Professor Sir John Smith CBE QC LLD FBA
Armorial Bearings

The Cross Moline Ermine is a combination of the Cross ermine in the Cambridge University Arms and the Cross Moline in the University of Nottingham Arms. It also refers to the Millrinds in the Arms of Lincoln’s Inn.

The Crescents and Estoiles are taken from the Arms of the University, and the Crest of the City of Nottingham.

The open book echoes those in the Arms of Nottingham and Cambridge Universities.

The Millrind in the Crest comes from the Arms of Lincoln’s Inn. Also in the Crest is the Downing College Griffin (holding the Millrind).

The Latin motto is Ad Meliorem Legem.

The gongs are the Knight Bachelor’s Badge and Commander in the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE).

The Knight Bachelor’s Badge is described as follows:
“Upon an oval medallion of vermilion, enclosed by a scroll a cross-hilted sword belted and sheathed, pommel upwards, between two spurs, rowels upwards, the whole set about with the sword belt, all gilt”



“For God and the Empire” is the motto of The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire

...and here’s JC’s miniatures; details below...

The Burma Star was awarded for one day or more of operational service during the Burma Campaign between the 11th December 1941 and the 2nd September 1945.

The Burma Star medal has a red centre with dark blue, orange and dark blue edges. The red represents the Commonwealth Forces and the orange, the sun.