Major Derrick Adolphus Sington was born in 1908. He was the Great Grandson of Adolphus Sington (1810-1887) who emigrated from Breslau and became a Cotton Merchant in Manchester and an early member of the Manchester Hebrew Congregation.

He was in the Wellesley from 1921, becoming a College Prefect and a member of the Upper Ten. He was a good athlete and the Master of the Hunt. He went up to Trinity Oxford after Wellington.

He was initiated initiated into the Lodge in 1932 at the age of 24.

He joined the Intelligence Corps, initially as an enlisted man, rising to the rank of Sergeant, before being commissioned in 1943, ultimately becoming a Major. He served throughout the Second World War.

As a Captain in the Intelligence Corps he commanded 14 Amplifier Unit, part of the Psychological Warfare Section of the British Army. It was with unit and the accompanying American forces that he was among the first to arrive at and enter Belson on 15 April1 1945.

Sington and the Unit remained in the camp for the next two weeks acting as interpreters, using their loudspeaker to restore order in the camp, organising the distribution of food and arresting collaborators hiding amongst the inmates of camp.    He would later marry one of the Belsen survivors he had assisted in liberating. He gave evidence at the Nuremberg trials, where his uncle Edward was serving on the British legal team. 

The main photograph in the image above shows Sington arranging a broadcast to German troops on the opposite bank of the River Maas, in February 1945. He also acted as interpreter for Lt Colonel Taylor RA Officer Commanding 63rd Anti-Tank Regiment, R.A., who (with one of his Batteries) was to undertake the administration of Belsen.

After the war he became a journalist, spneindg time as the BBC’s Correspondent in the  Far East and contributing to Glasgow Herald, Manchester Guardian and the  New Statesman. His experiences lead his to write the book Belsen Uncovered and the Goebels Experiment.

He was a member of the Oxford and Cambridge.

Sington with an unnamed American Officer at Belsen.

He died in February 1968.

A genuine Argentine-made polo belt in OW Colours.

Made for the Lodge by a family-run business based in Berkshire, with their own leather workshop in Buenos Aires, the OW Polo Belt is made of high quality hide, with waxed stitching in OW colours matched to the OW Tie with solid brass hardware.

Due to the bespoke nature of these belts orders are taken in batches of at least twenty at a time. If you would like to be included in the next order please click here to email the Secretary with your details.

Please note that the delivery time from placement of the order is approximately 8 weeks.

Availability to OW Community

The Lodge is happy to extend the opportunity to order one of these belts to the OW Community as a whole. Please click here to email the Secretary if you would like to be included in the next order.

Sizing

Please measure your preferred belt from the tip of the buckle to the middle hole (or preferred hole), and round to the nearest or preferred 5cm. Sizes available up to 120cm.

The belts are also available in two widths – standard at 32mm or slim at 25mm. 

Price

The current price for belts is £50.00, including shipping and VAT. Prices for each batch will be confirmed upon enquiry with the Secretary.

Please note that c.£5.00 of the cost of each belt is contributed to the Lodge’s charity funds, which are distributed to both Masonic and College charities. The final amount will depend on the size of each order and other small variables. 

Customer Feedback

“[The] OW belts must have been made from a very sturdy Argentine Beast… took the belt to add some extra holes to a local cobbler who managed to break his belt hole maker in the process”

“worn the belt at the surgery. Its been noticed by many and complimented. Mainly by nurses” 

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_{Whilst every effort is made to verify feedback as genuine, potential customers should be aware that all effects including those on nurses and cobbler’s tools are not guaranteed.} 

_{The Lodge accepts no liability for hardware or other breakages.}

_{All belts are worn at the wearer’s risk.}

From time to time the Lodge is able to offer its members and friends limited runs of items it feels may be suitable, fun and relevant. Details of current and past offers are included below:

Old Wellingtonian Polo Belt

Made for us in Argentina to a high standard with brass fittings. For more details and the timing of the next order please click here. 

 

As a Lodge for all Old Wellingtonians we also remember those OW Freemasons who were not members of our Lodge.

