R.W.Bro. General Sir James Charles Chatterton, 33°
Provincial Grand Master of Munster.

Lt.-Gen. Sir James Charles Chatterton, Bart., K.H., K.S.F., LL.D., of Castle Mahon, Cork was born in 1794.

James Chatterton commanded the 4th (Royal Irish) Dragoon Guards from 1831 to 1848. He achieved the rank of full General on the 31st march, 1866. He was appointed was Colonel of the 4th (Royal Irish) Dragoon Guards from 22nd November, 1868 a position he held until his death in January 1874.

The Ballina Chronicle of Mayo, on Wednesday, 4th July, 1849 reported "On Tuesday, Colonel Chatterton was installed Provincial Grand Master of South Munster, by the Grand Masonic Lodge of Tuckey-street, Cork."

Sir James was present at the re-dedication of the Maylor Street premises of  Lodge No. 8 on 18th  December, 1866. The following report was carried in the local press:

R.W.Bro.  General Sir James Charles Chatterton
(1794 - 5th January, 1874)
(When Colonel of the 5th Lancers, 1858 - 1868.)

"The new Masonic Hall in Maylor Street in this City was solemnly dedicated yesterday according to ancient usage. The Hall, which is a noble room, 55 feet long, 25 feet wide and 20 feet high, is built upon the former Lodge Room of No. 8. The present structure has been designed and superintended by Brother Robert Walker, Jnr .."

The Brethren of the province commenced assembly in large numbers from half-past eleven and, at noon precisely, the procession formed in the ante-room before proceeding slowly into the lodge room where the R.W. Provincial Grand Master then took the chair and was then duly proclaimed by the Provincial Grand Pursuivant by the following styles and titles:- 'The Most Excellent, Most Illustrious and Right Worshipful Brother, General Sir James C. Chatterton, Baronet, Knight Commander of the Bath, Knight of Hanover, Sovereign Prince, Grand Inspector-General, 33rd or dernier degree, Provincial Grand Master of Munster', after which the proceedings opened to solemn music on the harmonium, at the conclusion of which the Deputy Provincial Grand Master, George Chatterton Esq., J.P. took the chair and proceeded to open The Right Worshipful, The Provincial Grand Lodge of Munster in due and ancient form. The Worshipful Master of No. 8, Brother Francis Guy, then informed the R.W. Deputy Provincial Grand Master of the wish of the brethren of the Lodge that their Hall be dedicated according to ancient custom.

James Chatterton is identified in this painting by John Fernley Jr. from the medals. The right hand medal is the Military General Service Medal awarded in 1847 to officers who had served in the Peninsular War approximately 35 years earlier. At that time he was in the 12th Light Dragoons. He has four clasps on the ribbon for SALAMANCA, VITTORIA, NIVELLE and NIVE. The next medal is the Waterloo Medal issued in 1816, and the left-hand medal is the Cross of a Knight of the Royal Hanoverian Guelphic Order, granted in 1832. The painting depicts him in full dress as it was before the Crimean War. His coatee is waist-length at the front with tails behind. The collar is 3 inches high, of dark blue velvet with gold lace on the front.

James Chatterton,
when Lt.Colonel of the 4th Dragoon Guards, c. 1848.

The ornate epaulettes are gold and the pouchbelt is gold lace with blue velvet edge. His sabretache is the final pattern for full dress. Round his waist is a gold and crimson silk sash with heavy tassles hanging on his left side. The shabraque was not worn at this time, having been discontinued for heavy cavalry in 1847. The bridle is richly decorated with brass and has a black horsehair throat-plume. The helmets of Col Chatterton and the trumpeter are of the Albert pattern issued in 1847, although the 4th Dragoon Guards did not receive them until 1848. They were gilt metal or brass with gilt or brass fittings. The plume was black for all heavy cavalry until 1855, but the musicians had a red plume. The trumpeter has an elaborately embroidered banner on a light blue velvet cloth. He has no pouchbelt. He has gold fringed epaulettes which indicate that he is a senior NCO (Trumpet-Major).