Grant of Arms: Major Francis Vittery Platel GM 1954

Auctioneers Dix Noonan Webb are offering for sale the 1954 Grant of Arms to the late Francis Vittery Platel GM. Major Platel’s widow, Eve Maida Platel (née Chamberlain) petitioned for Arms to be granted “to be placed on a Monument or otherwise to the memory of her late husband” and “to be borne and used by his descendants and the Arms to be borne and used by her as his widow the whole according to the Laws of Arms.”

Auctioneer’s estimate: GBP 80 to 120.

Live Auction: 21 Jul 2021 10:00 BST

George Medal. London Gazette 22 July 1941: ‘At Masara, on the 23rd January, 1941, an explosion occurred in a cave gallery of No. 8 Base Ammunition Depot, killing and wounding about ten of the staff and igniting a stack of gun cartridges. Captain Platel organised and led a rescue and fire-fighting party into the gallery where the cartridges were exploding in all directions; they fought and extinguished the fire. The cave was full of ammunition of all calibres and, but for this officer’s prompt action, example and disregard of danger, the fire must have spread irrevocably, caused a major explosion and the loss of much ammunition.’

Shortly after this incident, Platel transferred to No. 4 Advanced Ammunition Depot in Greece and was captured there on or about the 1st March 1941. After being held in various camps he was finally interned in Oflag VIB in Germany. He died whilst a prisoner of war on 23 November 1944, and is buried in Hanover War Cemetery, Germany.

Arms: Or on a chevron between three cups Gules five gouttes d’eau.

Crest: Between two wings a cubit arm couped vested gules the hand proper holding an open cup Or.

Dated: 15^th April 1954

Garter: Sir George Rothe Bellew

Clarenceux: Archibald George Blomefield Russell

Earlier this year, in May, a framed emblazonment of Major Platel’s Arms were sold by auctioneers Dominic Winter as a part of a group of 8 heraldic paintings.

Irish Grant of Arms: James Bankhead Browne 1905

eBay vendor, bushm-11, has just sold for £400 the 1905 Grant of Arms to James Bankhead Browne of Brownhill, Banbridge Co. Down.

Arms: Per saltire Gules and Vert in pale two double-headed eagles displayed and in fesse as many elks’ heads couped respecting each other all Or.
Crest: A double-headed eagle per chevron Gules and Vert bezantee.
Motto: Nunquam Non Paratus

Dated: 27th March 1905

Ulster: Sir Arthur Edward Vicars

Fox-Davies Armorial Familes 1929

Grant of Arms: Sir Matthew Ingle Joyce 1901

Dawsons Auctioneers are offering for sale the 1901 Grant of Arms to Sir Matthew Ingle Joyce and to other descendants of his father, John Hall Joyce.

Sir Matthew Ingle Joyce (17 July 1839 – 10 March 1930) was a British judge. He was called to the bar by Lincoln’s Inn in 1865.He was a Justice of the Chancery Division of the High Court between 1900 and 1915. Born in Breedon on the Hill , Leicestershire, he was educated at Ashby-de-la-Zouch Grammar School and Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge.

Live Auction: 24 Jun 2021 09:30 BST

Lot Location: Maidenhead, Berkshire

Auctioneer’s estimate 150 GBP – 200 GBP

Arms: Barry of four Ermine and Gules on a bend between two leopards faces Or three water bougets Sable.

Crest: In front of a lion rampant proper collared nebuly with chain reflexed over the back Or three water bougets fessewise Sable.

Motto: Nec Temere Nec Timide

Dated: 12 December 1901

Garter: Sir Albert William Woods

Clarenceux: George Edward Cokayne

Lincoln’s Inn panel: Image courtesy Baz Manning

Fox-Davies’ Armorial Families 1929

Grant of Arms: John Evelyn Ansell 1919 (Again)

The 1919 Grant of Arms to John Evelyn Ansell are once again being offered for sale by Chiswick Auctions on 30th June 2021. The opening price is GBP120 with an estimate of GBP200-300.

