ROYAL'S COAT - OF - ARMS,
CREST AND BLAZER
Both the coat-of-arms, commonly called the crest and the blazer - that
symbol of privilege generally reserved for those fortunate enough to
represent the School in the Battle of the Blues, evolved over the f
first hundred years of the School's existence to what they were in the
Jubilee Year of 1929. The only change since then were the substitution
of the crown of the kings of Kandy for that of the British monarch.
The component parts of the coat-of-arms worn on the top pocket of the
blazer, and in miniature used as the crest on the cricket cap, are: a
crown, the salutation Floreat, the motto "Disce aut discede", an
elephant by a coconut palm, the monogram "R. C.", and finally a laurel
wreath of the kind which in Roman times was placed on the brows of
emperors and victorious generals. The story of Royal's coat-of-arms and
crest is the story of how these components came to be put together to
form one design - with or without the norms of heraldry - but acceptable
to all.
What the position was in 1880 when the first match was played is not
recorded. The fact that the colours came to be in or about 1880 only
incline us to the view that neither symbols nor colours were used in the
earliest period. Nevertheless, it is certain, on the authority of our
President's father, Mr. Justice E. W. Jayewardene, "delivered" when he
proposed the vote of thanks at the 1922 Prize Day, that in his time -
which would have been between 1885 and 1895 -the motto "Disce aut
discede" was cut into the school walls of The Academy. That was at San
Sebastian Hill. J. W. Subasinghe, whose father "D.W." played in the 1896
match, remembers that on the top pocket of his father's blazer was a
monogram of the letters "R.C." embroidered in gold surmounting a scroll
in which was the salutation "Floreat" also
embroidered in gold - This
appears to be the earlies symbolic representation used, but the 1907
team photograph shows that there was little uniformity in the blazer.
While some had the blue blazer edged in gold braid others used gold
piping and that, too, of varying widths, depending on the fancy of the
player or perhaps that of his doting mama!
Subsequent to 1912 - the date is apparent from a glance at the 1912 team
photograph - the Royal Armorial bearings of the British monarchs
(containing the lion and the unicorn motif) was used on the blue blazer
piped with gold ribbon or edged with gold braid. But this was never used
as a crest.
This unsatisfactory state of affairs was soon ended when Major H. L.
Reed assumed the principalship in 1922. He appointed a Colours
Sub-Committee of Old Boys and Masters whose recommendations he had
implemented. The Easter issue of the School magazine of 1922 records the
Prize Day Report of the Principal in which he states: "For the design of
our own armorial bearings .... we are indebted to Mrs. F. D. Wijesinghe,
the wife of a member of the staff". (Mr. Wijesinghe, who had been a
member of the Sub-Committee, had played in 1914-1915)."! have to
announce with great pleasure that the Government has sanctioned the use
of our new Royal College Arms in place of the Royal Arms used in the
past, in common with the many branches of the Government throughout the
Empire." The editorial - one editor was M. C. Sattsoni, who rose to be
Chief Justice commented: "It is as it should be, and it was felt that
the coat-of-arms and crest should be something unique to the
institution".
This did not put an end to the controversy for Rugby, Athletics, Boxing
and Soccer coloursmen claimed the right to wear the same blazer. It was
suggested that different widths of piping be used for different games
and that the particular game should be indicated by letters such as "R.
C. C. C." below the Arms. The problem was finally solved by the
Introduction of the striped blazer, and the first to wear it were the "Freshers"
of 1925
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