We quickly decided the scope of the data we would research.
Starting with name, rank and lodge we needed to find out when they died, where they were commemorated and which unit they served with. That would then give us a research thread into War Diaries, Official and Regimental Histories and other sources that could tell us more about the men and what was happening when they died. From this we could position them within the battle context and link them with each other. Also we explored their Masonic careers, their awards and decorations, promotions and obituaries. Who they were, their jobs, their families, and the social context of Edwardian life within which they lived.
What to do with the research? We all agreed that our core objective was to place our results in the public domain as a resource for family history and other researchers. We were also keen to get feedback, contributions and corrections from people who could add insight and depth.
Our data will soon be available at The Masonic Great War Project. Please bear in mind that this is, and will remain, work in progress; there will always be something to add. So we ask anybody who can offer information, especially lodge historians, to get in touch no matter how obscure or irrelevant you might think your information to be. If it relates to Freemasonry during The Great War, including information or history on Brethren who served and survived, we would value it as it is all part of the history of the fraternity.
The stories of these men that emerged from the research were heartwarming and heartbreaking and it is my intention to write a narrative history of the Great War through the experiences of the brethren who gave everything. The proceeds will go to charity.
Contact me at