Sir Rollo Gillespie and his Monument
by W.Bro. Aiken McClelland. [Reproduced from the Lodge of Research Transactions for the years 1969-1975, Volume XVI, pages 249-252] [The pictures and any footnotes have been inserted by Irish Masonic History]
[At the end of this paper you can access a .pdf copy of the text of this paper and a link to a book entitled "A memoir of Major-General Sir R.R. Gillespie by Sir William Thorn published in 1816.]
Major-General Sir Robert Rollo Gillespie, KCB,
( 21st January, 1766- 31st October, 1814)
( 21st January, 1766- 31st October, 1814)
V.W. Brother R. E. Parkinson, in his volume on the more recent history of the Grand Lodge of Ireland, devotes almost two pages to Sir Rollo Gillespie and his monument at Comber, Co. Down - the only public Masonic monument in Ireland. All of you, I hope, are familiar with Brother Parkinson's book, and my aim this evening is to expand and augment his account.
But for the benefit of those of you whose memory of the book is somewhat hazy, I should remind you that Hugh Robert Rollo Gillespie was born in the Square, Comber on 21st January, 1766. His parents hoped he would follow a legal career, but young Gillespie had other ideas.
But for the benefit of those of you whose memory of the book is somewhat hazy, I should remind you that Hugh Robert Rollo Gillespie was born in the Square, Comber on 21st January, 1766. His parents hoped he would follow a legal career, but young Gillespie had other ideas.
Gillespie as a young man
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When he was only seventeen he was gazetted a cornet in the 3rd Irish Horse (later the 6th Dragoon Guards) and served in Ireland, the West Indies, the East India and India. Gillespie had an adventurous career, and a biography of this gallant soldier would make absorbing reading(1). |
In 1814 he had reached the rank of Major-General, and was in charge of one of the four columns in the invasions of Nepal. He was present at the attack on the small hill fort of Kalunga, which was perched in an almost inaccessible position in the Himalayas, above Dehra Dun. Two assaults were beaten back, and Gillespie went up to the front to urge on his men. A few minutes later he was dead, as were 500 of his men.
The Death of Rollo Gillespie ~ 31st October, 1814.
He was buried at Meerut, where his brother officers erected an obelisk to his memory, and in 1820 a grateful nation had his statue placed in St. Paul's Cathedral. What inspired the freemasons of County Down to erect a monument to Gillespie thirty years after his death? I don't know for certain, but I believe then-action was prompted by a brief biography of Gillespie which was printed in the Northern Whig Office in 1843. The author was Thomas Percy Boyd, a young barrister whose grandfather, Hugh Gillespie, was a cousin of the general.
Detail from obelisk at Meerut cemetery, near Uttar Pradesh, India.
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This pamphlet is so rare that I have been unable to trace a copy, but I assume it must have dwelt on Gillespie's Masonic career. R. F. Gould, the English Masonic historian, states that Gillespie was initiated into freemasonry the same year in which he entered the army - perhaps in the regimental lodge, No. 577, I.C. Against this, at the opening ceremony of the monument, pride of place was given to Lodge 46, Temple of Fame, as the lodge in which he was initiated. As Lodge 46, formerly Lodge 822, only dates back to January 1796, when Gillespie was on active service, Gould's statement appears more likely. William Thorne, who published a biography of Gillespie in 1816, tells the story that during the blockade of Port-au-Prince Gillespie and a brother officer swam ashore with their swords in their mouths under a heavy fire of musketry. Escaping injury, they landed, only to be taken prisoner and brought before the governor. Only recognition as a freemason saved him from being hanged as a spy.
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Parkinson tells the story that Napper Tandy, the Irish rebel and a brother freemason, saved Gillespie from capture in Hamburg, a few years later. It sounds an interesting story, but Tandy was dead several years before Gillespie visited Hamburg!
The only hard fact I have been able to discover about Gillespie's Masonic career was that he was a member of the Moira Lodge, Freedom and Fidelity, which was constituted in Calcutta on 8th November, 1813.
The only hard fact I have been able to discover about Gillespie's Masonic career was that he was a member of the Moira Lodge, Freedom and Fidelity, which was constituted in Calcutta on 8th November, 1813.
In late 1843 or early 1844 a committee was set up to collect funds for the monument. John Andrews and the rector of Comber, the Rev. Jex Blake, were joint treasurers, and Thomas Percy Boyd and Colonel John Elliott Cairnes, who had served with Gillespie, were appointed joint-secretaries. Subscriptions appear to have come from three sources, the local landed gentry, freemasons, and old soldiers who had served Gillespie. A competition for the design of the monument was held, and the Committee accepted the design of a Mr. Johnston of Belfast. We don't know how much was subscribed or the cost.
