The Viceregal Lion
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Bruce William McDonald

Ottawa, Ontario
Grant of Arms, Flags and Badge, with differences to William Charles Stuart McDonald and James Malcolm Bruce McDonald
November 10, 2003
Vol. IV, p. 329

Arms of Bruce William McDonald

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Blazon

Arms

Quarterly Argent and Or a cross Azure between in the first quarter a lion rampant Gules, in the second a dexter hand vambraced fesswise Gules holding a cross-crosslet fitché Sable, in the third a lymphad oars in action sails furled Sable flagged Gules, and in the fourth a salmon naiant Gules;

Crest

A demi lion Gules holding in the dexter paw a cross-crosslet fitché Sable;

Motto

(in Scots Gaelic)


Symbolism

Arms

All of the elements on the shield, except the large blue cross, which symbolizes Mr. McDonald’s Christian faith, replicate the arms of MacDonald of Sleat, the Chief of Clan Donald of Sleat, to which lan Mr. McDonald belongs. The slight modifications in colour to the original arms make them more distinctive as personal arms, and distinguish his arms from the Chief’s.

Crest

The lion and cross are derived from the arms.

Motto

This phrase is the Scots Gaelic equivalent of “On waves and on land”. The motto was chosen as a variation on the motto of the Clan Chief of MacDonald of Sleat, “Per mare, per terras.” Creating such a variation is a common feature of a clansman’s motto with respect to the Chief’s.