John Heaton-Armstrong
Encyclopedia
Sir John Dunamace Heaton-Armstrong, MVO
(1888 – 1967) was a long-serving English
officer of arms
at the College of Arms
in London
.
During the First World War he was commissioned into the Cavalry Branch of the Reserve of Officers of the British Indian Army
as a second lieutenant
, and was later promoted to lieutenant. His first heraldic appointment at the College came on 6 April 1922, when he was made Rouge Dragon Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary
. On 14 October 1926, Heaton-Armstrong was promoted to the position of Chester Herald of Arms in Ordinary
. This office was made vacant by the promotion of Arthur Cochrane
to the office of Norroy King of Arms
. He was made a Member of the Royal Victorian Order (fourth class) (MVO) in 1937. While holding this post, Heaton-Armstrong took a leave from the College of Arms to fight in World War II
. During this conflict, he rose to the rank of squadron leader
in the Administrative and Special Duties Branch of the Royal Air Force
. He relinquished his commission in 1944, and returned to the College of Arms, and was knighted
in the Coronation
Honours of 1953. In 1956, with the death of Archibald George Blomefield Russel, Heaton-Armstrong was promoted to the office of Clarenceux King of Arms
. As such, he was responsible for the granting of arms
in his jurisdiction south of the River Trent
. No doubt because of his war service and perhaps by virtue of his being a King of Arms, Heaton-Armstrong held for some period the honorary post of Inspector of Royal Air Force Badges. Heaton-Armstrong continued to serve as Clarenceux until his own death in late 1967.
Heaton-Armstrong's own coat of arms was blazon
ed Quarterly (1 and 4) Gules three dexter Arms embowed
in armour Argent the Hands closed proper (2 and 3) Vert a Lion rampant Argent.
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
(1888 – 1967) was a long-serving English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
officer of arms
Officer of arms
An officer of arms is a person appointed by a sovereign or state with authority to perform one or more of the following functions:*to control and initiate armorial matters*to arrange and participate in ceremonies of state...
at the College of Arms
College of Arms
The College of Arms, or Heralds’ College, is an office regulating heraldry and granting new armorial bearings for England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
During the First World War he was commissioned into the Cavalry Branch of the Reserve of Officers of the British Indian Army
British Indian Army
The British Indian Army, officially simply the Indian Army, was the principal army of the British Raj in India before the partition of India in 1947...
as a second lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
, and was later promoted to lieutenant. His first heraldic appointment at the College came on 6 April 1922, when he was made Rouge Dragon Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary
Rouge Dragon Pursuivant
Rouge Dragon Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary is a junior officer of arms of the College of Arms, named after the red dragon of Wales.The most recent Rouge Dragon Pursuivant was Clive Edwin Alexander Cheesman, whose replacement has yet to be announced....
. On 14 October 1926, Heaton-Armstrong was promoted to the position of Chester Herald of Arms in Ordinary
Chester Herald
Chester Herald of Arms in Ordinary is an officer of arms at the College of Arms in London. The office of Chester Herald dates from the 14th century, and it is reputed that the holder was herald to Edward, Prince of Wales, the Black Prince. In the reign of King Richard II the officer was attached...
. This office was made vacant by the promotion of Arthur Cochrane
Arthur Cochrane
Sir Arthur William Steuart Cochrane, KCVO was a long-serving officer of arms at the College of Arms in London.-Biography:...
to the office of Norroy King of Arms
Norroy and Ulster King of Arms
Norroy and Ulster King of Arms is one of the senior Officers of Arms of the College of Arms, and the junior of the two provincial Kings of Arms. The current office is the combination of two former appointments...
. He was made a Member of the Royal Victorian Order (fourth class) (MVO) in 1937. While holding this post, Heaton-Armstrong took a leave from the College of Arms to fight in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. During this conflict, he rose to the rank of squadron leader
Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. In these...
in the Administrative and Special Duties Branch of the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
. He relinquished his commission in 1944, and returned to the College of Arms, and was knighted
Knight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
in the Coronation
Coronation of the British monarch
The coronation of the British monarch is a ceremony in which the monarch of the United Kingdom is formally crowned and invested with regalia...
Honours of 1953. In 1956, with the death of Archibald George Blomefield Russel, Heaton-Armstrong was promoted to the office of Clarenceux King of Arms
Clarenceux King of Arms
Clarenceux King of Arms is an officer of arms at the College of Arms in London. Clarenceux is the senior of the two provincial kings of arms and his jurisdiction is that part of England south of the River Trent. The office almost certainly existed in 1420, and there is a fair degree of...
. As such, he was responsible for the granting of arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
in his jurisdiction south of the River Trent
River Trent
The River Trent is one of the major rivers of England. Its source is in Staffordshire on the southern edge of Biddulph Moor. It flows through the Midlands until it joins the River Ouse at Trent Falls to form the Humber Estuary, which empties into the North Sea below Hull and Immingham.The Trent...
. No doubt because of his war service and perhaps by virtue of his being a King of Arms, Heaton-Armstrong held for some period the honorary post of Inspector of Royal Air Force Badges. Heaton-Armstrong continued to serve as Clarenceux until his own death in late 1967.
Heaton-Armstrong's own coat of arms was blazon
Blazon
In heraldry and heraldic vexillology, a blazon is a formal description of a coat of arms, flag or similar emblem, from which the reader can reconstruct the appropriate image...
ed Quarterly (1 and 4) Gules three dexter Arms embowed
Embowed
Embowed is a term in heraldry and architecture which means:*curved like a bow *bent , or...
in armour Argent the Hands closed proper (2 and 3) Vert a Lion rampant Argent.