The United States of America
King's Regimental Colours of the American Revolution War 1776
2nd New Hampshire Regiment
"These two flags of the Second New Hampshire Regiment are among the few American flags in existence that were captured during the Revolutionary War. They were lost July 8, 1777, to the British near Fort Anne, New York, when ammunition ran out after a brave defence in which the Ninth British Regiment of Foot were themselves nearly captured. The Americans retreated to General Schuyler's headquarters at Fort Edward, but Lt. Colonel Hill, the English commander, ended up with their flags and took them to England. They remained there with his descendants until 1912, when they were bought and presented to the New Hampshire Historical Society."
Lexington flag
'... The first Lexington was the brigantine Wild Duck purchased by Congress and renamed Lexington in 1776. Under the command of John Barry she avoided the British frigate Roebuck which was just inside the entrance to Delaware Bay and succeeded in reaching the open sea. Off Cape Charles, Va, she captured the sloop Edward, a tender of the British frigate Liverpool, manned by a crew of twenty nine men of the British Navy, the first prize brought into the port of Philadelphia...'
Westmoreland County (Colonel John Proctor's 1st Battalion)
Tradition holds that the flag above was made in 1775 at Hanna's Town from a pre-existing British standard. The flag measures seventy-six inches by seventy inches. The field of the flag is red silk. The canton in the upper right hand corner consists of individual pieces of red, white and blue silk and forms two crosses indicating that the inhabitants of Westmoreland County still considered themselves loyal subjects of King George III. In the centre of the field is a rattlesnake coiled to strike. The snake' s thirteen rattles signify the American colonies. The rattlesnake device is painted directly on the silk, as is the lettering and decorative scrollwork. The painting was obviously done by a skilled artisan. The gold banner is lettered in black, "DON'T. TREAD. UPON. ME."; the first two letters of the word UPON have flaked away over the years. Unlike the rattlesnake on other early flags, the snake on the Proctor flag faces right toward the symbol of the British empire. Above the snake is the monogram of John Proctor and the letters, "I. B. W. C. P.", 1st Battalion, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania or Provincials.
The flag was not flown from a pole. The staff was inserted through the sleeve on the canton side of the flag and carried by the colour bearer of the battalion. It was designated the official flag of Westmoreland County in 1973, the county's bicentennial year. http://www.clanhannay.us/flag.html
The flag was not flown from a pole. The staff was inserted through the sleeve on the canton side of the flag and carried by the colour bearer of the battalion. It was designated the official flag of Westmoreland County in 1973, the county's bicentennial year. http://www.clanhannay.us/flag.html
The Westmoreland Historical Society is selling this 3 x 5 foot flag for the rather exorbitant price of $62.95 and $5.95 S&H considering its simply printed on nylon and is the official flag of Westmoreland County.
Pennsylvania Light Horse
This flag belongs to the First Troop, Philadelphia Light Horse. The colours are listed as: "Bright yellow field, silver fringe. Union Jack as in the Continental Colours; bay horse with a white star on the forehead on the crest; gold knot and radiating ribbons on a blue shield, silver ribbons below and on the border around the shield; silver letters L.H. (Light Horse). Supporters: a rosy-cheeked Indian, his kilt with gold and red feathers, red headdress, gold quiver with blue strap, buff moccasins; an angel with bluish wing, purple robe and golden trumpet."
The narrative:
This flag belongs to the First Troop, Philadelphia Light Horse. The colours are listed as: "Bright yellow field, silver fringe. Union Jack as in the Continental Colours; bay horse with a white star on the forehead on the crest; gold knot and radiating ribbons on a blue shield, silver ribbons below and on the border around the shield; silver letters L.H. (Light Horse). Supporters: a rosy-cheeked Indian, his kilt with gold and red feathers, red headdress, gold quiver with blue strap, buff moccasins; an angel with bluish wing, purple robe and golden trumpet."The narrative:
"Captain Abraham Markoe gave this flag to the troop in 1775. For many years it was believed to be the earliest flag of stripes in the United States, but close examination of the original proves that the stripes were added over the existing Union Jack canton. The 'Continental masquerading as an Indian' holding a staff with a liberty cap and the trumpeting angel symbolized liberty and fame."
