Crest of the Day: HRH The Duke of Connaught

Our penultimate Crest of the Day!

Today's crest is the first of the two Royal, and grandest crests which inhabit the fireplace in the office of the Lord Lyon, and belongs to HRH The Duke of Connaught (1850-1942), third son of Queen Victoria. The arms were granted by Royal Warrant and not recorded in the Lyon Register.

The crest is: "a lion statant guardant Or, armed and langued Azure, wearing a prince's coronet, and charged on the chest with a label of three points Argent charged on the centre point with a cross Gules and the two outer ones with a fleur-de-lys Azure".

Here are the Duke's arms expertly-created by the ubiquitous Sodacan on Wiki commons:

By Sodacan This W3C-unspecified vector image was created with Inkscape. - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=11660482

Photograph by Max Marcus

Lyon in Bearsden and Milngavie

On the 16th July the Lord Lyon gave a lecture entitled “Who owns Scottish Heraldry ” to the Bearsden and Milngavie Branch of the University of the Third Age . There was a magnificent attendance of over 150 people who asked a range of stimulating questions at the conclusion.

Crest of the Day: Sir Robert Menzies

Sir Robert Gordon Menzies, KT, AK, CH, QC, FAA, FRS ( 1894 – 1978), was an Australian politician who twice served as Prime Minister of Australia, in office from 1939 to 1941 and again from 1949 to 1966. He was Australia's longest-serving prime minister, serving over 18 years in total.

His banner and crest are now on display in the Scots Church, Collins St, Melbourne.

Crest: a demi-lion Gules its dexter paw upon a baton Sable, about its head a chaplet of Menzies heath and issuant therefrom a panache of five plumes Gules and Argent.

Photograph by Dr Richard Num

Formula One arms

The arms of Tommy Dreelan which were recently granted by the Lord Lyon are now used on the armiger's Formula One car.

Crest of the Day: Viscount Muirshiel KT

Today's crest belongs to John Scott Maclay, Viscount Muirshiel (1905-1964)

A lymphad sail furled Sable pennants Gules.

Crest of the Day: Sir Iain Mark Tennant KT

Today's crest belongs to Sir Iain Mark Tennant (1919-2006)

A mast with rigging and a sail hoisted Proper.

Crest of the Day: Sir James Robertson KT

Today's crest belongs to Sir James Wilson Robertson (1899-1983), the last British Governor-General of Nigeria.

A dexter hand erect holding a chaplet of cotton balls and jute sprays Proper.

Crest of the Day: Earl of Kintore

Today's crest belongs to Algernon Keith-Falconer, 9th (10th?) Earl of Kintore (1852-1930),  former Governor of South Australia.

"An angel kneeling at prayer Or within an orle of two laurel branches Vert."

The arms were matriculated in 1895 when Andrew Ferguson Bainbridge was Herald Painter.

Equally marvellous, tho' quite different, is the version matriculated in 1957 for a subsequent Earl of Kintore - note that the crest is now a lady holding a garland of laurel.

and another superb version for Countess in her own right, Ethel Sydney Keith, matriculated in 1968 and painted, presumably, by Katherine Chart, Herald Painter of that era:

 

Lyon at Clan Cunningham Meeting

On July 12th, The Lord Lyon attended the Triennial Meeting of the Clan Cunningham at Caprington Castle. Sir John Cunninghame of Corsehill, Chief of the Name and Arms and 12th Baronet received a sword from the Clan members to mark his Chiefship.

Crest of the Day: 11th and 12th Lords Kinnaird of Inchture

Today's crest belongs to 11th and 12th Lords Kinnaird of Inchture (1847-1923) and (1880-1972) respectively, father and son:

On a cloud Proper a crescent Or between its horns a star Argent all between two branches of palm disposed in orle Proper.

Crest of the Day: The 12th Earl of Stair

Today's crest belongs to the 12th Earl of Stair (1879-1961) 

The Herald Painter of the period (the arms date from 1895) was Andrew Ferguson Bainbridge. 

Crest:a rock Proper.

Crest of the Day: 11th and 12th Earls of Haddington.

Today's crest belongs to both George Baillie-Hamilton-Arden 11th Earl of Haddington (1827-1917) and his grandson George Baillie-Hamilton, 12th Earl of Haddington (1894-1986).

                                   12th Earl of Haddington  © National Portrait Gallery, London

Crest: two dexter hands issuing out of clouds conjoined fessways and holding between them a branch of laurel erect.

Crest of the Day: Marshal of the Royal Air Force Baron Cameron of Balhousie

Today's crest belongs to Marshal of the Royal Air Force Neil Cameron,  Baron Cameron of Balhousie (1920-1985).


An eagle wings elevated Proper gorged with a collar chequy Azure and Argent.

Crest of the Day: Viscount Novar

Today's crest belongs to Ronald Munro-Ferguson, Viscount Novar (1860-1934)  a former Governor General of Australia and Secretary of State for Scotland.

A demi-lion rampant Or langued Gules holding between both paws a buckle Gules.

Lyon at the Scottish Fire and Rescue Headquarters

On the 5th July, the Lord Lyon paid a visit to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Headquarters at Cambuslang. He was welcomed and held a meeting with the Chief Fire Officer, Martin Blunden. The arms and badge were granted in 1949 with, it seems, the intention that the then local areas would impale as did the Central Fire Area the following year.

Crest of the Day: Sir Harald Leslie, Lord Birsay (1905-1982)

Another crest not yet on show at the Biggar Exhibition, is that of Sir Harald Leslie, Lord Birsay (1905-1982).

A demi-griffin contournée Proper.

Here is his memorial tablet in St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall.

Lyon at the Castle

The Lord Lyon was the guest of the Edinburgh Castle Officers' Mess on the 4th July at the Beating of the Retreat on Crown Square. The band of The Royal Regiment of Scotland was on duty.

Crest of the Day: Marquess of Zetland

Another crest, sadly not on display in Biggar but it was shown at the Glasgow Exhibition in 2017 and much admired: 1st Marquess of Zetland (1844-1929):

A lion's head affronty Proper crowned with an antique crown Or, within an oak bush Proper fructed Or.

Crest of the Day: 8th Duke of Roxburghe

Although for reasons of space, this one did not make the cut for the Biggar Exhibition, it is a great example of the carver's art so here it is anyway: Henry John Innes-Ker 8th Duke of Roxburghe (1876-1932):

A unicorn's head erased Argent armed and crined Or .