Grant of Arms: John Evelyn Ansell 1919

New Armorial: Crouch

I am delighted to advise that I have added a new Armorial to my website for the name Crouch. All credit goes to Andrew Crouch for doing all the research into the recorded Arms associated with the surname Crouch and also to Mark Anthony Henderson who emblazoned all the Arms.

Crouch Armorial

Kings of Arms: New Appointments

Further to my post on 24th March Kings of Arms: Changes ahead? two appointments have now been announced in The London Gazette.

THE QUEEN has been pleased by Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the Realm dated 1 April 2021, to grant unto Timothy Hugh Stewart Duke, Esquire, the Office of Clarenceux King of Arms, vacant by the retirement of Patric Laurence Dickinson, Esquire, L.V.O.

THE QUEEN has been pleased by Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the Realm dated 6 April 2021, to grant unto Robert John Baptist Noel, Esquire, the Office of Norroy and Ulster King of Arms, vacant by the promotion of Timothy Hugh Stewart Duke, Esquire.

The next anticipated vacancy will be when Thomas Woodcock, Garter, retires following his 70th birthday in May this year. The next most senior Herald is David White, Somerset.

Royal Licence: Roger Manwaring Manwaring, 1809

US based eBay vendor, captain831, is offering for sale the 1809 Royal Licence for Roger Manwaring Parker to take the surname Manwaring. Roger was a minor at the time and the petition was made by his father, John Robert Parker of Upper Harley Street, in accordance with the wishes for Roger’s great aunt Mary Jones nee Manwaring.

The Rev’d Roger Manwaring Manwaring MA died in 1825 without issue aged 31.

The current price is USD999.00 approx £722.

Arms: Argent two bars Gules (a mullet for difference)
Crest: An Ass’s head erased proper haltered Or (a mullet for difference)

Dated: 20th February 1809

Garter: Sir Issac Heard
Clarenceux: George Harrison
Norroy: Ralph Bigland

London Gazette 1809

Grant of Arms: Lt Col Sir Henry Dennis Readett-Bayley, 1919

Auctioneers Mellors & Kirk of Nottingham are offering for sale the 1919 Grant of Arms to Lieutenant Colonel Sir Henry Dennis Readett-Bayley, KBE, DL, JP (1878-1940) of Lenton Abbey in respect of the surname Readett when he assumed and adopted the surname Readett-Bayley in lieu of Bayley.

The live auction will be held on the 14th & 15th April. The auctioneer’s estimate is £100-£150.

Arms: Quarterly 1st & 4th Gules fretty Or on a chief Argent three bears gambs erect Sable (Bayley) 2nd & 3rd Azure in chief two mullets and in base a trefoil slipped Or (Readett).
Crest: 1. A gryphon ejant Sable resting the dexter claw on a fret Or (Bayley)
Crest: 2. Upon a mount Vert in front of park pales proper a horse passant Gules bridled Or (Readett).
Motto: Swift and True
Dated: 25th February 1919

Garter: Henry Farnham Burke
Clarenceux: Charles Harold Athill

Fox-Davies’ Armorial Families

Revisited – Grant of Arms: John Gonning of Bristol, 1662

ebay vendor, diggerlee, is now offering for sale the 1662 Grant of Arms to John Gonning “formerly mayor now Alderman of the Citty of Bristoll” by Sir Edward Bysshe, Clarenceux. I covered the earlier auction on 10th March 2021 here. The current sale price is £4,500.

diggerlee has added more photographs that better show the text and the Arms themselves.

In my earlier post I mentioned that the name within the Grant had been modified to Gonning. The details on the reverse of the Grant, along with entry in Grantees of Arm, bear witness to this.

Gouning

Grant of Arms: Sir Bignell George Elliott 1921

Bourne End Auction Rooms are offering for sale the 1921 Grant of Arms to Sir Bignell George Elliott KBE JP of Northfield Highgate (1857-1933). He was closely involved with the Royal Commercial Travellers’ Schools.

