Like many Lodges, Victoria Rifles has enjoyed the support and membership of several families over its history.

Two of the Founders would bring their sons into the Lodge. William Booth Scott and his son Edwin Claude Porter Scott and the 6th and 7th Earls of Breadalbane and Holland.

After the Consecration several more fathers would bring their sons into the Lodge. Thomas Oswald Belshaw would bring his two sons into the Lodge, George Albert Belshaw in 1912 and Capt Thomas Sydney Belshaw in 1917.  John Young would similarly see his two sons, Arthur and Reginald, initiated.

Silk Merchant Edward William Cox would see his son Colonel Reginald Woodruff Cox OBE initiated in 1920. Major Charles Alfred Cuthbert Keeson VD also saw his son, Lt Col Cuthbert Alfred Garnet Cuthbert Keeson OBE MC TD, initiated. Tragically, George Lipscombe Matthews would see his son Lieutenant Commander George Edwin Matthews RN initiated, but learn of his death on active service at his own Installation.

The connections are not just parental. Three Dickins brothers joined the lodge – Vernon, Henry and Wyndham and bought a cousin along too – Henry. Three Kingdon brothers would join the Lodge: Major Henry Foulkes Kingdon, Edward William Kingdon and William Fortescue Kingdon. The Trower Brothers, Alfred, Ernest and Percy and the Crofts, Desmond and Jonathan, also joined the Lodge.

Cousins too have been part of the fabric of the Lodge; Cousins Lt Col Charles Hamilton Sutton Howkins OBE TD and Captain John Shaw Howkins were both members.

This highlights the familial ties that bound both Regiment and Lodge together. The Lodge’s new life today as the Installed Masters’ Lodge for the Circuit of Service Lodges unfortunately makes these connections less likely, but no less fraternal and welcoming.