Capt. Benjamin Timothy Lee, S.B.St.J., C.D.
Hong Kong and Canada

 

Benjamin Lee arms
Benjamin Lee badge
arms
badge

 

Benjamin Lee flag
Benjamin Lee standard
flag
standard

Artist: Debbie MacGarvie

Registered in The Chinese Armorial, October 25, 2011.

Arms: Or a qilin proper, on a chief Azure a plate between two maple leaves Or.

Crest: Upon a helmet mantled Gules and Azure doubled Or within a wreath of these colours, this Crest: Issuant from a wreath of oak leaves Vert fructed Or, an arm embowed in armour Argent, the hand proper grasping a thunderbolt Argent.

Motto: FUGIT HORA

Badge: A bezant charged with a qilin proper and encircled by a wreath of maple and oak leaves Vert.

Flag: On a square banner Or fringed Or Gules and Azure, a qilin proper.

Standard: The Arms in hoist, the fly Gules charged with the Crest between two representations of the Badge separated by two bends Or inscribed with the Motto Fugit Hora, the whole fringed Or Gules and Azure.

Grant: Canadian Heraldic Authority, The Public Register of Arms, Flags and Badges of Canada, Vol. IV p. 109, April 3, 2001.

Background and History:

The main charge on the shield is the qilin, the insignia of rank for the petitioner’s grandfather, a General in the Green standard army of the Ching Dynasty. This appeared on a piece of fine embroidery known as a mandarin square, which appeared on the back and front of uniforms worn by imperial officials.  The background on which it was placed was of a gold colour, which is repeated in these arms. The maple leaves in the chief are a reminder of Capt. Lee’s upbringing in and service to Canada. The number of maple leaves honours his two daughters. In between the two maple leaves is a white disk, which resembles a pearl, aa reference to his home of Hong Kong, known as the “Pearl of the Orient.”

The crest is fitted to the traditional steel helmet of heraldry, in this case bearing a breathing hole in the shape of a maltese cross, a reference to the Order of St John.  The helmet is draped with cloth mantling of red and blue lined with gold. The crest itself, on a wreath of gold, blue and red, is made of several green oak leaves and gold acorns, out of which is an arm in silver armour, bent at the elbow, with the ungloved hand holding a silver lightning bolt.

The colours of the mantling are those of the Household Cavalry, of which Capt. Lee’s Toronto regiment, the Governor General’s Horse Guards, is a member. The oak leaves and acorns refer to the crest of the University of Toronto, which is an oak tree, and thus pay tribute to Capt. Lee’s ongoing service to that institution, as a member of the Dean’s Advisory Council for the Engineering Faculty and as Chairman of the University of Toronto (Hong Kong Education Foundation).  The arm in armour makes a reference to his military service, specifically in the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps, and the lightning bolt represents his vocation in telecommunication engineering.

The motto is a Latin phrase that translates as “The hour (or time) flies.” The motto is a reminder of the importance of making the most of life. It also refers to the fast pace of the internet industry in which Capt. Lee is involved. The quotation is taken from the 1st century A.D. Roman poet Persius.

Following usual heraldic practice, the badge, flag, and standard take elements from the armorial bearings and re-arrange them in new forms.

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