The Auction will take place from 10:30 BST on 7th April 2021 at Bourne End, Buckinghamshire. The auctioneer’s estimate is GBP200 to GBP300.

Arms: Per fesse embattled Sable and Argent in chief three estoiles Or and in base as many oak trees proper.
Crest: In front of a dexter cubit arm vested Vert the hand proper grasping an axe palewise also proper three estoiles as in the Arms.
Motto: Perservere
Dated: 30th May 1921

Garter: Sir Henry Farnham Burke
Clarenceux: Charles Harold Athill

Fox-Davies’ Armorial Families 1929

Kings of Arms: Changes ahead?

At a recent Zoom AGM of the White Lion Society it was mentioned that two Kings of Arms at the College of Arms are due to retire in the next year or so.  The College has a retirement age of 70.  Patric Dickinson, Clarenceux, (I think) reached that age in November last year and Thomas Woodcock, Garter, will do so in May of this year.

I understand that promotion from Herald to King of Arms is based on seniority but straight seniority does not necessarily apply to the appointment of Garter.  Looking at Kings of Arms over the past 70 years, the only Norroy & Ulster King of Arms to become Garter is the present incumbent, Thomas Woodcock.  Both John Brooke-Little and David Chesshyre, who were in their late 60s, went from Norroy to Clarenceux and were in office for two or three years before retiring.  My guess is that the current Norroy, Timothy Duke, who is aged 67 will follow suit when Patric Dickinson stands down.

The two most senior Heralds in line for advancement are Robert Noel, Lancaster, and David White, Somerset.  Which will become the next Garter and Norroy & Ulster is anybody’s guess.  I doubt PaddyPower or Ladbrokes will give you any odds.  All I do know is that the new Kings of Arms will be younger than me.

Augmentation of Arms: Gilbert Blane 1812

Auctioneers Reeman Dansie recently sold the 1812 Augmentation of Arms to Gilbert Blane (1749-1834). The Augmentation was made a few weeks before Blane was created a Baronet. He was a Scottish physician who instituted health reform in the Royal Navy. He saw action against both the French and Spanish fleets, and later served as a Commissioner on the Sick and Wounded Board of the Admiralty.

Gilbert was the fourth but third surviving son of Gilbert Blane of Blanefield, Kirk Oswald, Ayrshire. The Blane Arms were matriculated in Scotland 4th December 1809 by Andrew Blane of Blanefield, the eldest son & heir of Gilbert Blane (snr). The entry in the Lyon Register has a note that “The original Patent was produced at the Lyon Office 17 October 1879 by Captain Robert Arthur Blane 22nd Regiment residing at Brookside, Chester the arms are destined to the heirs male of the Patentee.“

The Auction took place on 9th March 2021 with an auctioneer’s estimate of £500-£800. The hammer price was £3,300.

Augmentation: In the centre chief point an anchor erect entwined by a serpent proper
Arms: Argent on a fess Sable a mullet between two crescents of the field in base a rose Gules. Lyon Court 1809
Crest: A sword erect proper hilt and pomel Or
Motto: Paritur Pax Bello
Dated: 2nd November 1812

Garter: Sir Isaac Heard
Clarenceux: George Harrison
Norroy: Ralph Bigland

On personal note, these Arms are of some interest. My own Arms include Argent three Anchors Sable each entwined by a Serpent Gules which are in remembrance of my ggg-grandfather, Henry Plowman, who was a Naval Surgeon. Henry started his career at sea in 1801 during the last year of Gilbert Blane being a Commissioner on the Sick and Wounded Board of the Admiralty.

Grant of Arms: John Gonning of Bristol, 1662

Tennants Auctioneers are offering for sale a number of documents including the 1662 Grant of Arms to John Gonning “formerly mayor now Alderman of the Citty of Bristoll” by Sir Edward Bysshe, Clarenceux.

