TESSELLATED Newsletter of the District Grand Lodge of North Island New Zealand
TALES Summer 2019
Tessellated Tales
Christmas Message from the District Grand Master As the old year is ending, a new year will soon begin and with it will come some changes to the District. A few changes have occurred this year, we have seen the installation of a new Deputy District Grand Master at our November 2019 Annual Communications in Wairakei, W Bro Graeme James McKandry of the United Manawatu Lodge No. 1721. He was initiated into the Prince of Wales Lodge No. 1338 on the 9th of February 1989, he has been the Deputy Grand Superintendent since 2016. A worthy Mason who you all know and works hard for the District. Also, we have a new Assistant District Grand Master, W Bro David Dyet Leach of the Duke of Albany Lodge No. 2073. David was initiated into a Scottish Lodge, Matthew Kilwinning 549 on the 1st of January 1972 and has been a member of the Duke of Albany since 22nd of September 1982. We have also seen changes in our Supreme Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons. E Comp John Alexander Hume was installed as Deputy Grand Superintendent at our November Communications held at the Wairakei Resort Hotel. John joined the Aorangi Chapter on the 1st of July 1986 and has held various offices in District since his first appointment within the District was 2004. A new Second District Grand Principal has also been installed E Comp Mark Ian Crawford who joined the Duke of Albany Chapter in the 8th of May 2007, his last position being the Director of Ceremonies for the District. The Third District Grand Principal also being replaced with E Comp Stephen Rex Hammerton of the Zealandia Chapter No. 2072. A tireless worker in the North for both the Craft and Chapter. Our Communication this year have, according to all accounts, been a great success. The concept of having just one Communications encompassing the Craft and Chapter appears to have worked well. The idea of having a central meeting, I believe also helped increase the numbers attending. It was great to be able to welcome a good contingent of South Island English Brethren accompanying their District Grand Master RW Bro Richard Taylor to our meeting at Wairakei this year. A very close bond exists between us and to see so many of them, strengthened that bond. When the South Island had their Communications meeting in Ashburton this year, I was accompanied by eleven Grand and District Grand Officer, which was very pleasing to see so many that went down to support myself and the South Island English Communications. We are looking forward to the Installation celebrations of our new District Grand Master, W Bro Warren E Weir. We have been informed by London that the Installation will take place mid to late May, so please keep your diary’s free for that event. We will be very honoured by a visit of MW Bro Peter Geoffrey Lowndes our Pro Grand Master, who will preside over the Installation and will be accompanied by other distinguished guests. On behalf of DesrÊ and myself, I wish you and your families a very enjoyable Christmas Season and may the New Year bring you health, peace and prosperity. RW Brother Brian Westhead District Grand Master Page 1
Newsletter of the District Grand Lodge of North Island New Zealand
Tessellated Tales
Christmas Message from the District Grand Secretary. “Time and tide wait for no man”. Another year is nearly over and a new one is about to begin. Its been another interesting year, with many changes. The District started a new idea with having one Communications in November rather than two in the same year. From the comments that have come back to me, the Communications held in November, were a success. The central location, the venue, the food, the service that the hotel provided was wonderful. We had record numbers attending, which showed how popular the idea was. Our District Grand Master RW Bro Brian Westhead, has decided to step down after nearly ten years as our District Grand Master and a new District Grand Master designate was chosen by the Grand Lodge in England to replace him. W Bro Warren Weir, PAGDC has been a brother in the North Island English District since 1991. A very caring and capable person to lead us into the future. There are always pithy saying that you can find to match an occasion: “He who rejects change is the architect of decay. The only human institution which rejects progress is the cemetery” – Harold Wilson. How true, then let us embrace the change. This year, my brothers in Masonry have taught me so much, have helped me along life’s rocky road, when, on occasions, I’ve stumbled, and they have given me so much joy to be able to do this job in the District Office, I thank you. It is blessing when a brother offers his hand in friendship and gives his time willingly. So, for another year, it is goodbye from me and may I wish you a wonderful, merry, and safe Christmas and may the New Year bring you health, wealth, and happiness. W Bro Ron Pemberton
District Grand Secretary
The Call to Arms ‘You will see fearsome sights that will shake you to the roots of your being; you will see war not as a beautiful, orderly, and gleaming formation, with music and beaten drums, streaming banners and generals on prancing horses, but war in its authentic expression – as blood, suffering and death.’ ~ Leo Tolstoy, ‘Sevastopol in December’, from Sevastopol Sketches, 1854
~ Rudyard Kipling Like many others, Fred Crossan had to leave school at the age of thirteen to help support his family. In 1940, when the call went out for more men, he lied about his age so he could go to war. On Crete, he fought with courage in one of the most savage battles of the Second World War. He was forced to surrender due to the overwhelming firepower of the Germans, but he was not defeated. He suffered hardships as a prisoner of war in one of the worst camps in Greece, escaped twice and made a home run on his third attempt. He held no rank but private. He was a man among men, one who never suffered fools gladly. From birth to death, he walked a long road with dignity.