Regimental Colours of the 3rd Battalion, Lincoln Militia
Lodged in the Officers’ Mess in Lake Street Armoury are the Regimental Colours of the 3rd Battalion, Lincoln Militia. They were presented at Jordan, probably on 28 June 1853, at the annual Militia muster. Painted in gold are unofficial 1812 Battle Honours: Queenston, Stoney Creek, Beach Woods, Fort Schlosser, Black Rock. Fort Niagara, Buffalo, Chippawa, Lundy’s Lane, Fort Erie. As with all Regimental items, they are in the safe keeping of the Regimental Foundation and carried on the inventory of the Regimental Museum.
Newport Light Infantry
This flag belongs to the Newport Light Infantry from Rhode Island. The colours are listed as "the union as in the Grand Union Flag; blue field; gold scrolls, anchor, G.R., flourishes, America's gown, liberty cap and chains; green leaves on the liberty pole."
"This company was formed in the fall of 1774 to improve upon 'the low State of Military Discipline' in Rhode Island. One of its sponsors, Henry Marchant, wrote to John Hancock on November 5, 1774, to inquire about obtaining arms and colours for the company: 'It is desired their Colours should be made of the neatest, best Silk of a blue Ground with the Union in One Corner, and upon a Square in the centre it is my idea to have a Female Figure representing the Genius of America Standing erect with a Staff in her Right Hand and the Cap of Liberty upon the top of it... under her Feet, the Chains of Slavery. The following Motto in some proper Place: Patria Cara, Carior Libertas [Our County is dear, but Liberty is dearer]. And, if a proper Place can be found, to have the Colony Arms, being no more than a plain Anchor. What is desired of Mr. Hancock is that he would... apply to Mr. [John Singleton] Copley to know what he would undertake to furnish the silk and to paint Them [the Colours]...' But Mr. Copley had left for London, so the colours were probably made in Newport."
Grand Union Flag- The First US Flag
The Grand Union Flag, also known as the Congress flag, the First Navy Ensign, the Cambridge Flag, and the Continental Colours, is considered to be the first national flag of the United States. This flag consisted of 13 red and white stripes with the British Union Flag of the time (prior to the inclusion of St. Patrick's cross of Ireland) in the canton.
The flag was first flown on December 3, 1775 by John Paul Jones (then a Continental Navy lieutenant) on the ship Alfred in Philadelphia). The Alfred flag has been credited to Margaret Manny. It was used by the American Continental forces as a naval ensign and garrison flag in 1776 and early 1777. It is widely believed that the flag was raised by George Washington's army on New Year's Day 1776 at Prospect Hill in Charlestown (now part of Somerville), near his headquarters at Cambridge, Massachusetts, and that the flag was interpreted by British observers as a sign of surrender. Recent scholarship disputes this traditional account, concluding that the flag raised at Prospect Hill was most likely a British union flag.
The design of the Grand Union flag is similar to the flag of the British East India Company (BEIC). Indeed, certain BEIC designs in use since 1707 (when the canton was changed from the flag of England to that of Great Britain) were identical, as the number of stripes varied from 9 to 15. That BEIC flags were potentially well known by the American colonists has been the basis of a theory of the origin of the Grand Union flag's design.
The Flag Act of 1777 authorized as the official national flag a design similar to that of the Grand Union, with thirteen stars (representing the original thirteen U.S. states) on a field of blue replacing the British Union flag in the canton. The overlap of crosses in the canton was symbolic of two kingdoms, England and Scotland; this practice of displaying the equal components called states in America, was adopted in the form of stars, suggesting universalism, aside from the rather limiting usage to be had from continually adding crosses, no crosses being distinctly representative per colony-cum-commonwealth/state (unlike St. George for England, St. Andrew for Scotland and, later St. Patrick for Ireland).
Today the Grand Union flag is often included as the "first flag" in displays of U.S. flag history, such as on the backdrop of Presidential inaugurations.