Looking at the document, there seems to have been some “alteration” to the spelling of the Surname. The “ON” is in a different hand and ink. The entry in the Grantees of Arms has the spelling as GOUNING.

The auction is due at 10:30 10th March at Leyburn, North Yorkshire. Auctioneer’s estimate £500 – £700.

Arms: Gules three Guns barwise in pale Argent
Crest: The wheel of a gun Gules between two angel’s wings Argent.
Dated: 20th December 1662.

Clarenceux: Sir Edward Bysshe

1672 Visitation of Somerset & Bristol

Grant of Arms: William Phelps Vaile of West Malling 1827

Auctioneers, Dominic Winter Auctions, are offering for sale the 1827 Grant of Arms to William Phelps Vaile (1788-1869) of West Malling, Kent. William Vaile was a member of the Royal College of Surgeons.

The auction is being held at South Cerney, Cirencester, Gloucestershire on 10th March 2021 with an Auctioneers’ estimate of £200-£300.

The text includes: “By tradition descended from a branch of the ancient family of VELE in the county of Gloucester but being unable from the loss of Family evidence to shew his descent therefrom.”

Arms: Ermine on a bend between two bendlets Azure each charged with three cross crosslets fitchy Or three calves statant Argent.
Crest: A mount Vert thereon in front two cross crosslets ftichy in saltire Gules a wolf’s head erased Azure in the mouth three ears of wheat Or.
Motto: Semper Paratuse
Dated: 3rd March 1827

Garter: Sir George Nayler
Clarenceux: Ralph Bigland

Fox-Davies’ Armorial Families 1910

Grant of Arms: Joseph Griggs of Loughborough 1898

Auctioneers Dominic Winter Auctions of South Cerney, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, are offering for sale the 1898 Grant of Arms to Joseph Griggs Alderman and Mayor of the Borough of Loughborough.

Auction date 17th February2021, Auctioneer’s estimate GBP150-200.

The Arms were previously offered for sale in November 2020

Grant of Arms: Rev’d John Kirby of Mayfield 1811

eBay vendor, ipswitches, is offering for sale the 1811 Grant of Arms to the Reverend John Kirby (1786 – 1844), Vicar of Mayfield. John Kirby was prominent in the rebuilding of Mayfield School, of which he was a trustee.

The Grant also extends to his brothers and sisters – “… to be borne by him and his descendants by this brothers George Kirby Thomas Kirby William Kirby Henry Kirby and Michael Kirby (the four younger being minors) and by his sisters Marthanna Anne-Ruth Jane-ruth and Mary..”.

Arms: Vert on a chevron erminois between three crosses pateé Argent as many roses Gules barbed and seeded Vert.

Crest: An elephant’s head erased ermine on the neck a torteau charged with a cross pateé as in the Arms.

Motto: Loyalty and Liberty

Dated: 30^th April 1811

Garter: Sir Isaac Heard

Clarenceux: George Harrison

Bookplate

Royal Licence: Heatley to Montgomery 1820

Auctioneers, Dix Noonan Webb, are offering for sale the Irish 1820 Royal Licence for Conway Heatley to use the Name & Arms of Montgomery.

Auctioneer’s estimate: GBP180 to GBP 220 – Sold for GBP550.

Arms: Quarterly 1^st & 4^th Azure three fleurs de lys Or 2^nd & 3^rd Gules three gen rings Or stoned Azure on an inescutcheon Gules a sword and sceptre in saltire proper within a bordure Or a double tressure flory counter flory Gules.

Crest: On a chapeau a dexter gauntlet erect holding a dagger proper.

Motto: Honneur Sans Repos

Dated: 4^th September 1880

Ulster: Sir William Betham

An extract from The Montgomery Manuscripts:

Colonel Wm. Montgomery left three children viz.: one son, also named William, and two daughters, Elizabeth and Anna Helena. The son was accidently killed, when a youth, at Killough, in the year 1736. Elizabeth died unmarried. Anna Helena married William Heatley, esq., of Riversdale, county of Wicklow, leaving by him three sons and a daughter, namely — I. Conway, a barrister-at-law ; 2. Wm. Campbell , an officer in the army ; 3. John Montgomery, a student in the Middle Temple ; and 4. Isabella, who died unmarried. The eldest son, Conway, in right of his mother, was permitted to assume the name and arms of Montgomery, in the year 1820.