Old Wellingtonian Freemasons who gave their lives for King and Country 1914 – 1919
Lt	John Cusack Forsyth	Royal Field Artillery	Sept 1914	Murray
Capt	Lord Arthur John Hamilton	Irish Guards	Nov 1914	Benson
Capt	Charles Carus Maud	Prince Albert’s (Somerset Light Infantry)	Dec 1914	Picton
Capt	John Rowley Lunnell Heyland	9th Gurkha Rifles	Mar 1915	Orange
2nd Lt	Crewe Coles	The East Lancashire Regiment	Jun 1915	Lynedoch
Capt	Richard Henry Hamilton Moore	The Border Regiment	Jun 1915	Orange
Lt	Kenneth Fitzpatrick MacKenzie	The Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders	Sept 1915	Blücher
Lt	Cecil William Charles Shelley	Life Guards	Oct 1915	Beresford
Capt	Edward Lambton	Pembrokeshire Yeomanry	Mar 1916	Orange
2nd Lt	Charles Jefford Fowler	Royal Fusiliers (The City of London Regiment)	Jun 1916	Blücher
Lt Col	Oswald Arthur Gerald Fitz-Gerald	18th King George’s Own Lancers	Jun 1916	Hardinge
Lt	Norman Ian MacWatt	Seaforth Highlanders (Ross-shire Buffs, The Duke of Albany’s)	Jul 1916	Hopetoun
Capt	Harry Frances Freke Marsh	1st/2nd King Edward’s Own Gurkha Rifles (The Sirmoor Rifles)	Feb 1917	Orange
Capt	John Ballard Berkley Ford	The Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment)	Feb 1917	Hill
Maj	Alfred James Usborne	Royal Field Artillery	Apr 1917	Benson
Lt Col	Stafford James Somerville	Princess Victoria’s (Royal Irish Fusiliers)	Aug 1917	Combermere
Surg Capt	Robert Ashton Bostock	Royal Army Medical Corps	Aug 1917	Orange
Lt	Author Amyot Steward	Royal Field Artillery attached  Royal Flying Corps	Oct 1917	Murray
Lt	Arthur Christoper Paul Mackworth	The Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort’s Own)	Nov 1917	Senior Common Room

 

Lieutenant Arthur Christopher Paul Mackworth Rifle Brigade died on active service on 25 November 1917.

Mackworth was the son of Sir Arthur William Mackworth 6th Baronet and Lady Alice Mackworth. His brother Francis Julian Audley Mackworth also fell in the Great War and a third brother was killed serving in the West Surrey Regiment at Ladysmith in January 1900.

Mackworth went to the Cathedral School in Llandaff and Charterhouse, where he was in Gownboys, before going up to Magdalen, Oxford.

On coming down he taught at Wellington College from 1911-1912 before returning to Magdalen as a Fellow in 1913.

He was commissioned into the Rifle Brigade and served with the 13th Battalion on the Western Front, but a heart condition forced his return to England where he was attached to the Intelligence Services at Whitehall (now MI5)

He was suffering from insomnia, a symptom of what would today be recognised as Post Traumatic Stress. Mackworth took his own life at home in Albermarle Street with his service revolver. He left a note, together with a cheque to pay for a silver presentation cup for a friend.

The Coroner entered death being caused by temporary insanity, brought on by the insomnia.

He was initiated into the Apollo in 1910 whilst an undergraduate. Whilst teaching at Wellington joined Wellesley Lodge No 1899, then meeting in Crowthorne. He also joined St Mary Magdalen Lodge No 1523, the London lodge of his Oxford College.

He was a member of the Oxford & Cambridge Club.

 

 

Major Alfred James Usborne RFA was killed in action 29 April 1917 during the Arras Offensive.

He was the sixth son of Thomas and Frances Alice Usborne of Writtle, Chelmsford and later married Nell Gordon Uscombe.

He was in the Benson from 1903, then known as Bevir’s House, after its then housemaster and later brother of the Old Wellingtonian Lodge, Joe Bevir.

He went to Woolwich where he was in the Racket’s Pair and represented ‘the Shop’ in the Sword vs Sword competition at the Military Tournament. Commissioned in 1908 he joined the Gunners and served for five years before in India being stationed at Kirkee and Bangalore.

He resigned his commission and took up the study of medicine at St. Thomas’ Hospital, and had passed the first three examinations when War broke put, when he volunteered and was given back his former rank, and was shortly afterwards promoted to Captain.

He went out to France on 20 May 1915. He received his Majority in January, 1917, was wounded and was three times mentioned in despatches.

He was initiated into the Lodge of Unity No 69 in London in 1913, being passed and raised the following spring, prior to outbreak of war.