Ron Pemberton
An ordinary man in extraordinary circumstances. He wore no bravery medals on his chest; the campaign medals were enough to tell the tale of his war. He faced the foe and fought with courage. He was not a high-ranking officer, nor an NCO;
We have done with Hope and Honour, We are lost to Love and Truth, We are dropping down the ladder rung by rung; And the measure of our torment is the measure of our youth. God help us, for we knew the worst too young!
THE LONG ROAD A Soldier’s Tale
Few young men in 1939 thought about the horrors they might face when going off to war; their only thought was ‘adventure’. This biography is about an ordinary young man, a New Zealand soldier – Frederick John Crossan. One of the many who went to the Second World War. One of the lucky ones who returned.
CITADEL
ISBN 978-0-473-42530-2
CITADEL
BOOKS
Newsletter of the District Grand Lodge of North Island New Zealand
IMBROS GORGE, CRETE
The story of Frederick John Crossan
THE LONG ROAD A Soldier’s Tale
Ron Pemberton
BOOKS
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Tessellated Tales he was a private, a driver in the 4th Reserve Mechanical Transport Company. Fred, as his friends knew him, went to war, like so many others, not out of commitment to a higher ideal, but because everyone else was going.
Escaping from a Prisoner-of War camp was difficult. Some had no desire to escape, preferring to sit out the war rather than put themselves in further danger. But for some, escaping became a matter of pride. Getting away from your captors presented its own perils. It took many forms, from a quick dash to a more planned approach. Of those who took the risk, some made it back to their own lines, others died in the process. Men of all ranks felt honour-bound to escape. To sit out the rest of the war while others were fighting didn’t sit well with them, but not all got the opportunity to escape immediately after being captured.
When the Second World War broke out in 1939, New Zealand was one of the first members of the British Empire to volunteer its services. Men from all walks of life enlisted. Some were rejected for a variety of reasons, mainly on health grounds; others were too young. Before conscription started, the age for joining the New Zealand Army in 1940 was 21. Men lied about their age so they could go with their mates, brothers or cousins. It was to be an adventure few could refuse. Fred Men below the rank of corporal were forced to and his two brothers were no exception. work in whatever occupation the enemy saw fit to use them. Fred’s opportunity to escape didn’t Out of those who went to war, some did not come until the last years of the war. Forced to return, some were captured, others fought their surrender on Crete with more than 6,000 other way through to the end. A large number of New British and Commonwealth troops, he had to Zealand soldiers were captured in the early part endure the humility and rigours of captivity. of the war. Of the 100,000 who served between 1939 and 1945, 10,000 were held prisoner in either While this is Fred’s story, it is also the story of Europe or Asia. There wasn’t the opportunity to many men of the same age who went to war, who attempt to escape in Asia as there was in Europe. experienced the same fears, the same hardships, The majority of escapes from POW camps the same hunger. Much of the story is direct occurred throughout Nazi-held Europe. Fred was from Fred. I sat with him for many an hour, over one of those who made his bid for freedom on three years, as he retold the stories – the sad bits, several occasions. the funny bits, and the lonely bits. The personal things that only an old soldier remembers, of the A large number of New Zealanders were captured horrors he and others experienced. It is what he during the disastrous campaigns in Greece and saw, what he experienced, what he told me. His Crete. British, Australians, New Zealanders and need to speak before he died motivated Fred other Commonwealth troops were overwhelmed to tell his story. Some words are his own, not by the highly mechanised, advancing German something that I, as a writer, have interpreted. It ground forces and their air superiority. At least might offend some, but it is history – his history, 2,000 New Zealanders were captured during their the history of the ordinary soldier; not a general, withdrawal and evacuation from Greece. More not an officer, not an NCO, but a man. were captured after being left on the beaches at Sfakiá after they were ordered to surrender on 1 At the beginning, Tolstoy spoke about war in its June at the end of the campaign on Crete. gruesome detail. This story isn’t just about the blood and waste of war, it is about a man who, The difficulties and hardships they had to face through adversity, made his mark on life. This is after capture changed them forever. For many, a New Zealand soldier’s tale. it strengthened their character; for a few, it weakened it. The poor diet and in some cases the This is the first installment from Fred’s Book, a treatment by brutal guards gave them a greater number to follow. resolve to survive and fight back as best they W Bro Ron Pemberton DGSec could. Page 3
Newsletter of the District Grand Lodge of North Island New Zealand
Tessellated Tales
A Remarkable Coincidence As part of the annual pilgrimage to Opotiki and Gisborne for the installations of Opotiki and Turanganui Lodges, we had arranged to present some more teddy bears to Gisborne Hospital, as
part of the ongoing TLC programme. It seemed fitting that we deliver these ourselves as it was on the same trip, two years earlier, we launched the programme in Gisborne. Unfortunately, it seemed none of the local
brethren were available, so on the Monday morning, W Bro Graeme Abbott and myself went to the hospital with a box of bears. The
bears were duly presented to the Emergency Department and, in the course of doing so, we were chatting to one of the nurses when he told us his father in law was Carrick Browne. Carrick
is a long-standing member of Lodge St Andrew No. 418 SC.