Conway Heatley Montgomery left three children, viz. : 1. Frederick Campbell, a major in the 50th regiment. In 1835, he accompanied his regiment to New South Wales, where he received a grant of lands, and retired from the service ; 2. Caroline, married to Hugh Cathcart, esq., heir to his uncle, sir Andrew Cathcart of Killoughan castle, Ayrshire; and 3. Augusta, married to the late Thomas Sinclair, esq., of Belfast.

Grant of Arms: Roger de Byron-Faes 1983

Auctioneers, Dix Noonan Webb, are offering for sale the 1983 Grant of Arms to Roger August Alfred Faes de Byron-Faes (1914-2001) of Sentry Box Estate, Gunderman in NSW, Australia.

The auctioneer’s estimate is GBP100 to GBP140. Sold for GBP480.

Arms: Azure three swords palewise in fess point downwards hilts pommels and quillons Or overall a fess also Or a fess Gules and thereon three bees volant.

Crest: Out of a crown Or two eagles’ heads addorsed the dexter Gules and the sinister Azure in the beak of each a cinquefoil Gold.

Motto: FAE ET IUS

Dated: 14^th December 1983

Garter: Sir Alexander Colin Cole

Clarenceux: Sir Anthony Richard Wagner

Norroy and Ulster: John Philip Brooke Brooke-Little

Grant of Arms: Captain Walter Henry Smith 1863

Auctioneers, Andrew Smith & Son, are offering for sale the 1863 Grant of Arms to Captain Walter Henry Smith, HM Indian Military Forces. Walter Henry Smith (b 1828 d 1899) retired from the Bengal Staff Corps 20th July 1879 as Lieutenant Colonel and Brevet Colonel. He was listed as a Major General in the 1881 census living at Botley in Hampshire.

The live auction is from 15th to the 16th December 2020 and has an auctioneer’s estimate of GBP250 to GBP350.

Arms: Azure on a bend engrailed between two fleurs-de-lis Argent three unicorns heads erased of the field.
Crest: An unicorn’s head quarterly Argent and Azure erased Or.
Motto: C’en Est Fait

Dated: 15 August 1862

Garter: Sir Charles George Young
Clarenceux: Robert Laurie

Royal Licence: Richard Horton Horton-Smith 1905

Eastbourne Auctions are offering for sale the 1905 Royal Licence for Richard Horton Smith to take the name Horton in addition to and before Smith. The auction is from 27th November to 1st December. The auctioneer’s estimate is £50-£100.

This RL was included in the September 2019 sale which consisted of 4 Letters Patent connected with the Horton-Smith family – Four Grants of Arms: Horton-Smith.

Arms: 1st & 4th Argent two chevronnels invected between two demi gryphons couped respecting each other in chief and as many battle axes in saltire in base all Sable (for Smith) 2nd & 3rd Gules a stag’s head cabossed Or on a chief of the last a rose of the first between two thistles slipped and leaved proper (for Horton).
Crest 1: In front of a mound Vert thereon a greyhound couchant proper two battle axes in saltire Or (for Smith).
Crest 2: In front of two claymores saltirewise proper a spear erect Argent the whole encircled by an antique crown Or (for Horton).
Motto 1: Prèt À Tressaillir
Motto 2: Haut On Aspire

Dated: 2nd November 1905
Garter: Sir Alfred Scott Scott-Gatty
Clarenceux: George Edward Cokayne

In 1903 Richard Horton Smith was Treasurer to The Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn and his Arms, Granted in 1900, are displayed in the Chapel.

Image courtesy of Baz Manning