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Fraternal Organizations
Fraternal groups, such as the Loyal Orange Association, the Knights of Columbus, the
Society of United Fishermen, the Freemasons and the Sons of England, played an important role in
the colony’s war effort. For the most part, fraternal organizations and their women’s auxiliaries
helped supplement the recruiting and fund-raising activities of the Newfoundland Patriotic
Association and the Women’s Patriotic Association. Fraternal groups kept in
contact with their members in the services. In addition, many local lodges continued to keep
volunteers on their active rolls throughout the war despite their absence overseas.
Orange Society members, St. John’s, ca. 1913.
Courtesy of the Provincial Archives of Newfoundland and Labrador (PANL A-36-152), St. John’s,
Newfoundland.
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Orange Society parade in St. John’s, ca. 1913.
Courtesy of the Provincial Archives of Newfoundland and Labrador (PANL A-36-155), St. John’s,
Newfoundland.
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The following letter, written by the Society of United Fishermen to Naval Reservist
Ruben Laite, was a typical example of the letters sent to members
overseas.
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Letter from the Society of United Fishermen, ca. 1916.
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The associations also played an active role in caring for returning veterans and
bereaved families. These three condolence letters sent by the Loyal Orange Association
in Brigus to the bereaved family of Captain Rupert Bartlett offer examples of the care
and concerns of these organizations for their members.
Courtesy of the Bartlett Family.
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Courtesy of the Bartlett Family.
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Courtesy of the Bartlett Family.
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Finally, fraternal organizations were active in raising memorials to preserve the memory
of their fallen members. The following images of the
memorials erected by the Knights of Columbus in St. John’s and the Orangemen in Trinity are
examples of fraternal commitment to remembrance.
The Loyal Orangemen’s Memorial, Trinity, Trinity Bay, 1998.
Enlarge to read inscription.
Photo by Jason Churchill.
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Knights of Columbus Memorial School, St. John’s, 1998.
Photo by Lisa Dwyer.
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