John Heaton-Armstrong

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.

References

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

External links

Heraldic offices
Preceded by Alexander Mitton	Rouge Dragon Pursuivant 1922 – 1926	Succeeded by Eric Geijer
Preceded by Sir Arthur Cochrane	Chester Herald 1926 – 1956	Succeeded by James Frere
Preceded by Archibald Russell	Clarenceux King of Arms 1956 – 1967	Succeeded by John Walker

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[times-1] "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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