Having established the masonic connection, we chatted a bit further when I noticed his name tag
– the family name was Botting. That name not being particularly common, I asked if was related to Hugh Macdonald Botting, a Past Master of the Prince of Wales Lodge. It transpires that he is a
grandson of Hugh. I don’t know who was more stunned – he with the connection to Freemasonry or I with the connection to the Botting family. Hugh
Macdonald
Botting
was
a
rather
extraordinary character. He ran away from home
and joined the navy at the age of 15. At the age of 16, he served on HMS Malaya at the Battle of Jutland (the largest naval battle of World War One) where his ship was blown up when a shell hit below the waterline. He survived as he was blown out a porthole.
He later emigrated to New Zealand where he worked in the motor industry. He was the proud owner of a very rare Mercedes sports car, now in the Motor Museum in Paraparaumu. And, of course, he joined the Prince of Wales Lodge.
It was an amazing coincidence to connect with the descendant of such a remarkable freemason whilst distributing masonic charity. W Bro Tony Mansfield PDSGW Newsletter of the District Grand Lodge of North Island New Zealand
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District Officers for 2020 District Grand Master Deputy District Grand Master Assistant District Grand Master Assistant District Grand Master District Senior Grand Warden *District Junior Grand Warden District Grand Chaplain District Grand Treasurer District Grand Registrar President, District Board of General Purposes *District Grand Secretary *District Grand Director of Ceremonies District Grand Sword Bearer District Grand Supt. of Works *District Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies *District Grand Almoner *District Grand Charity Steward *District Grand Mentor District Senior Grand Deacon District Junior Grand Deacon District Assistant Grand Secretary *District Grand Organist District Grand Standard Bearer District Grand Standard Bearer District Grand Pursuivant *District Grand Steward District Grand Steward District Grand Tyler * Reappointment
Brian James Westhead Graeme James McKandry Euan Alexander Allan David Dyet Leach William Craig Harris Anthony Stuart Cross Kenneth Raymond Perkinson PDSGW Michael Graham Hunter Steven Elliott Graeme Nelson Martin PAGDC Ronald Pemberton Timothy Richard Stansfield PDGReg Kenneth John Robinson Stephen Douglas Glew Owen Douglas Jarrett Roger H Johnstone PDGTreas Barry John Holland PDGSwdB William Terence Andrew PJGD Douglas Sinclair Ironside Christopher Charles French Peter Maxwell Phelan Andrew Gordon Cochrane Roderick Anthony Gittus Peter James Russell Christopher Thomas Butterworth Garry Keyworth Chalk Mark David Russell Raymond Thomas Vincent
First Appointment to District Rank: Past District Grand Director of Ceremonies
Ronald Lambert Penhale
Promotions: Past District Senior Grand Warden Past District Senior Grand Warden Past District Senior Grand Warden
Jeffrey Brian Vanstone Graham Roger Scott Wilson Anthony Bruce Mansfield
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Harmony 2180 United Manawatu1721 Prince of Wales 1338 Duke of Albany 2073 Harmony 2180 Wellington 1521 Rodney 1711 Saint George 1801 Aorangi 2300 Prince of Wales 1338 Prince of Wales 1338 Remuera 1710 Harmony 2180 Prince of Wales 1338 United Manawatu 1721 Alexandra 1188 Saint George 1801 Remuera 1710 Saint George 1801 Wellington 1521 Duke of Albany 2073 Saint George 1801 Aorangi 2300 Remuera 1710 Prince of Wales 1338 Prince of Wales 1338 United Manawatu 1721 Te Awamutu 2221
Te Awamutu 2221 Opotiki 1930 Te Awamutu 2221 Prince of Wales 1338
Newsletter of the District Grand Lodge of North Island New Zealand
Tessellated Tales
Royal Arch Officers for 2020 Rank
Ex. Comp.