Lieutenant Colonel Stafford James Somerville Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers died on 16 August 1917 from wounds received in action on the same day whilst commanding the 9th Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers.

Born on 18 February 1871 he was the son of the Reverend D Somerville, Chaplain to the Forces. He was grandson of Captain John Somerville RN Knight of the Tower and Sword of Portugal.

Sommerville was in the Combermere between 1883 ad 1889, being made a prefect in 1888 before going to Sandhurst. He was commissioned in the Inniskilling Fusiliers in 1890. Promoted Lieutenant in 1892 and Captain in 1898 he saw action on the NW Frontierwith the Peshawar Column and 5^th Brigade in the Tirah Expedition as part of 29 Division from 1897 to 1898. He was promoted Major in 1910 and Lt Colonel in 1916.

Before the Great War Somerville was initiated into Golconda Lodge No 3249, the same lodge as OW Lodge member Reggie Lees. 

Somerville assumed command of the 1st Battalion at Gallipoli on 2 May 1915 until wounded in the shoulder and evacuated to hospital in England on 6 May 1915.

Recovering he deployed to France in December 1916 and was attached to and assumed command of the 9^th Royal Irish Fusiliers on 16 March 1917. He led the Battalion through the attack at Messines in June, when it played a reserve role.

He was killed in action on 16 August 1917 on Hill 35 during the Battle of Langemarck. He was 46.

He is remembered in the Memorial Chapel at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.

The eldest of his two sons, Captain Stafford Dudley Somerville, 5^th (Service) Battalion, King’s Own (Yorkshire Light Infantry), was killed in action at Hamel on 5 July 1916, fighting in the trenches recently vacated by the 9^th Royal Irish Fusiliers. He had been at Lancing.

 

 

Lieutenant Cecil William Charles Shelley 2nd Life Guards was killed in action in France on 17th October 1915 at the Battle of Loos near the Hohenzollern Redoubt during a bomb attack. He was 42.

He was the youngest of three sons of Lt Col Sir Charles Shelley Bt and Lady Mary Shelley. All the brothers were in the Beresford in Cecil’s case between 1885 and 1888. He married Sybil Peel on 1903.

He went to Ceylon as a tea planter in 1892 at East Holyrood, Talakawelle.
He volunteered as a Trooper in the Ceylon Contingent when the Boer War broke out.

Commissioned into 7th Bttn KRRC he transferred to the Life Guards in 1914 and was attached as a newly promoted Lieutenant to 2nd Bttn Scots Guards, his father’s and elder brother’s regiment, with which regiment he was serving at the time of his death.

The Unit War diary reads:

“17.10.15/4am The Bn stood to arms and moved into position ready for the attack. G Coy moved up the communication trench ready to move into the front line as the attack progressed. The 4th Bn Grenadier Guards also formed a chain down the communication trench to pass up supplies of bombs and sandbags.

5am The attack commenced. F Coy attacked down BIG WILLIE; LF Coy attacked from BIG WILLIE down towards point 42. RF Coy attacked from just SOUTH of point 60 EAST towards point 42 to meet LF Coy. From the time the attack commenced there was a steady stream of bombs and stores of all kings being passed down the communication trench. Lieut WARDE was wounded in the leg early in the attack but got his wound dressed and returned and continued directing the attack of the bombers.

8am Orders were received from the Division to consolidate the ground gained. There was a noticeable lack of artillery fire on the part of the enemy throughout the operation. F Coy had gained about 150 yards of BIG WILLIE; LF gained about 100 yards; RF gained about 50 yards but were forced to fall back again on the original position. By 10am we had consolidated the ground gained. During the afternoon we improved the gained portions of trench and prepared for a counter attack that evening but it did not come off.

Our casualties were: 3 officers killed: Captain A ORR, Lieut N LECHMERE and Lieut SHELLEY; 2 wounded: Lieut WARDE and Lieut E CLARKE. Other ranks 20 killed, 66 wounded and 16 missing.”

He was initiated into Nuwara Eliya Lodge No 2991 in Ceylon, now Sri Lanka. In the upland hill country is is the same lodge as fellow planter and OW Lodge member Richard Frederick Ince Currie, who would be killed less than 9 months later.  Shelley was also a relative of another Old Wellingtonian Lodge member and war casualty Lord Abinger.

Captain Reginald Henry Hamilton Moore Royal Border Regiment was killed in action at Gallipoli on 11 June 1915.

