|
The
armiger started the
process of acquiring
arms with Peter
Gwynn-Jones when he was
Blue Mantle, completing
the process after
Gwynn-Jones became
Lancaster Herald; they
remained friends until
Sir Peter died shortly
after his retirement in
2010. It was Gwynn-Jones
who suggested the Sea
Ram for the crest being
a play on the surname of
the armiger. Having
lived in Brooklyn most
of his adult life
Colonel Ramsay wanted
some reference to the
arms of New York and the
division of the shield
with the counterchanged
lancet voids mimic the
arches of the Brooklyn
Bridge. The top of the
shield is flared out on
each side to further
give the appearance of
the towers. The swords
represent the armiger’s
many years service with
the army.
Colonel Ramsay was born
in Syracus, New York, in
1931 and grew up in
Rochester where he
attended the Rochester
Institute of Technology
and later Pratt
Institute in Brooklyn
receiving a Bachelors
Degree in Fine Art,
majoring in Interior
design. The armiger’s
father was from
Bedfordshire, served in
a unit from that county
during World War One and
was a Red Cross Field
Service Director in the
Adriatic during World
War Two. Various
branches of the
armiger’s maternal
family settled in New
England and New York
during the 17th Century.
The
armiger was drafted into
the army during the
Korean War and served in
nearly every rank from
Private to Colonel
including that of
Warrant Officer finally
retiring as a Colonel
and Inspector General in
1988 after nearly 36
years of Federal Service
ten of which were on
active duty and twenty
five in the Army
Reserve.
The armiger holds a
number of Federal Awards
including the
Meritorious Service
Medal with OLC, a number
of Commendation Medals,
Achievement Medal and
Expert Field Medical
Badge and the New York
State Conspicuous
Service Cross. After
retirement he joined the
Veteran Corps of
Artillery (organised as
a State Militia Unit in
1790 with service in the
war of 1812 and during
the Civil War, a
ceremonial unit with a
Firing Battery serving
much like the Honourable
Artillery Company)
finally retiring in 2008
with the State Rank of
Major General after six
years as Commandant.
Happily married for 48
years, Colonel Ramsay
and his wife have a son,
daughter, four grandsons
and two grand daughters.
|