The official "Opening" of the Gillespie Monument, as depicted in the Illustrated London News, 5th July, 1845.
The foundation stone was laid on St. John's Day, Monday 24th June, 1844. 'At an early hour,' according to a Press report, 'the streets of Belfast were thronged by a vast number of the different lodges wending their way, accompanied by bands of music and colours, to the appointed place. The morning appeared at first gloomy, but cleared up after three o'clock. A platform had been erected in the centre of the square, and in a vacant space, immediately below, was the foundation stone. Around this were assembled the masters of the different lodges, who were attired in their roles of office, and holding their colours, gave the spectacle a most interesting and animated appearance.'
The only speakers were Colonel Elliott Cairnes, Percy Boyd, and Major Rollo Houghton, a cousin's son, and then John Frazer, the county surveyor, asked Col. Cairns to lay the first stone. 'At this moment, the scene presented a most animated appearance. The erect and stalwart form of the grey-haired veteran, attired in the symbols of his office, with a broad blue ribbon traversing his breast, and around him the banners, of every shade and hue - tinted by the sun which at that moment appeared, presented a spectacle which had, probably, never before been witnessed in the market-place of Comber. The band played 'God save the Queen' - The flags were lowered thrice over the first stone of the hero’s monument; and, after three cheers for the Queen, the Marquis of Londonderry, and the gallant Colonel, the vast assembly began to disperse, and in a short time, the town of Comber had returned to its usual state of repose.'
Thirty-eight lodges attended this ceremony, and fifty-five lodges came a year later for the opening. It was a very wet day, 'yet, notwithstanding, Lodge after Lodge of Masons, accompanied by large multitudes of persons not of the craft, continued to pour into the town, until the square, and every street, which gave a view of the monument, became completely blocked up. It was calculated that there were not fewer than between 25,000 and 30,000 people; and this dense mass, though composed of persons of various shades of religious and political opinions, met and separated without the slightest disturbance: indeed, the greatest harmony prevailed throughout the proceedings. The Newtownards Amateur Band was present, and enlivened the scene by playing several Masonic and other airs in a very creditable style.'
Thomas Percy Boyd and Colonel Cairnes again spoke, as did Quarter-Master Maudsley, in whose arms Gillespie died, and Alexander Grant of Deny, who spoke at length on the benefits of masonry. It is curious that at neither the laying the foundation stone nor the opening ceremony was there a religious service, a fact which was commented on unfavourably by the Rev. Jex Blake, who 'cautioned the multitude against indulging in ardent spirits, and advised them to leave the town, for their homes, without delay.'
The only speakers were Colonel Elliott Cairnes, Percy Boyd, and Major Rollo Houghton, a cousin's son, and then John Frazer, the county surveyor, asked Col. Cairns to lay the first stone. 'At this moment, the scene presented a most animated appearance. The erect and stalwart form of the grey-haired veteran, attired in the symbols of his office, with a broad blue ribbon traversing his breast, and around him the banners, of every shade and hue - tinted by the sun which at that moment appeared, presented a spectacle which had, probably, never before been witnessed in the market-place of Comber. The band played 'God save the Queen' - The flags were lowered thrice over the first stone of the hero’s monument; and, after three cheers for the Queen, the Marquis of Londonderry, and the gallant Colonel, the vast assembly began to disperse, and in a short time, the town of Comber had returned to its usual state of repose.'
Thirty-eight lodges attended this ceremony, and fifty-five lodges came a year later for the opening. It was a very wet day, 'yet, notwithstanding, Lodge after Lodge of Masons, accompanied by large multitudes of persons not of the craft, continued to pour into the town, until the square, and every street, which gave a view of the monument, became completely blocked up. It was calculated that there were not fewer than between 25,000 and 30,000 people; and this dense mass, though composed of persons of various shades of religious and political opinions, met and separated without the slightest disturbance: indeed, the greatest harmony prevailed throughout the proceedings. The Newtownards Amateur Band was present, and enlivened the scene by playing several Masonic and other airs in a very creditable style.'
Thomas Percy Boyd and Colonel Cairnes again spoke, as did Quarter-Master Maudsley, in whose arms Gillespie died, and Alexander Grant of Deny, who spoke at length on the benefits of masonry. It is curious that at neither the laying the foundation stone nor the opening ceremony was there a religious service, a fact which was commented on unfavourably by the Rev. Jex Blake, who 'cautioned the multitude against indulging in ardent spirits, and advised them to leave the town, for their homes, without delay.'
