Lodge St. Bryde No. 579 was Chartered by The Grand Lodge of Scotland on 7th. February 1876.
We have continually met in Uddingston since that date and our Lodge has in its possession a complete minute which traces not only the history of the Lodge but importantly the history of our village and the surrounding area.
Our present Masonic Hall was built in 1924 and is one of the finest examples of a building of its type in Scotland.
Member 662. Initiated 10th January 1912 at the age of 22
Residing at Mayfield, Bellshill Road, Uddingston he worked as a Bank Clerk.
EA Degree- 10th January 1912
FC Degree- 24th January 1912 PGL Visit
MM Degree- 14th February 1912
Mark Degree- Strangely no minute of a special meeting that was called for an MMM Degree on Thursday 25th of April 1912
Thomas Robertson was proposed into the lodge in December 1911 by the then Junior Deacon Angus Cochrane and seconded by a Brother Robert Prasher.
His father John Robertson who was also a member of the Lodge and was initated on 25th September 1901.
From the Uddingston Standard newspaper and by his employer in Canada both reporting his death, through these valuable sources we have learned a lot of the life of Thomas Robertson who is described as `an Uddingston boy out and out` despite being born in Dunfermline in September 1889.
After leaving Uddingston Grammar School, Thomas received an apprenticeship with the Bank of Scotland firstly working in Hamilton then later in the Glasgow branch where he passed his examinations. In late 1912/early 1913 Thomas emigrated like many Scots had done before him to Canada, where he worked with the Bank of British North America at Brandon, Manitoba. During his time in Canada Thomas was a member of the Victoria Presbyterian Church however after contact with local lodges in Canada there is no evidence of Thomas affiliating to a Lodge in Canada.
In 1914 after the outbreak of World War 1, Thomas enlisted as a Private with the 15th Battalion, 48th Highlanders of Canada in Toronto signing his Attestation papers on the 20th of September 1914 (27155).
Shortly after doing so his regiment was sent to France as one of the first under the Canadian over-seas expeditionary force arriving in France in February 1915.
On the morning of 25th of April 1915, two months after he had reached the front, he was severely wounded by enemy shell fire while in action during intense fighting at Langemarke, near to Ypres.
Reported back home in the Uddingston standard as a poisonous gas attack. After being checked through a clearance post he was transported to the military field hospital at Hazebrouck where shortly after arriving Thomas died at the age of 25.
He is buried in the cemetery at Hazebrouck and in May 2016 a deputation from the lodge travelled to France and Belgium where a short service was conducted in remembrance of Thomas and the fallen brethren of Lodge St. Bryde 579.
At the time of his death in 1915 his father James reported in the lodge of the loss of his son.
The story of this young Uddingston man is made even more tragic by the fact that Thomas was one of three brothers who were also killed whilst serving in World War 1.
25th April 1915 Thomas aged 25
15th September 1916 George aged 21
28th March 1918 James aged unknown
All three Robertson brothers are named together on the communion table which sits in Uddingston Old Parish Church.
Listen to the Thomas Robertson Service
Their house, Mayfield on the Bellshill Road.
Where they all lived also still survives to this day.
And is situated across from the community centre.
Important Video footage of the 48th. Highlanders , Canadian Expeditionary Force making their way to a train prior to sailing to France.
Astonishingly, our Bro. Thomas Robertson who was killed in action is in the video.
This is almost certainly the last photo of him prior to being killed in action in France.
The Regimental museum and archive in Toronto sent a copy of a letter which was sent by Bro. Thomas only day before his death to a friend who worked in his branch of the Bank.
It details being detached from his Regiment and was now in "the bomb throwing Brigade" only 30 yards from the German lines.
Important Video footage of the 48th. Highlanders , Canadian Expeditionary Force making their way to a train prior to sailing to France.