232nd raising of "Grand Union" flag at Prospect Hill (shown centre). The Grand Union Flag flies on the right with multiple British and loyalist regimental colours at Fort Stanwix.
Flags flown in support of troops
The first two flags of the United States
A replica Grand Union Flag flying outside City Hall in San Francisco, California and another on the pier
New England
Second Flag of New England, c.1707?-1775
British Governor of Virginia
Three British flags in the entrance hall of the Governor of Virginia's Palace.
Captain Baker's San Felipe Flag
Baker's Flag of San Felipe. According to the Telegraph and Texas Register, San Felipe, 5 Mar 1836 "....the English Jack showing the origin of Anglo-Americans, thirteen stripes representing that most of the colonists in Texas are from the United States; the Star is Texas, the only state in Mexico retaining the least spark of the light of Liberty; tricolour is Mexican, showing that we once belonged to the confederacy; the whole flag is historic."
Hawai'i (Sandwich Islands)
The flag of Hawaii is the official standard symbolising Hawaii as a U.S. state, as it previously had as a kingdom, protectorate, republic, and territory. It is the only state flag of the United States to have been flown under so many various forms of government and the only one to feature the Union Flag of the United Kingdom, dating when Hawaii considered itself a British protectorate (1794–1843).
There are various accounts of the earliest history of the flag of Hawaii. One relates how King Kamehameha I flew a British flag, probably a Red Ensign, given to him by British explorer Captain George Vancouver as a token of friendship with King George III. Subsequent visits reported seeing the flag flying from places of honour. An adviser to Kamehameha noted that the Union Flag could draw Hawaii into international conflict as his kingdom could be seen as an ally of the United Kingdom, and he subsequently lowered the Union Flag over his home. While disputed as historically accurate, one account of events that followed stated that in order to placate American interests during the War of 1812, a flag of the United States was raised over Kamehameha's home only to be removed when British officers in the court of Kamehameha vehemently objected to it. This account then explains why the resulting flag of Hawaii was a deliberate hybrid of the two nations' flags. In 1816, Kamehameha commissioned his own flag to avoid conflict. As a result, the current flag of Hawaii was born. Historians attribute its design to an officer of the Royal Navy (some credit Alexander Adams, others George Beckley), based on a form of the British naval flag.
1st Flag Sent to US after overthrow of Queen Liliuokalani
I was alerted to this astonishing flag being sold on eBay by Mr. Clay Moss. 12'x 24' feet.... Makers cloth tag reads: W.W. AHANA HONOLULU. It is all-sewn and all wool exept for the cotton hoist border with a wood toggle and rope sewn into sleeve. Has several holes and general wear.
This was part of the Tumbling Waters Museum which sold out the collection in the early 80s to the Heritage Society because of financial difficulty in keeping the museum running.
This "Trophy Flag" was the gift of Mr Frederick W Job of Chicago to the Chicago Historical Society in 1928. He had been the Consul General to Hawaii in the early 1890s and the "remarks" on the document copy the seller has states: "FIRST FLAG SENT TO THE UNITED STATES AFTER THE HAWAIIAN REPUBLIC WAS ESTABLISHED FOLLOWING THE OVERTHROW OF QUEEN LILIUOKALANI IN 1893." (note that on the document from the Chicago Historical Society, they list the flag as being from 1893, but that was the year of the takeover. The Hawaiian Republic was established the following year, in 1894.)
Queen Liliuokalani's Royal Standard 1838-1917
According to the Rev. Michael B. Smith, this is an 1887 variant and
Second Flag of New England, c.1707?-1775When the American Revolutionary War broke out in 1775, the Massachusetts Militia Men remembered their flag and modified it by removing the Cross of St. George and enlarging the Pine Tree. This flag is depicted in the famous painting by Jonathan Trumbell of "The Battle of Bunker Hill," which he painted in 1785, after the war was over. Trumbell was an officer in the Revolutionary Army and was in Massachusetts at the time of the battle, but he did not participate in that battle. http://www.midcoast.com/~martucci/flags/NEFlag.html
Lord Baltimore's flag, Colony of Maryland
The Calvert Arms/King's Colours has the antique gold and black diamonds of the Calvert coat of arms as the field. The Calverts were the Lords Baltimore, lords proprietors of the Royal Colony of Maryland. This is the same design that is used in the first and fourth quarters of the flag of the State of Maryland. The King's Colours of 1606 is used as the canton, yielding a black, gold, red, white, and blue flag. William M. Grimes-Wyatt
Three British flags in the entrance hall of the Governor of Virginia's Palace. 
