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The Ladysmith Coat of Arms

The two heraldic black birds, depicted without feet, have been extracted from the coat of arms of Sir Harry Smith. The Drakensberg is depicted by the pointed shield head and the Tugela by the white wavy crossbeam at the foot of the shield. The wheel on the right symbolises the part played by the Voortrekkers, who actually established the town. The machine gear on the left shows the industrial development in Ladysmith. The crest, viz the emerging lion, which is holding the red streamer with two golden crossed palm leaves between its forepaws, is derived from the Smith coat of arms. The crossed palm leaves are an emblem of peace.

The original colours are: Royal blue (azure), red, gold and silver.

zoom Old Ladysmith Coat of Arms

History of the Coat of Arms

The artist of the first coat-of-arms used by Ladysmith is not known, but the symbolism of the design has been handed down.

It contains two hills which represent Umbulwana and Lombard's Kop, situated to the South-East of the town, which were held by the Boers during the Siege.

A female figure in white, with a leg on each side of a derelict cannon and holding an olive branch in her left hand, represents 'peace'. Her right hand rests on a shield showing a sheep and an ear of corn representing agriculture in the district. A male figure with a rifle represents the home guard during the Siege and a cannon symbolises the siege in general. The Town Hall in the background was the seat of the Local Government in those days.

Soon after the promulgation of the State Heraldry Act of 1962, the newly established 5 SAI Batallion approached the Council for permission to incorporate certain elements of the coat-of-arms in the unit's new colours, however, the State Herald turned down the Batallion' request as the Ladysmith coat-of-arms was not heraldically acceptable.

zoom Ladysmith Coat of Arms

In August 1965 the Council resolved to instruct Mr S W Pienaar, an artist from Potchefstroom specialising in designing coats-of-arms, to submit suitable designs for Council's consideration.

The new design was adopted in February 1966 and approved by the State Herald on 1 May 1967. The design was approved as the official coat-of-arms of Ladysmith by a notice in the Official Gazette of Natal on 24 August 1967.

The symbolism of the design

The two heraldic black birds or martlets, depicted without legs, were extracted from the family coat-of-arms of Sir Harry Smith, who's wife was Lady Maria Juana de Los Delores de Leon Smith, after whom the town was named.

The Drakensberg range is depicted by the pointed shield head and the wavy crossbeam represents the area's lifeblood, namely the Tugela River.

The wheel symbolises the role of the early settlers and the machine gear the modern industrial development.

The crest, viz the emerging lion, is also derived from the Smith coat-of-arms.

In its forepaws it holds a red streamer charged with two crossed palm leaves being an eblem of peace.

The motto 'Progressus' needs no explanation.

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