Lodge meeting on 11 December 2023
Mark in addition to being a Grand Officer is renowned as an expert on military medals with many media appearances including Antiques Collectors Road Show and as a consultant with one of the most famous dealers and producers of medals, Hancocks. Mark is also a curator at the Royal Artillery Museum in Woolwich.
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Mark gave an impressive and most informative lecture (note free ) on the Victoria Cross – for valour, and how it came to be created. The role of Queen Victoria and her notes on the design of the medal and indeed those of the Prince Consort, Prince Albert. It was to be in base metal (bronze was agreed). The legend it was from a canon captured at the Crimea was sadly rejected from factual information which Mark had learnt from his time spent with Hancocks.
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Mark spoke about more than 60 recipients who had had masonic connnections and the paving stone outside the Freemasons Hall in Great Queen Street commemorating that achievement. He also mentioned changes made (on advice) by subsequent sovereigns, in granting the medal to those who had not survived the action, for which they were awarded the medal. He gave many illustrations of the citations which had been recorded to deserving service men awarded this, the highest military honour available to those from the UK and Commonwealth. He also mentioned the tax free pension paid to survivors.
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Two particular awards were mentioned for which the VC had been awarded twice to the same person (the second such award known as a bar), to two distinguished doctors in the medical corp. Lt Arthur Martin-Leake and Capt Noel Chavasse