‘How the dead were honoured in the Great War and beyond’
Thursday 5th June 2025 at 3:00pm. Freemason’s Hall, London WC2.
Presented by W.Bro Nick Yellop, WM St Luke’s Lodge 144
This lecture is ideal for anyone with relatives who were involved in the Great War. W.Bro Yellop provides engaging information with illustrative slides and is available for questions and further references. The lecture lasts about 30 minutes.
Backround
During World War I, soldiers were often buried near where they fell due to the challenges of identification and proper burial. Makeshift graves were common during intense fighting as transporting bodies was difficult. The high number of casualties in No Man’s Land meant that many bodies remained unburied for long periods. After the war, organized efforts established large cemeteries and war graves registration services recorded burial locations.
See below for more information and how to book.
Content
You don’t need in-depth knowledge of The Great War of 1914-18 to enjoy this lecture. W.Bro Nick Yellop will provide background on how British conflict casualties were historically treated, how The Great War started, progressed, and dealt with the dead, highlighting differences from previous conflicts. He will explain the work of The Graves Registration Commission, which became the Imperial War Graves Commission, and introduce key contributors like Fabian Ware, Lutyens, Kipling, Baker, and others. The lecture will cover cemetery and memorial design, along with some interesting and ironic stories.
About W.Bro Nick Yellop
Nick developed an interest in The Great War through his family. He first visited the battlefields 23 years ago, which deepened his interest in the subject. Professionally, he served as a Metropolitan Policeman for 31 years before working with another police force and then joining the UK Border Force from 2018 until 2024.
Nick organised speakers for the Metropolitan Police Military History Society and arranged day trips and tours to France and Belgium for both World War I and World War II site visits.
He is a member of the Western Front Association and organizes speakers for the Surrey Branch of the organisation. He has coordinated trips to The WW1 Remembrance Centre in Portsmouth and the D-Day Map Room at Southwick House.
Annually, Nick travels to Gallipoli to observe the landscape, including well-preserved trenches and tunnels.
Nick’s Masonic career began when he was initiated into St Leonard’s Streatham Lodge 3809 in 1999 in Croydon. He became a joining member of St Luke’s Lodge 144 in 2018 and of St Luke’s Chapter in 2021. He is currently serving as Worshipful Master of St Luke’s Lodge.
About St Luke’s Lodge 144
St Lukes was formed in 1765 in Chelsea and is the mother lodge to Zetland 511. We are very proud to be part of the St Luke’s group – the largest Masonic family tree comprising over 300 lodges around the world.
About Zetland Lodge 511
Founded in 1845 in Kensington, our lodge meets four times a year at Freemasons Hall, London. Our members are a mix of working and retired professionals. from London. We look forward to celebrating our 200th anniversary in 2045.
We honour W.Bro Barry Mitchell, a member from 1991 until his passing in 2021, with an annual memorial lecture. He served as WM in 2009 and was a prolific author and Masonic lecturer.
Our June Meeting
The lecture is part of our regular June meeting. The proceedings will commence by opening in the first degree, followed by lodge business. After closing in the first degree, we will conclude with the lecture. We extend a warm welcome to members, their visitors, and guests from other lodges affiliated with the UGLE constitution.
The meeting will begin promptly at 3:00 pm at Freemason’s Hall, Great Queen Street, London WC2. Following the meeting, we will dine at 5:00 pm, with an anticipated conclusion by 7:00 pm. The dining venue is located a short distance from Freemason’s Hall. Dining is subsidised by a bequest from a former member and the cost is £30, which includes drinks.
How to Book
Please contact the lodge Secretary, Bob Mitchell. Email: zetland511@talktalk.net or secretary511@freemasons.london. Mobile: 07922 135252. If you are a visitor, please provide Bob with your Masonic rank, lodge name and number, Grand Lodge Registration number (if known) and any dietary requirements. Bring your Grand Lodge Certificate to the meeting and be prepared for testing in the first degree by our JW.