PROVINCIAL GRAND ROYAL ARCH CHAPTER OF FIFE & KINROSS

LEST WE FORGET

This week commemorated the Eightieth Anniversary of the signing of the Armistice to end the Great War of 1914 -18, when the guns fell silent at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month, which had cost the lives of 3O,OOO,OOO men. Over the last few weeks, we have been reminded of those three words "Lest We Forget". Little did the young men of that generation, who in their thousands rushed to volunteer, to fight for King and Country and to defend their freedom, against the ambitions of the Prussian Emperor. Kaiser William also known as Kaiser Bill.

They were told that the war would be over by Christmas but little did they know they faced four years of shock and horror of rat infested and water logged trenches, with little or no protection from the carnage which was going on around them. Nothing bonded men together more quickly than the comradeship and companionship of groups of men who depended on each other, in friendship and loyalty. Thousands died together: brothers, friends, neighbours, and workmates with whole units mown down as they went over the top to fight the enemy and those who did survive were left wondering "Why"? The memories of their lost comrades stayed with them forever . "Lest We Forget" - eighty years on. Those words remain just as true today as every November 11th on Armistice Day we gather at our War Memorials all over the Country and the World to lay our wreaths and floral tributes of poppies and remember again the loved ones. For those who paid the ultimate sacrifice, we wear our poppies with pride, and when buglers sound the "Last Post" and the lone piper plays that haunting lament a lump comes into our throats and a tear into our eyes. It is appropriate that the poppy is the symbol we wear, for it was on Flanders Field, where the poppies grew in profusion that thousands lost their lives and "Lest We Forget" is foremost in our minds. Recently we have read in our newspapers and seen on television, some of the archived films of the Great War. Soldiers were used as cannon fodder at the whims of Generals living in luxury billets well behind the front line, giving orders which were costing the lives of hundreds and thousands of men. Again this week we hear of the 306 brave men who were executed for their alleged cowardice and desertion, who were suffering from shell shock after being under constant bombardment from heavy guns, mortars, gas and phosphorous shells, a medical condition which was not recognised in those days. Some were found wandering about in dazed and confused condition and were deemed by their officers to be deserters, others who were in the same condition and finally got back to their own lines and trenches found themselves charged with cowardice and were court-martialled and sentenced to death. No medical support for their condition was given on their behalf and the court-martial records shows that the death sentences were confirmed by the commander in chief as an example to others. No wonder the relatives of these soldiers, whose families have lived with the shame and stigma of these events, through the decades, are still fighting to get these men a pardon. The words "Lest We Forget" is foremost in their hearts.

Those of us who have served in the armed forces, especially in the 2nd World War, Korea, Falklands, Northern Ireland or the other various conflicts which have taken place over the last eighty years will know first hand what comradeship and companionship is all about. Just as it is in our Royal Arch fraternity .

We only have to look at the walls of our Lodges, where you will find Memorial Plaques to our Brothers who went off to fight and did not return here again. The words "Lest We Forget" are inscribed thereon. Simple words but with a dramatic sense of feeling. To sum up those three words there is a War Memorial at Kohima on the border of India and Burma, where the Battle for Imphal took place which cost the lives of 17,500 British and Indian Troops and on that Memorial are inscribed these words.

It says it all!

MEC Alexander Goddard Past Depute Grand Superintenden