Montgomerie Motto "Garde Bien"

May 12, 1994

Marion Halpenny

Vancouver, B.C.



Hi Joss:



You probably do not recognize the script but it comes from the hand of your maternal Grandmother.

I owe you more than an apology for my neglect of your special days, Xmas, holidays, Ides of March, St. Andrew’s Day, Robert Burns Birthday, I could go on for a whole letter enumerating my misses. So let me give you one sincere, “I’m really sorry Jocelyn” in the hope your heart is a forgiving one and you give me a chance to redeem myself in some way.


I am not sure of how much family history you know. I do know your Mother loved my parents very much. My Mother when your Mother was just a young girl and my Father when she was young woman.


I am going even further back than your great grandparents. This is a true story of the Montgomeries got their coat of arm. “Garde Bien” That is the motto – Here goes:


During the fifteenth century there was much unrest in France. Many noble families were crossing the English Channel to flee the guillotine and to start new lives. The norm was for the husband to travel first, set things up and then send for his family once this was done.

Our long time ago ancestors were among the new wave of immigrants to cross the Channel. His choice was Scotland. Once he had established himself, he sent for his wife. Woman did not travel alone. And so it was that Lady Montgomerie journeyed to the coast of France with her long–time maid in attendance. They boarded the boat when the tide was going out to make an over-night crossing.


Lady Montgomerie was carrying the family fortune in her possession. This fact was supposed to be a well kept secret. Not!


Once the maid has settled her mistress in her cabin she set about to investigate the ship. (as well as the crew for she was known to be daft about sailors.) She came upon the Boson (second in command) and quickly made his acquaintance.

As is so often happens, the Boson became chatty with the maid.(called pillow talk sometimes.) He told her of the Captain’s plot to murder her mistress, dump her body over the side of the ship and steal the jewels.


The maid, being an honorable person when it came to her mistress, immediately returned to their cabin and told her the whole ugly plot.

Now the mistress was not faint of heart to be sure. She got ready and waited for the Captain to come to her cabin. When he stuck his head through the doorway, she lopped it off.

When the ship arrived in the Scottish habour next morning, there stood Lady Montgomerie on the bow, holding a sword in one hand and the captain’s head in the other – both head high for all to see.


The Montgomerie Coat of Arms shows a woman on a ship holding up a sword in one and an anchor in the other- Motto – Garde Bien. Somewhere the head of the captain was changed to anchor. I guess it seemed more genteel.

My Grandfather Montgomerie told me that year. I have never doubted it as the gospel truth~ would you?

More later on the Montgomerie Saga.

Perhaps you are too old to appreciate the fact that I work in the bakery. Oh, wonderful smells of cinnamon, chocolate. The cockroaches do take away some of the glitter but when I was a youngster, I would have though I had died and gone to heaven if my grandmother had worked in a bakery. Mine worked at Canada Packers. She brought home meat, uncooked meat. Hard for a young person to become excited about raw meat unless you are a young shark.

Your loving grandma