First Raised at Taunton Massachusetts in 1774. The Boston Evening Post of Monday 24 October 1774 reported that 'We have just received the following intelligence from Taunton – that on Friday last a liberty pole 112 feet long was raised there on which a vane, and a Union flag flying with the words LIBERTY and UNION thereon.'
Captain Baker's San Felipe Flag
Baker's Flag of San Felipe. According to the Telegraph and Texas Register, San Felipe, 5 Mar 1836 "....the English Jack showing the origin of Anglo-Americans, thirteen stripes representing that most of the colonists in Texas are from the United States; the Star is Texas, the only state in Mexico retaining the least spark of the light of Liberty; tricolour is Mexican, showing that we once belonged to the confederacy; the whole flag is historic."
It was dubbed the San Felipe flag and based on ideas expressed to Gail Borden Jr. by Stephen F. Austin in the enclosure to a letter from New Orleans of 18 Jan 1836: "I shall preach independence all over the US wherever I go--What do you think of the inclosed (sic) idea of a flag." The flag was presented to the company of volunteers commanded by Captain Moseley Baker (John P. Borden, 1st. Lt.) by Gail Borden Jr. in the name of "two ladies" from the area as they marched from San Felipe 29 Feb 1836 for Gonzales. Capt. Baker made a speech to his company in response to the presentation referring to the flag "this banner of independence." He said "first in your hands is placed the Texas flag; let you be the last to see it strike to the invading foe! Let no other feeling ever glow in your bosom than that expressed in the motto on your banner, 'Our Country's Rights or Death.'.....Let us all raise our hands to heaven and swear, 'The Texas flag shall wave triumphant or we will sleep in death!'" It was claimed to have been flown at San Jacinto by those in Sherman's division. http://www.tamu.edu/ccbn/dewitt/indepenflgs.htm
The flag of Hawaii is the official standard symbolising Hawaii as a U.S. state, as it previously had as a kingdom, protectorate, republic, and territory. It is the only state flag of the United States to have been flown under so many various forms of government and the only one to feature the Union Flag of the United Kingdom, dating when Hawaii considered itself a British protectorate (1794–1843).There are various accounts of the earliest history of the flag of Hawaii. One relates how King Kamehameha I flew a British flag, probably a Red Ensign, given to him by British explorer Captain George Vancouver as a token of friendship with King George III. Subsequent visits reported seeing the flag flying from places of honour. An adviser to Kamehameha noted that the Union Flag could draw Hawaii into international conflict as his kingdom could be seen as an ally of the United Kingdom, and he subsequently lowered the Union Flag over his home. While disputed as historically accurate, one account of events that followed stated that in order to placate American interests during the War of 1812, a flag of the United States was raised over Kamehameha's home only to be removed when British officers in the court of Kamehameha vehemently objected to it. This account then explains why the resulting flag of Hawaii was a deliberate hybrid of the two nations' flags. In 1816, Kamehameha commissioned his own flag to avoid conflict. As a result, the current flag of Hawaii was born. Historians attribute its design to an officer of the Royal Navy (some credit Alexander Adams, others George Beckley), based on a form of the British naval flag.
1st Flag Sent to US after overthrow of Queen Liliuokalani
I was alerted to this astonishing flag being sold on eBay by Mr. Clay Moss. 12'x 24' feet.... Makers cloth tag reads: W.W. AHANA HONOLULU. It is all-sewn and all wool exept for the cotton hoist border with a wood toggle and rope sewn into sleeve. Has several holes and general wear.
