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Archiver > INDIA > 1999-03 > 0922359440


From: William Thorne <>
Subject: RE: Masonic emblems?
Date: Thu, 25 Mar 1999 21:57:20 +1100


Jill and John

I don't think i saw a reply to this query. my answer is taken from R.L.V.
ffrench Blake's 'the 17/21st Lancers"

On the day of the commissioning, the Board of General Officers met to
decide the uniform for the new regiment.....Colonel Hale chose for a badge
the Death's Head with the motto 'Or Glory', which has remained unchanged
for over two hundred years except Hale's badge had the bones above the
skull".

Hale may have been feeling gloomy - a close friend was General Wolfe who
died at Quebec, he had been chosen to bring that news, ie the death and the
victory, back to London. His reward ? A gratuity of 500 pounds, 10,000
acres of land in Canada and a commission to raise one of the five new regts
of Light Dragoons.

So that is how it came to be chosen.

Regards

William

On Friday, 12 March, 1999 10:15, JillGrey [SMTP:]
wrote:
> John,
>
> Your gg grandfather was probably in the 17th Lancers.
>
> I happened on this rather gruesome badge when hunting for
> another recently.
> Why it was adopted by the 17th Lancers I can't imagine ....
> it's most unfriendly!
>
> Jill
>
> >I have a photograph of a crucifix which has towards the
> bottom a skull
> >and crossbones, it was reputedly owned by my
> g.g.grandfather.
> >"Family legend" ( as unreliable as it has it been ) is
> that it was
> >connected with some Masonic lodge although it has also been
> suggested
> >that the skull and crossbones was indeed the insignia of a
> British
> >Regiment.
> >Well listers, I await ( with anticipation) your views.
> >John Chilstone.
>
>
>
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