 Moore was the son of Colonel J H Moore RAMC and Mrs J E Moore of 3 Whitehall Place, London and Easterlands, Wellington, Somerset. He was born at Bareilly in India in December 1884.

He was in the Orange between 1898 and 1902 before going to Sandhurst.

He was initiated into Connaught Lodge No 2915.

Commissioned into the Border Regiment in 1903 he was promoted Lieutenant in 1905 and Captain in 1914.

The Battalion departed for the Dardanelles on 16 March 1915 with the 29th Division and Moore was the Adjutant at the time of his death:

“On June 10th we captured a trench. Early the following morning the Turks counter attacked, and in the confusion it seemed as if they would probably drive our men back. Capt. Moore who was at the time acting as adjutant, volunteered to lead an assaulting party back. Those with him say how magnificently he behaved, and at the head of his men he retook the lost position of the trench in a very few minutes.”

Accounts at the time report:

“The Turkish sap had approached to within 30 yards of ‘C’ Company’s trenches and the enemy had sandbagged a small redoubt from which to throw bombs into our trenches. A line of old trench ran from this point right into C Comany’s parapet, very similar to the situation at H11. The plan was for a storming party of thirty men (twenty-five from ‘C’ Company plus five from ‘A’ Company) under Lieutenant Wallace to crawl out of the saps already made by ‘C’ Company preceded by bomb throwers and dash the Turkish sap ahead. And then to move on down the Turkish trench towards the gully. 

As soon as the storming party had successfully stormed the sap head ‘D’ Company under Captain Le Mesurier was to move on in support and reoccupy the trench. This company was to debouch through cutting made in the parapet. The attack was timed to commence at 10pm. The SWB were to cooperate by rushing a small Turkish redoubt in their front. At 10pm precisely the storming party under Lieutenant Wallace crawled under the parapet and made for the Turkish sap & a hand to hand fight with bayonets and bombs proceeded but the Turks gave way and retreated down the trench to lines by the storming party, the opposition being slight. ‘D’ Coy now pushed on behind the storming party and the whole moved down the trench together. The men carrying sandbags and fork for improving the trench. Le Mesurier pushed on ahead and [illegible] with Wallace and together with the bomb throwers gradually pushed the Turks back. 

Captain Ward of ‘C’ Coy was killed by a bomb about 12 midnight but the attack was proceeding satisfactorily. Capt. Harrison was slightly wounded about 12 midnight. The following message was received from G.O.C.: “G.O.C. Division congratulates all ranks in the excellent work performed by them last night and feels confident that they will hold the ground gained at all costs” At 1am and again at 3.30am the enemy bombed the end of the communication trench. At 4.15am they retired. Our casualties were slight. About 4.30am the Turks made a counter-attack on the communication trench and Captain Le Mesurier was hit by a bomb. The men became a trifle demoralized & retreated about half way down the trench, the Turks occupying the portion vacated. 

Captain R H H Moore happened to be in the trench at the time & rushing forward called on the men and successfully recaptured the lost part of the trench. He was killed by a shot in the head in doing so. His immediate and gallant action undoubtedly saved an awkward situation. Lieutenant Bradshaw was wounded in the counter-attack and died later. Lieutenant de Soissons was also wounded. Total casualties: 2 officers killed and 3 wounded, 12 other ranks killed and 33 wounded. The enemy fired about twelve heavy shells at the trenches during the day. ‘A’ Coy under Captain Mostyn relieved ‘D’ Coy in the captured trench and the barricade at the end was strengthened. Snipers successfully drove back bomb throwers who tried to come up and bomb the end of the trench.”

Bartle Bradshaw and Reginald Moore are buried in Twelve Tree Copse Cemetery.

His commanding officer wrote: 

“On 10 June we captured a trench ; early the following morning the Turks counter-attacked and in the confusion it seemed as if they would probably drive our men back. Your son, who was at the time acting as Adjutant, volunterred to lead an assaulting party back. 

Those with him say how magnificently he behaved, and at the head of his men he retook the lost portion of the trench in a few minutes. He was the best type of officer and had proved himself several times in action.”

A brother officer wrote:

“For a short, but critical, period in the Gallipoli operations he commanded the Battalion and his quiet and firm command earned the respect and confidence of all ranks” 

Another wrote:

“On this occasion he again displayed that personal courage and coolness in danger which had been an example to his men from the commencement of the campaign”.