Major Stephen Thomas Buchanan
Stephen Thomas Buchanan, is an infantry officer in the Australian Army. He holds a Master of Science Degree, is a Justice of the Peace for the state of New South Wales and has been awarded the US Bronze Star Medal for his service in Iraq in 2007. Stephen married Carolyn (nee Buchanan) in 1982. His grandfather immigrated as a 13 year old from Glasgow, Scotland to Brisbane, Australia in 1912. His earliest confirmed Buchanan ancestor is Thomas Buchanan, linen weaver, who married Marion Gray on 16 Dec 1815 in Kilbarchan, Renfrewshire, Scotland.
THE ARMS: Or, a lion rampant Sable armed and langued Gules on a base enarched wavy Tenné, between its forelegs a representation of the Southern Cross Azure, all within a double tressure flory counterflory Sable.
The Crest: Above the Shield is placed a Helm befitting his degree with a mantling Sable doubled Or, and on a Wreath of Liveries is set for crest an Aboriginal warrior’s hand couped at the wrist holding a fighting boomerang Brundtren.
The Motto: In an escrol over the same this motto “SOILLEIRE ANN AN CRIOSD”, Scots Gaelic meaning “Brightest in Christ”.
Recorded in the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings in Scotland Volume 89, page 104, 30 September 2013.
The Aboriginal hand and fighting boomerang represents three generations of Australian soldier (the recipient’s father, elder son and self).
The base enarched wavy Tenné represents the ochre coloured soil of Australia upon which this branch of the Clan stands.
The Southern Cross before the lion represents the constellation that most reminded the recipient of home when he was deployed on military operations.
