Michael Trappes-Lomax
Encyclopedia
Michael Roger Trappes-Lomax, FSA
(16 October 1900 – 24 November 1972) was a poet
, soldier
, historian
, and officer of arms
at the College of Arms
in London
. He was the third son of Richard Trappes-Lomax and during World War II
, served as a major in the Scots Guards
.
he was a member of the Officer Training Corps, after graduation he was commissioned a second lieutenant
in the 4th/5th battalion of the East Lancashire Regiment
(a Territorial Army battalion) in April 1927. He was promoted to lieutenant
in April 1930, but later in the year he transferred to the Supplementary Reserve of Officers, and became a Scots Guard. He resigned his commission in 1935, but in 1938, with World War II approaching, he was re-commissioned.
He saw action in Egypt
and served as Aide-de-camp
to General Sir James Marshal Cornwall. On his formal retirement in 1951 he was granted the honorary rank of major.
Shortly after the war, Trappes-Lomax began his heraldic career with an appointment as Rouge Dragon Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary
on 28 August 1946. He held this post until 1951 when he was promoted to the office of Somerset Herald of Arms in Ordinary
. It was in this capacity that he took part in the proclamation and Coronation
of Queen Elizabeth II
. He retired from this position in 1967.
Trappes-Lomax also had much talent in his literary endeavours and during his lifetime he published works of both a factual and fictional nature. He died unmarried on 24 November 1972 after a long and active life. It was said of him that he undertook everything he did with enthusiasm and enjoyment.
Society of Antiquaries of London
The Society of Antiquaries of London is a learned society "charged by its Royal Charter of 1751 with 'the encouragement, advancement and furtherance of the study and knowledge of the antiquities and history of this and other countries'." It is based at Burlington House, Piccadilly, London , and is...
(16 October 1900 – 24 November 1972) was a poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
, soldier
Soldier
A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...
, historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
, and officer of arms
Officer of arms
An officer of arms is a person appointed by a sovereign or state with authority to perform one or more of the following functions:*to control and initiate armorial matters*to arrange and participate in ceremonies of state...
at the College of Arms
College of Arms
The College of Arms, or Heralds’ College, is an office regulating heraldry and granting new armorial bearings for England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. He was the third son of Richard Trappes-Lomax and during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, served as a major in the Scots Guards
Scots Guards
The Scots Guards is a regiment of the Guards Division of the British Army, whose origins lie in the personal bodyguard of King Charles I of England and Scotland...
.
Life
As an undergraduate at the University of OxfordUniversity of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
he was a member of the Officer Training Corps, after graduation he was commissioned a second lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
in the 4th/5th battalion of the East Lancashire Regiment
East Lancashire Regiment
The East Lancashire Regiment was, from 1881 to 1958, an infantry regiment of the British Army. The regiment was formed under the Childers Reforms by the amalgamation of two 30th and 59th Regiments of Foot with the militia and rifle volunteer units of eastern Lancashire...
(a Territorial Army battalion) in April 1927. He was promoted to lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
in April 1930, but later in the year he transferred to the Supplementary Reserve of Officers, and became a Scots Guard. He resigned his commission in 1935, but in 1938, with World War II approaching, he was re-commissioned.
He saw action in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
and served as Aide-de-camp
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
to General Sir James Marshal Cornwall. On his formal retirement in 1951 he was granted the honorary rank of major.
Shortly after the war, Trappes-Lomax began his heraldic career with an appointment as Rouge Dragon Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary
Rouge Dragon Pursuivant
Rouge Dragon Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary is a junior officer of arms of the College of Arms, named after the red dragon of Wales.The most recent Rouge Dragon Pursuivant was Clive Edwin Alexander Cheesman, whose replacement has yet to be announced....
on 28 August 1946. He held this post until 1951 when he was promoted to the office of Somerset Herald of Arms in Ordinary
Somerset Herald
Somerset Herald of Arms in Ordinary is an officer of arms at the College of Arms in London. In the year 1448 Somerset Herald is known to have served the Duke of Somerset, but by the time of the coronation of King Henry VII in 1485 his successor appears to have been raised to the rank of a royal...
. It was in this capacity that he took part in the proclamation and Coronation
Coronation of the British monarch
The coronation of the British monarch is a ceremony in which the monarch of the United Kingdom is formally crowned and invested with regalia...
of Queen Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
. He retired from this position in 1967.
Trappes-Lomax also had much talent in his literary endeavours and during his lifetime he published works of both a factual and fictional nature. He died unmarried on 24 November 1972 after a long and active life. It was said of him that he undertook everything he did with enthusiasm and enjoyment.