The monument was a Grecian pillar, fifty-five feet high, with a statue of Gillespie on top. One side of the monument bears the following inscription - Robert Rollo Gillespie, Major-General and Knight Commander of the Most Honourable the Military Order of the Bath, born at Comber, A.D. 1766, after a brief but glorious career, fell in battle, before the fortress of Kalunga, on the 31st October, 1814. His last words were - 'One shot more for the honour of Down.' A monument at Meerut, in the East, marks the grave where his ashes rest(2). |
The Gillespie Monument, Comber, County Down.
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Gillespie's Statue, St. Paul's Catheral, London.
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A statue, in the St. Paul's Cathedral, in the city of London, voted by both Houses of Parliament, attests the gratitude of the nation. His own countrymen, proud of the achievements which have shed lustre upon his native land, with a few of his old companions in arms, have raised this column, within that County which claimed his latest remembrance, to perpetuate his memory at the place of his birth. |
There are several curious facts about this inscription. [Gillespie also had the Christian name Hugh. He was killed on the 24th October, not the 31st(3), and he did not use the famous phrase attributed to him. A fellow-officer, Charles Pratt Kennedy of Cultra, who picked him up when he fell, published in 1834 a pamphlet A true account of the action at Kalunga, in which he wrote, 'Through his spy glass Gillespie saw his men falling fast, and turning to me he said, "Now Kennedy for the honour of Down", and with that he rode against the enemy and in less than two minutes he received several balls, one being through the heart.'
The south panel - sculptured masonic symbols
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The east east panel ~ the Gillespie arms
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On the east panel are the Gillespie arms, quartered with the ribbon and badge of the most Honourable Military Order of the Bath, on a background of crossed flags and cannon. The south panel contains sculptured masonic symbols - at the sides, two pillars surmounted by a globe and in the centre, a hammer, nails, hand holding plumb-line, sixpointed star, right-angled triangle with squares on the sides, sun, moon and stars, and the words, 'Sit lux et lux fuit', and 'Audi, vide, tace'.
The north panel has the following inscription – “This tablet having remained blank since the erection of the monument in 1845, it seems fitting to the Masonic body and townsmen of Comber to record on it that the brilliant reputation of Sir Rollo was most worthily maintained by his grandson Major-General Robert Rollo Gillespie, C.B., who for over 40 years served his country with the same bravery and distinction at the following places:- Reshire, Bushire, Koosab, Kolapore, Elmagfar, Tel-el Manuta, Kassassin, Tel-el Kebir, Bikanir. He died on the 17th November, 1890 in command of the Mhow Division of the Bengal Army. July 5th 1893.”
The north panel has the following inscription – “This tablet having remained blank since the erection of the monument in 1845, it seems fitting to the Masonic body and townsmen of Comber to record on it that the brilliant reputation of Sir Rollo was most worthily maintained by his grandson Major-General Robert Rollo Gillespie, C.B., who for over 40 years served his country with the same bravery and distinction at the following places:- Reshire, Bushire, Koosab, Kolapore, Elmagfar, Tel-el Manuta, Kassassin, Tel-el Kebir, Bikanir. He died on the 17th November, 1890 in command of the Mhow Division of the Bengal Army. July 5th 1893.”
An old postcard of the Gillespie Monument.
As a young man Gillespie eloped with and married Anne Taylor, whose uncle had been Lord Mayor of Dublin in 1770. She survived her husband for twenty years and died childless. Who then was the grandson?(4) This is just one more of the unrecorded details in the story of the Monument, and a lot more research needs to be done before its full story can be written.
Footnotes:-
(1) See link to "A Memoir of Major-General Sir R.R. Gillespie" below.
(2) See image above.
(3) Most sources say 31st October, 1814.
(4) Gillespie was in fact married twice, firstly to Eugenia Pechier with whom he had two sons and one daughter.
(1) See link to "A Memoir of Major-General Sir R.R. Gillespie" below.
(2) See image above.
(3) Most sources say 31st October, 1814.
(4) Gillespie was in fact married twice, firstly to Eugenia Pechier with whom he had two sons and one daughter.
A .pdf copy of the text of the above paper can be accessed through the following link ~ "Sir Rollo Gillespie and his Monument by W.Bro. Aiken McClelland".
A book entitled "A Memoir of Major-General Sir R.R. Gillespie" by Sir William Thorn and published in 1816 can be accessed through the following link ~ "A Memoir of Major-General Sir R.R. Gillespie"