Dear Jeff,
I have enjoyed your pages on the net Re heraldry of the Johnstones, I supply information on the arms of my father Canon John Roderic Lindsay Johnstone of Turramurra, Sydney, Australia. They were granted to his father, The Rev. (later Archdeacon) Samuel martin Johnstone (1879-1949) by Lord Lyon Balfour Paul 18th January, 1919: "Argent, a saltire sable between an acorn slipped proper in chief and in base on a chief indented Vert, three cushions Or. Above the shield is placed a helmet befitting his degree with a mantling Vert double Argent and on a wreath of his liveries is set for his Crest A Spur winged Or and in the Escrol over the same this Motto NUNQUAM NON PARATUS". You will notice that the main difference to other Johnstone arms is that the colour green replaces red. My grandfather was born in Ireland, and his late father John Lindsay Johnstone (1823-1896) lived his whole life in Ireland, being the son of William Johnstone who was born in Annandale and moved to Ireland about 1821. The destination of the grant of arms was to my grandfather, and to all the other descendants of his grandfather. My father (b.1914) is the senior surviving member of this branch of the clan. I have a married son and two daughters.
Yours sincerely,
Lindsay Johnstone

Dear Jeffrey,
Glad it arrived OK. The grant of arms to my grandfather, the Rev (later Archdeacon) Samuel Martin Johnstone by Lord Lyon Balfour Paul in 1919 may have included the helmet at my grandfather's request. The grant also granted arms (subject to suitable differences) to all the other descendants of his grandfather, William Johnstone (originally of Annandale, afterwards migrated to Ireland). My great-grandfather, John Lindsay Johnstone (1823-1896) was tutor to Gerald, the later fifth Duke of Leinster, and was later private secretary to Vere Henry Lewis Foster, Irish educationist and philanthropist. After my grandfather died in 1949 a memorial was erected in St. Andrew's Cathedral, Sydney, which had with tassels and the shield was superimposed upon a Maltese cross, as he was a Chaplain of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem. This was in accordance with advice received from Lord Lyon Innes of Learney. During my grandfather's lifetime the arms were displayed in St. John's Parramatta on a plaques commemorating his ministry there (after he had left there, of course). In St. John's Parramatta the helmet is used instead of the hat, and this reinforces my opinion that it was personal taste. Both my father and I prefer the appearance of the helmet.
All the best,
Lindsay.

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