Sir John Dunamace Heaton-Armstrong MVO (21 February 1888 – 27 August 1967) was a long-serving English officer of arms at the College of Arms in London.[1]

Early life and education

Heaton-Armstrong was born at Salisbury House, Edmonton, the son of the Austrian-born politician and businessman William Heaton-Armstrong and his wife, Baroness Bertha Adalberta Maximiliana Zois-Edelstein, who came from an ennobled Habsburg family. She was the granddaughter of Karl von Zois, whose brother was Sigmund Zois. Heaton-Armstrong was educated at Eton College and Trinity Hall, Cambridge.[1]

Military service

During the First World War, Heaton-Armstrong was commissioned into the Cavalry Branch of the Reserve of Officers of the British Indian Army as a second lieutenant,[2] and was later promoted to lieutenant.[3]

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.[4] 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.[5]

While holding this post, Heaton-Armstrong took a leave from the College of Arms to fight in World War II.[6] During this conflict, he rose to the rank of squadron leader in the Administrative and Special Duties Branch of the Royal Air Force.[7][8] He relinquished his commission in 1944,[9] and returned to the College of Arms, and was knighted in the Coronation Honours of 1953.[10][11]

Service as Clarenceux King of Arms

In 1956, with the death of Archibald George Blomefield Russel, Heaton-Armstrong was promoted to the office of Clarenceux King of Arms.[12] As such, he was responsible for the granting of arms in his jurisdiction south of the River Trent. While Chester Herald, Heaton-Armstrong was appointed to the honorary post of Inspector of Royal Air Force Badges, which post he held for the rest of his life.[13] Heaton-Armstrong continued to serve as Clarenceux until his own death in late 1967.[14]

Arms

Coat of arms of John Heaton-Armstrong
Crest
(1) For Armstrong: A dexter arm in armour, the hand grasping an armed leg couped at the thigh and bleeding, all proper; (2) for Heaton: A lion crowned, plain collared and chained, all proper.
Escutcheon
Quarterly, (1 & 4) gules, 3 dexter arms embowed in armour argent, the hands closed proper (Armstrong); (2 & 3) vert, a lion argent (Heaton).[15]
Motto
Vi Et Armis
Badge
Badge granted 1940: A dexter arm embowed in armour argent enfiled with an astral crown or, the hand proper grasping a sword fessways gules hilted gold.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Obituary: Sir J. Heaton-Armstrong". The Times. 29 August 1967. p. 8.
  2. ↑ "No. 29316". The London Gazette. 5 October 1915. p. 9774.
  3. ↑ "No. 30236". The London Gazette. 17 August 1917. p. 8462.
  4. ↑ "No. 33214". The London Gazette. 22 October 1926. p. 6749.
  5. ↑ "No. 34398". The London Gazette. 14 May 1937. p. 3182.
  6. ↑ "No. 34718". The London Gazette (Supplement). 27 October 1939. p. 7184.
  7. ↑ "No. 35076". The London Gazette. 14 February 1941. p. 909.
  8. ↑ "No. 35503". The London Gazette. 27 March 1942. pp. 1391–1392.
  9. ↑ "No. 36643". The London Gazette (Supplement). 4 August 1944. pp. 3670–3671.
  10. ↑ "No. 39863". The London Gazette (Supplement). 26 May 1953. p. 2941.
  11. ↑ "No. 39904". The London Gazette. 3 July 1953. p. 3676.
  12. ↑ "No. 40695". The London Gazette. 27 January 1956. p. 566.
  13. ↑ "Naval, Military and R.A.F. Insignia - College of Arms".
  14. ↑ "No. 44755". The London Gazette. 31 December 1968. p. 13920.
  15. ↑ "Clarenceux King of Arms | British History Online". british-history.ac.uk. Retrieved 21 November 2018.


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