Page 11 - Dictionary of Heraldry and Related Subjects
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HERALDRY
                               As A  keen Heraldist for many years 1 have always hoped  for the publication
                               of  an up-to-date Dictionary of  Heraldry, as the last one was published over
                               100 years  ago  and,  though  stiH  extrernely  useful, is  of  course  out  of  date
                               in many ways. However, nothing seems fo materialise from any of  the many
                               Heraldic  writers and  so eventually  1 decided  to write one myself.
                                A  Dictionary  of Heraldry  if  properly  used  can be  an extremely valuable
                               book.  It  is  never  designed  to  give  exhaustive  information  on  any  one
                               particular  subject  but  to  provide  sufficient information  at  least  to  give  its
                               user enough general information about a particular subject for his immediate
                               needs. After all, if  one is at a loss to how the meaning of a  word in every-
                              day life one makes reference to one of  the standard  dictionaries.  One does
                               not  expect  to  get  a  complete  explanation  of  al1 the  whys  and  wherefo~es
                               about it.  but  enough  information  to lmow its general  rneanjng.
                                Heraldry  is  an  extremely  Fascinating  subject  wllich  is  piaying  a  much
                               wider part  in  al1 our lives today than at almost any time in  history. During
                               the MiddIe Ages probably  a greater  use was made of  armorial bearings, in
                               that, though  al1 who possessed  them displayed  them more widely, their  use
                               was  restricted  almost  entirely  to  the  NobiJity.  Today,  however.  personal
                               arms can be used by almost anybody, providing he is a straiglltforward  and
                               decent  living citizen. Furthermore, arms are used by cities, towns, I~ospitals,
                               schools  and  many  other  well  known  institutions,  and  even  some  of  the
                               larger and well established industrial companies.
                                This means that  aImost everybody  both  male and female owes a Ioyalty
                               to one or more persons or bodies bearing arms.
                                During  World  Wars  1 and  II a  great many rnembers of  the community
                              scrved with  the forces and  bear  a loyalty to a particular  unit  or formatioii.
                              In  the case  of  the Navy  it  would  have  been  a ship's  badge;  if  it was  the
                              Army there would  have  been  a  regimental  or corps badge together  with  a
                              formation  sign; in the case of  the Royal Air Force there were the squadron
                              badges,  many  of  which  became  exceedingly famous.  Al1  this  is  Heraldry
                              and  though  service badges  may be trated  as one of  the Rclatad  Subjects
                              yet it is still part of  the Heraldic study.
                                Royal  Heraldry  though  liglitly  touched  upon  in  these  pages  is  again  a
                              definite study of  its  own  and  a  particularly  interesting  one,  too.
                                Much  of  the  information  1  have  gathered  in  compiling  this  work  of
                              reference  has  been  obtained  from  or  verified  in  those  excellent  books  on
                              Heraldry by  C. W. Scott-GiIes and Julian Franklyn,  to whom I gladly give
                              fullest acknowledgement.
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