This was part of the Tumbling Waters Museum which sold out the collection in the early 80s to the Heritage Society because of financial difficulty in keeping the museum running.
This "Trophy Flag" was the gift of Mr Frederick W Job of Chicago to the Chicago Historical Society in 1928. He had been the Consul General to Hawaii in the early 1890s and the "remarks" on the document copy the seller has states: "FIRST FLAG SENT TO THE UNITED STATES AFTER THE HAWAIIAN REPUBLIC WAS ESTABLISHED FOLLOWING THE OVERTHROW OF QUEEN LILIUOKALANI IN 1893." (note that on the document from the Chicago Historical Society, they list the flag as being from 1893, but that was the year of the takeover. The Hawaiian Republic was established the following year, in 1894.)
Flags of 1845-1898 and 1898-1960
Queen Liliuokalani's Royal Standard 1838-1917
Queen Lili‘uokalani was the last monarch of the Hawaiian Islands. She reigned from 1891 to 1893. Unfortunately for her, American businessmen and settlers overthrew her royal government and established a puppet constitutional monarchy supported by the American military. In 1898, Hawaii was completely annexed by the United States and she was forced to give up her throne. She would spend the rest of her life trying to regain her title, her people's rights, and protecting their traditions. This flag has been identified as Queen Liliuokalani's Royal Standard.Royal Hawaiian Naval Ensign
The flag was basically the Hawaiian Kingdom's flag with the addition of Queen Liliuokalani's emblem on the fly. The emblem has a crown above a yellow shield having her initial and the Hawaiian word of "ONIPAA" in red on it. Usually, the Hawaiian word "Onipa`a" is translated as "hold fast," or "steadfast," and comes from Queen Liliuokalani's motto "E Onipaa Kakou" (Let us all be steadfast). http://www.loeser.us/flags/spanish.html
According to the Rev. Michael B. Smith, this is an 1887 variant andI have had 12 of these manufactured by Annin & Co. for my personal use, all are 4'x6' nylon. One is at the Iolani Palace Museum, Honolulu, HI
http://www.nava.org/NAVA%20Membership/FlagRegistry.htm
According to David Prothero in The Colours of the Fleet, there has also been an Hawaiian naval ensign consisting of red and white stripes. On 21 January 1887 the Hawaiian government bought a 15 year old British copra steamer and converted it into a gunboat and training ship, commissioning it as HHMS KAIMILOA (the local translation of its original name Explorer). The King asked his friend Isobel Strong (the step daughter of Robert Louis Stevenson) to design an ensign. She defaced the Hawaiian flag with a white rectangle bearing a yellow shield bearing in turn a poloulu crossed with two red kahili, to symbolise the king and the princess heir apparent. A jack of red, white and blue stripes was also flown. The ship and the Hawaiian navy ceased to exist within a year.
British Guiana (Guyana)
Photo of badge on white disc taken at flag display in ICV 19 (York, July 2001). The original flag is from Clay Moss collection. According to the display catalogue: "The motto translates as: "We give and seek in return." This version may have been unofficial or its origin is not clear. Dov Gutterman, 31 July 2001 http://www.fotw.net/flags/gy_hist.html
Merchant Ensign and Governor's Flag
5 feet by 3 feet by Bulldog
Merchant Ensign and Governor's Flag
Martin Grieve
British Honduras (Belize)1919-1981
Mosquito Coast flag, 1834-1860
Bermuda
1942 flag
From personal collection; 54" x 27"
[T]he Bermudan red ensign was locally used with a white disc in the 1960-1970ies. António Martins
10` x 5` with what appears to be a pool as well
From huge personal flag, all sewn
Postcard showing the flags of the United Kingdom, Dominion of Canada and Bermuda
With the Bermuda Police Service flag
Bahamas
South America
Falkland Islands
Governor's Flag
British Antarctic Territory
The flag for use on land is a white ensign (without cross) with the arms of the territory, quite large, in the fly. The flag is for flying at British Antarctic bases (which previously flew the British flag) and at the British Antarctic Survey headquarters in Cambridge, England. I have also suggested that it be flown at the Discovery Centre in Dundee, where the RRS Discovery is moored, next to an Antarctic exploration museum. The RRS Discovery was the ship that first carried Captain Scott to the pole in 1901 and on further expeditions. She is the ship that forms the crest of the arms of the British Antarctic Territory. Graham Bartram
British Antarctic Territory Government Ensign
The badge that defaced the blue ensign of British Honduras Colony was one of the more attractive designs of it's (sic) time. It is partitioned into three sectors, the first containing the Union flag, the second, a set of logging tools, and the third displays what was very common on British Colonial flags in the Caribbean at that time. This is a sailing ship which represents the transportation of mahogany wood which British Honduras was famous for.
