John Heaton-Armstrong

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]

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]

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]

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.

• Pursuivant
• Herald