A lot of research – and artwork – is behind each official badge created for the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF).
The latest one, for HMCS Frederick Rolette, Canada’s fifth Arctic Offshore Patrol Ship (AOPS), was recently finished at the Canadian Heraldic Authority (CHA) and includes a variety of elements inspired by Canadian military heritage.
“Heraldry relies on imagination and even imaginary creatures to convey complex histories and abstract concepts,” explains Bruce Patterson, Deputy Chief Herald of Canada.
“For HMCS Frederick Rolette, the personal characteristics, background, and fame of its namesake are embodied by the simple image of a heraldic sea-lion holding a saber” he continues.
Born in Quebec City on 23 September 1785, Frederick Rolette is characterized as a bold, tenacious, and courageous French sailor according to historical dispatches. These descriptions inspired the badge in profound ways, including the heraldic sea-lion and saber.