Lodge of Seven Sea’s No. 8603. Celebrated their 50th Anniversary at Barry Masonic Hall, marking a significant milestone in the Lodges history. AProvGM, W.Bro. Dr. Akram Baig, accompanied by his Provincial team were delighted & honoured to be in attendance to represent the R.W. Provincial Grand Master on such an important and historic occasion.
The first meeting took place on 21st December 1973 in order to prepare the foundations of the Lodge. W.Bro. Alex R Duff was Elected Chairman and W.Bro. Careful F L Downs was Elected Secretary of this initial Committee. The object of this ‘specialised Lodge’ was to give Mariners the opportunity of occupying the Chair of King Solomon.
The original idea was that the Lodge was to be called “The Seafarer’s Lodge” or “The Mariners’ Lodge”. The oldest Lodge in Barry is Barry Lodge No.2357, which is quite rightly proud of its connection with the Sea, Shipping and Seafarers, and so objected to these proposed two names. Therefore, it is believed that Alex Duff came up with the perfect solution; the Lodge should be called ‘Lodge of the Seven Seas’. Approval was granted by both United Grand Lodge and Provincial Grand Lodge, and there being no objections from other Lodges.
The Sponsoring Lodge was Breaksea Lodge No.8358. It was agreed that the Lodge Logo should consist of an Anchor over which is inlaid a Map of the World. The work of designing the Logo was left in the skilful hands of WBro Alvern M M Hart, PM Porthkerry Lodge No.6299.
On the 14th of October 1974, prior to the consecration Ceremony, a luncheon was held at the Mount Sorrel Hotel, which was attended by sixteen Founder Members. The Lodge was delighted to have the presence of R.W.Bro. the Rt Hon Lord Swansea, ProvGM, accompanied by his Consecrating Officers.
The Lodge Moto is “Mare Liberum’, which refers to The Free Sea’ or “The Freedom of the Sea’. This Motto is taken from Hugo Grouis, In ‘Mare Liberum’ (The Free Seas’, published in 1609), Grotuis formulated the new principle that the Sea was ‘International Territory’ and All nations were free to use it for Seafaring Trade.
In the history of the Lodge, there is one name that will forever stand out as a leading light, namely WBro Alexander Graham Duff, known to everyone as ‘Alex’. On 25 February 1944, the destroyer HMS Mahratta, 1,920 tons, was torpedoed and sunk by the German U Boat – U.990. On board was Engine Room Artificer, Alex; he was then a young sailor of 24 years of age.
HMS Mahratta was one of the ships escorting a Russian Convoy of merchant ships in the Barents Sea, when at 9.15 pm the Mahratta was struck by an acoustic homing torpedo, killing many of the ship’s Officers. The crew immediately went to action stations, but at 9.30pm a second torpedo struck the destroyer’s bulkhead. Some of the crew had been preparing a motor and a rowing boat when this second torpedo struck, killing all those working on the boats and both boats themselves were destroyed. At 9.45 pm all members of the crew were ordered to ‘Abandon Ship Stations’ and it was another 30 minutes, at 10.15pm that the order to ‘Abandon Ship’ was actually given. The sea temperature was -14°F and WBro Alex recalled the shock of jumping into the freezing water. When he surfaced, the ship’s bows were in the air and the destroyer went down very quickly. Whilst in the water, his trousers became so heavy that he had to remove them. The immediate problem facing him was not the loss of his waterlogged trousers but rather in which direction he should start to swim! He could see nothing, as it was snowing heavily and pitch black, but by good fortune he set out in the right direction, and after a while he saw a small red light on a rowing boat from another accompanying destroyer. This small rowing boat picked up the Engine Room Artificer, and another sailor, who sadly died soon after being rescued. Alex was in hospital at Scapa Flow for many months, but returned to action shortly before D-Day. This story is truly remarkable. Out of a crew of 237 only 16 survived to record this tragic wartime incident. From such an incident was built the character of a Brother, whose foresight and determined leadership led to the formation of Lodge of the Seven Seas.