Edwin William Conquest Flavell is Born

Today in Masonic History Edwin William Conquest Flavell is born in 1898.

Edwin William Conquest Flavell was a British soldier.

Flavell was born on February 22nd, 1898 in London, England. He was educated at King's College School.

At the age of 17 Flavell enlisted in the East Surrey Regiment during World War I. He was commissioned a second lieutenant. In 1916, two years later, he was transferred to the newly formed machine gun corps. In 1917 he is believed to be the youngest major serving on the Western Front at the age of 20. During World War I he was awarded the Military Cross three times, which is generally referred to as the Military Cross with two bars.

The first time Flavell was awarded the Military Cross was when he took command of an infantry company who lost it's officers. The second was for performing several personal reconnaissance missions. The third came in 1918 when he was transferred to 42nd Division. His unit was ordered to take Hindenburg Line which included Highland Ridge. When the unit took the ridge they discovered a German unit with two machine guns moving parallel with them. Flavell took over one of the British machine guns himself and fired at the horses pulling the guns. Hitting his mark the German soldiers scattered and they were able to take the machine guns.

In 1939, when World War II broke out, Flavell who had been on the active list for East Surrey Regiment, was recalled. In 1940, a new corps consisting of 5,000 parachute troops were created. The 1st Parachute Brigade was commanded by Brigadier Richard Gale, who commanded Flavell during World War I. Gale appointed Flavell to raise and command a 2nd Parachute Battalion. In the spring of 1942, Gale was promoted to the War Office and Flavell, now a Brigadier, was placed in command of the Brigade. The Brigade was sent to North Africa, there Flavell was frustrated with the missions the Brigade was given. Because of the new nature of the unit, his military commanders had no idea how to utilize the first of its kind unit. When the Brigade ended it's tour in North Africa, it was part of the Normandy invasion.

After the war, Flavell tried his hand, unsuccessfully at politics.

Flavell passed away on November 29th, 1993. Although some sources have him passing away on November 8th and others on December 1st, both in 1993.

Flavell had a long impressive masonic career. He was initiated into Upper Norwood Lodge No. 1586 in 1919. He went on to be a member of six other lodges, several of which he was a founding member. He was Provincial Grand Master of Berkshire. He was Grand Sword Bearer in 1961. As of 2013, all of the lodges he founded were extant.

This article provided by Brother Eric C. Steele.