Field Marshal Sir George Howard throughout most of his life served in the British army. His military career started with a commission as an ensign in 1725, at the age of about 7, although he did not join his regiment until 1736. He was in command of soldiers at the Battles of Fontenoy (1745), Falkirk (1746) and Culloden (1746) and, during the War of Austrian Succession (1742-48), at the Battle of Lauffeldt and During the Seven Years’ War (1756-63). In 1746 he purchased Stoke Place house in Stoke Poges. Thereon for two whole centuries his descendants lived in the house.
Photo courtesy of the National Army Museum, London
(out of copyright)
Motto: Virtus mille scuta – Virtue equals a thousand shields
Heraldry: All black background. A shield and a lozenge. Dexter, shield , within Order of the Bath, Quarter, as dexter of 2, but no crescent. Sinister, lozenge, ensigned with a countess’s coronet, as dexter, impaling. Beckford Crest: (above shield) on a chapeau gules and ermine a lion statant guardant tail extended or crowned gules. Supporters: (one to shield and one to lozenge). Two lions rampant argent collared counter-company or and azure. All on a mantle and ermine.