A Grant of Arms

20 THE AUSTRALIAN BAR GAZETTE A Grant of Arms The Arms of the Bar Association of New South Wales Earl Marshal. He was the King of Arms of the English were recently displayed at the entrance to Wentworth with authority which embraced all Arms—sorry, Chambers—the gift of the architects of the building, and Armorial Bearings, of noblemen. Not being inclined beautifully carved in wood. Thus is safely concluded the to raise any point of jurisdiction, and being prepared arrival of yet another child in the family of the Bar Asso to differ, as we did in numerous matters, “only with ciation. But posterity should know of some of the respect” (a phrase we had picked up somewhere) we morning sickness and labour pains of the Bar Council pursued our enquiries. which was mother to its birth, and of the wooing of the College of Arms, which fathered the infant. Supporters we were told in no uncertain terms, were “restricted to important persons such as Peers, The origins of the move to obtain a Grant of Arms Knights Grand Cross of the Orders of Chivalry, for the Association came as far back as 1957, and important Associations, and some companies such ultimately the Council appointed a sub-committee, as as transport, banking, and insurance which can be it usually does, to do the work. The sub-committee regarded in the light of being public utility com found it had a lot to learn. One of its number referred panies”. the problem for advice to a friend overseas known to be There appeared to be some difficulty in bringing the knowledgeable in matters of heraldry. He advised Bar Association within the latter group but we still reference to a learned Knight who held the appointment persisted. It was some comfort to know from of Clarenceux King of Arms at the College of Arms Clarenceux King of Arms that in London. A most sincere debt of gratitude is owed to this latter gentleman who was the acme of courtesy “In view of the fact that supporters are only granted and consideration throughout. Without his aid the Bar in restricted circumstances I regard them in the Association might still be modestly plebeian without nature of a dignity which I should be very glad any Letters Patent to its name. to enJoy myself were I eligible”. In fact the status of the Association was accepted As in modern art, and wine, and T.V., and Equity, readily by Garter King of Arms and our entitlement we had first to learn the language. “Coat of Arms” we to supporters was recognised when details of our history, found to be properly called the “Achievement” or our constitution, and our membership were made known. “Armorial Bearings”. This was quickly brought to our We were also told we could apply for crest and badge, notice in correspondence with our mentor, but we readily and this we did. adjusted our clumsy phrases accordingly. We learned too of the need for a “Petition to the Earl Marshal” And so began a somewhat lengthy correspondence and we had to consider whether we wanted “Arms, with requests, suggestions, counter-suggestions, amend Crest, Badge and Supporters”. Of course we did, but ments, additions, omissions, and coloured sketches pass more than mere request was necessary. Said our guide ing back and forth between Council and Clarenceux. and friend, “The question of whether supporters are granted rests with Garter King of Arms and I am con Basically we wanted to include something from the sulting him about this matter”. Who was this new Arms of the State of New South Wales to indicate our intruder into our private affair? Would we be told Australian home. We also wanted to incorporate some next that we must have a solicitor? Garter King of thing peculiar to our profession, something to show our Arms we found to be an office immediately under the link with the Bench, something to represent our Eng THE AUSTRALIAN BAR GAZETTE 21 lish origin as a profession, and something to demon permitted to have substantially what we asked for and strate our part in the administration of Justice. in this we were greatly assisted by their sympathetic suggestions. We had our ideas—Garter and Clarenceux had theirs. We stipulated a grant in “as simple a form as And then the “Achievement” had to be painted. possible”. Clarenceux replied that this request “coin Coloured sketches passed back and forth. The question cides entirely with my own views”, but we felt that the was raised as to what should be the colour of the first sketch he sent us incorporated far too many kangaroo. Clarenceux said:— kangaroos. We ran the risk of being thought over- “Thank you for your letter of the 11th March letting critical, but we had no knowledge whether those me know that you have no particular preference for concerned with the grant had ever visited Australia. either the brown or grey natural coloured At no stage, however did we ever lack courtesy and kangaroo. co-operation from Clarenceux. He sent out “the neces sary form of Memorial to the Earl Marshal” for signa I take it that the difference in the two colours is ture, and concluded one of his letters:— really rather like the difference between a summer and winter coat, and unless it is specified in the “I am going away until Whitsuntide this evening blazon, for instance that it is a Roebuck of the and I am dictating this letter in order not to keep latter colour, the word ‘proper’ would as you say you waiting for a reply, and as the letter cannot be cover either. typed in time for me to sign it I hope you will for give my personal assistant signing it on my behalf”. In Heraldry the artistic treatment is as you know rather more conventional than realistic, of which We knew beyond doubt that in his hands we were the heraldic Lion as compared to the lion in the safe from officious meddling by irresponsible under zoo is a good example.” lings, and so it proved. This was indeed a serious matter and properly treated Supporters posed a problem—we wanted the lion as such at the College of Arms. and kangaroo as in the New South Wales Arms. This we were told was not permissible without a “difference”. Presidents of the Bar Council had come and gone So the lion’s head was turned and the noble beast and finally the happy relationships we had enjoyed changed sides in supporting the shield. This we felt with the College of Arms were brought to an end was no small triumph for us, as we had to overcome by the issue of our Letters Patent. We had earlier con the suggestion that one of the supporters be a lyre-bird, firmed our instructions by payment of the appropriate which we considered to be ornamental, typically Austra fee, and we now had the right to display our Arms lian, but liable to be mis-spelt by those unfamiliar with whenever we wished. the members of the Association. We were a little concerned at one stage as to just We had some discussion also about the motto. Our how far we should, in letterheads or otherwise, display first request that it should be in Latin, and the question the whole “Achievement”, but our doubts were set at of a suitable translation was referred by Clarenceux rest when Clarenceux advised us “as far as my personal to a scholar who occupied the “Sixpenny Handley opinion is concerned l should be guided, at any rate Vicarage, Salisbury”. He had his difficulties and so to some extent, by what would look best, and if I am did we. In discussion of various phrases and their inter right in thinking that the New South Wales Bar Associa pretation he said, “You may think this is a frightfully tion, being a large and important body including among pedantic objection”. We did not think that, but we did its members many barristers from the various Inns, think on reflection that our motto was best expressed I do not think that it would be presumptuous to show in English, even after consultation with a Professor of the whole Achievement”. Latin in Australia. Our thanks to Clarenceux were genuine indeed. But out of this most interesting contact with those who jealously guard the granting of Arms, we were P.L.H..

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