Posted by Jeff Ezzell on
The White Lion Society has generously given the College of Arms a portrait of Philip Walter Kerr MVO FSA (1886-1941), who became Rouge Croix Pursuivant in 1928. The fourth son of Admiral Lord Walter Talbot Kerr, he was educated at the Oratory School, Edgbaston, and Pembroke College, Cambridge. After serving in the army in the First World War and in the Egyptian Civil Service from 1919-24, he died on active service as a Pilot-Officer (Intelligence) RAF at Shallufa in Egypt during the Second World War. He is dressed for the coronation of King George VI in 1937, in his tabard, and holding his staff ensigned with the Badge of Rouge Croix.
The artist was Charles Louis Geoffroy-Dechaume (1877-1944), a French Anglophile who can be identified from his monogram on the portrait. He lived in Sussex prior to 1914 but returned to France at the outbreak of the First World War and served in the 275th Regiment of Infantry, losing his left leg in 1914. He spent the Second World War at his house at Valmondois, north of Paris, where he was involved in the Resistance. His daughter Marie-France was also active, helping from 1941 to 1943 to rescue Allied pilots who had been shot down over France.
Recent Grants of Arms
A very small selection of those recently receiving grants or exemplifications from the English Kings of Arms:
ACCORNERO, Paul Ferrando, of Hong Kong, China. Arms and Crest. Garter, Clarenceux and Norroy and Ulster Kings of Arms. 11/6/2019. College reference: Grants 182/126.
ALLAN, Hugh David Renwick Turnbull, of Chelmsford, Essex. Arms, Crest and Badge. Garter and Clarenceux Kings of Arms. 29/5/2019. College reference: Grants 182/95.
BARRETT, Paul Jonathan, of Wickhambreaux, Kent, MBE. Arms, Crest and Badge. Garter and Clarenceux Kings of Arms. 15/7/2019. College reference: Grants 182/118.
ALLAN, Hugh David Renwick Turnbull, of Chelmsford, Essex. Arms, Crest and Badge. Garter and Clarenceux Kings of Arms. 29/5/2019. College reference: Grants 182/95.
BARRETT, Paul Jonathan, of Wickhambreaux, Kent, MBE. Arms, Crest and Badge. Garter and Clarenceux Kings of Arms. 15/7/2019. College reference: Grants 182/118.
A grant of Honorary Arms, Crest and Badge was made to Lawrence King CASEY junior, of Beaumont, Jefferson County, Texas, USA, by Letters Patent of Garter, Clarenceux and Norroy and Ulster Kings of Arms dated 2 August 2019. This stated that he is third in descent from Edwin Boultbee of Bangor, Penobscot County, Maine, USA, baptized 1827 in Derby, Derbyshire. College reference: Grants 182/164. The achievement is illustrated right, and the blazon is as follows:
Arms: Per fess embattled Gules and Argent a Dragon rampant counterchanged armed Or holding in the dexter forefoot a Pestle and in the sinister a Mortar also counterchanged.
Crest: Upon a Helm with a Wreath Argent and Gules A demi Stag Gules supporting between the forelegs a Pillar ensigned with a Grenade Or fired proper.
Badge: A Stag’s attires Gules surmounted at their base by a Grenade Or fired proper.
DE SILVA, Norman Andrew, of Mirboo North, Victoria, Australia. Arms and Crest. Garter, Clarenceux and Norroy and Ulster Kings of Arms. 5/8/2019. College reference: Grants 182/151.