Lodge St. Andrew Military No. 668.

Lodge items returned.

The possessions of a 19th. century soldier have been to Hamilton 120 years after they were used in battle. Sergeant Major Patrick William Carrol, born in Ireland in 1860 was a protector of the British Empire in places like India, Egypt and South Africa .

A member of the Cameronian Scottish Rifle Regiment 3rd. Battalion, Bro. Carrol spent many years at their base in Bothwell Road, Hamilton.

Now more than a century of history has found its way back to Hamilton`s Lodge St. Andrew Military No. 668, where he was Right Worshipful Master in 1889.

Among his possessions are a Glengarry cap, which was worn in India in 1890, a silver engraved matchbox, and a paybook holder in which Bro. Carrol would have kept all his personal documents. But the most precious item is undoubtedly, his Past Masters Jewel, presented to him by the Lodge in 1889. The solid gold jewel is in pristine condition and will now be worn by future Right Worshipful Masters of the Lodge.

Lodge Secretary Bro. Peter Ball said,

"These artefacts are priceless. This takes us back to the origins because the Lodge was established in 1881 and Bro. Carroll affiliated to the Lodge five years later. In that since, he`s almost a Founder Member". Right Worshipful Master, David Kemp said, "This was totally out of the blue and we are still in a state of shock. To us, this is like receiving the Crown Jewels, and we are greatly honoured to accept these items".

The possessions were handed over to the Lodge by the Provincial Grand Lodge of Lanarkshire Upper Ward, Bro. Ian Lindsay after had passed on by Bro. Carroll`s

nephew, A.J. Maloney, who died in December 2002. It is unsure when Bro. Carroll died although record books indicate he was still alive in the mid - 1920`s. He was stationed at the Hamilton barracks from 1887 (following his service in Raniket Almora, India) where he started his Masonic career.

On his return to Hamilton, he affiliated to Lodge St. Andrew Military No. 668, but within months, was posted to various parts of the world for regimental service.

Bro. Carroll then returned to Hamilton with his wife, whose name is unknown, and gave distinguished service to his Lodge until his retirement from the Army in 1907. It is believed that he returned to Wimbledon in London to spend the latter years of his life. His precious effects will now be treasured and displayed by the Lodge in due course