Chapter
No.
ME Grand Superintendent
B J Westhead
Harmony
2180
Second District Grand Principal Third District Grand Principal Deputy Grand Superintendent President District Comm of GP *District Grand Scribe E *District Grand Scribe N
M I Crawford S R Hammerton J A Hume M A Chopping R Pemberton G N Martin
Duke of Albany Zealandia Aorangi Auckland Chapter Auckland Duke of Albany
2073 2072 2300 1338 1338 2073
*District Grand Treasurer District Grand Registrar District Grand Dir of Ceremonies *District Grand Sword Bearer *District Deputy Grand D C District Grand Principal Sojourner District 1st Asst. Grand Sojourner District Asst Grand Scribe E District Grand Standard Bearer District Grand Janitor *Re-appointment
G R S Wilson T J Warren G Forber B J Holland S Chandra G N Paver R N Gifford R R Wilson Z Horvat O D Jarrett
Te Awamutu Te Awamutu Te Awamutu Te Awamutu Aorangi Aorangi Zealandia Opotiki Auckland United Manawatu
2221 2221 2221 2221 2300 2300 2072 1930 1338 1721
First appointment to Past Rank: Past District Grand D C Past District Grand Sword Bearer
A A C Fair-Weather R D Ellis
Alexandra Duke of Albany
1188 2073
Promotions: Past District Grand Principle Soj Past District Grand Scribe N
W R Lowe G S Halewood
Aorangi Alexandra
2300 1188
Auckland Eden Alexandra Aorangi Opotiki
1338 1530 1188 2300 1930
District Committee of general Purposes Excellent Companions M A Chopping (Chairman) G W Abbott R H Johnstone D J M Miller J B Walworth
Newsletter of the District Grand Lodge of North Island New Zealand
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Tessellated Tales
District Board of General Purposes for 2020 President: W Bro G N Martin
PAGDC, President District Board of General Purposes
1338
Elected and appointed members: W Bro K J Armstrong Past District Grand Chaplain W Bro M A Chopping Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies W Bro A S Cross District Grand Sword Bearer W Bro S N G Douglas Past District Junior Grand Deacon W Bro S R Hammerton District Grand Superintendent of Works W Bro R W Hetherington Past District Grand Standard Bearer W Bro Z Horvat Past Assistant District Grand Secretary W Bro D A James Worshipful Master W Bro R H Johnstone District Grand Almoner W Bro A B Mansfield Past District Senior Grand Warden VW Bro B McMurtrie Past Grand Sword Bearer W Bro D W Ritchie Past District Grand Tyler W Bro K J Robinson District Grand Sword Bearer W Bro D M Turner Past District Grand Registrar W Bro J B Walworth Past District Grand Chaplain W Bro T J Warren Past District Grand Standard Bearer W Bro G R S Wilson Past District Senior Grand Warden
670 1338 1521 689 2072 2300 1338 1801 1188 1338 1530 1655 2180 1647 1930 1710 2221
Ex officio members: RW Bro B J Westhead W Bro G J McKandry W Bro E A Allan W Bro D D Leach W Bro A J M Macdonald W Bro M G Hunter W Bro R Pemberton
2180 1721 1338 2073 1710 1801 1338
District Grand Master Deputy District Grand Master Assistant District Grand Master Assistant District Grand Master PAGDC, Chairman of Trustees Dist. Charitable Trust District Grand Treasurer District Grand Secretary
Representatives on Masonic Bodies for 2020 North Island English Masonic District Charitable Trust Trustees appointed by the District Grand Master A J M Macdonald PAGDC (Chairman) W T Andrew PAGDC B A Coyte PDJGW A S Cross DJGW R M McKillop PAGDC, PADGM Northern Masonic Association Trust Board Trustee B M R Smith PAGDC, PADGM Nominee C N Hardy PAGDC
Remuera 1710 Remuera 1710 Waitemata 689 Wellington 1521 Wellington 1521 Tongariro 705 Waitemata 689
Ruapehu Masonic Association Trust Nominee N Kirk PDJGW
Tongariro 705
Wellington Masonic Villages Trust Nominee B M R Smith PAGDC, ADGM
Tongariro 705
Ellerslie Masonic Centre Limited Director & Chairman W E Weir PAGDC, PADGM Alternate Director M A Chopping PAGDC, ADGM Kirkpatrick Masonic Institute for Girls, Nelson Joint Nominee with South A J Hunter PDJGW Island District Page 7
Eden 1530 Prince of Wales 1338 Southern Star 735
Newsletter of the District Grand Lodge of North Island New Zealand