Standard of Vickers’
A Complete Guide to Heraldry
By
A.C. Fox-Davies
The term “Standard” properly refers to a long tapered flag carried into battle under which troops mustered for duty. Standards were widely used prior to the most recent Jacobite rebellion of 1745. This period in time was most properly called the Tudor period.
During the reign of Henry VIII, when standing armies came into their prominence, Standards lost ground because the Army was loyal to the crown and not to the Chieftain or Prince.
The Vickers Standard depicts a heraldic cross-called a “Cross Flory” next to the staff. Within the Cross are five “mullets of six points” crowned by
Three “Mill-rinds” or Fer-de-moline. These are representative of iron from the center of a grindstone. Next come three “Naval Crowns” which appears as a charge in the arms of the towns of Chatham, Ramsgate, and Devonport.
However, these particular Naval Crowns are more properly a Crest Coronet depicting Naval rank equal to Admiral. The motto “Vigore” transects the Standard for strength.
Clan Viccar owned lands bordering Loch Awe, Loch Fyne and the Isle of North Uist. Most likely one or more of our clan kin served in naval positions of importance to the 1500’s prior to our lands being dispersed and our Clan Chief being drowned by Campbell in 1567.
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