Gordon and Gordon's 1920's classic flag book, "Flags of the world" tells us: "British Honduras is the mahogany colony and it announces the fact in it's [sic] badge, a third of which is occupied by the mahogany feller's tools including the cross-cut saw; while at the base is a barque with a red ensign and in the other third is the Union Jack which in the seal is replaced by the more appropriate mahogany tree"
It is most unusual for a very pro-British empire flag book to utter the words that the Union Jack was replaced by anything more appropriate! An extract from the "Flag Bulletin" pertaining to the new flag of Belize on page 143 of vol. XX:5 dated September-October 1981 reads: "The different elements combining to form the national flag may be dated back as far as the early nineteenth century. At that time the local population was self-governing, since the territory was claimed by Spain and the British did no more than to insist on the right to cut timber. A public meeting in 1819 saw the creation of the coat of arms for use on the seal, the die for which arrived from London two years later.
In 1907 the design was confirmed by the College of Arms as the official Armorial bearings of what was then called British Honduras." On the graphics side, we decided to look into a great many flag books which depicted the badge detail, and settled on three sources. These were:
1.) Flags of Maritime Nations, 1912
2.) Das Grossen Flaggenbuch, 1939 (1992 facsimile)
3.) BR20, Flags of all Nations 1958.
There are some noticable differences between these three publications, although it could be said that these are very minor. The greatest cause for concern is the proportions of the Union flag in the first sector, which has the ratio of 2:3, 3:5 and 1:2 in the respective sequence from the publications listed above. What is the best? That depends on what you prefer of course, but Das Grossen Flaggenbuch will form the base image of our badge detail with the logging implements from Maritime Nations. There should be a sunset between the clouds and the sea, coloured pink but strangely omitted from Flaggenbuch, and so we shall add this detail as both BR20 and Marime Nations depict this.
David Prothero informs me that the badge was used from 1870 to 1981, one of the longest, if not the longest use of the same colonial badge. The white disc was supposed to have been removed in 1919. That is a time span of 111 years, and I cannot find anything here to beat that. Martin Grieve
Mosquito Coast flag, 1834-1860
Mosquito Coast Royal Standard
An early sewn cloth flag of Bermuda, the Red Ensign (with the Union Flag in the upper left corner) with the coat of arms of Bermuda colour-printed onto a white disc in the right half of the flag. [No place of manufacture, but probably the United Kingdom: no date but possibly 1910-1930]. Small label with ’98 – 52’ written by hand in ink, stamp to cloth strip at left margin, the first part is indistinct the second is the word ‘Bermuda’, with integral rope to allow for the hoisting of the flag. Dimensions: 52 x 100 ½ inches (including strip at left margin)
Derivation from 1960s
Bermuda red ensign with the shield on a disk based on a photo of the same flag that was recently up for auction on e-bay. In the photo, I can see what appears to be an Annin label in the heading. The shield in the photo is trimmed in yellow gold which is itself held in a thin red holding line. This image accurately mimics a couple of other Bermuda red ensigns with disks that I have personally seen, which had black holding lines around the shield down to the grassy area. They were fairly old, and apparently British made as per their proportions and headings. Clay Moss
Bermuda, uniquely among British overseas territories, uses the Red Ensign as its land flag, which apparently has been flown unofficially since Bermuda's arms were granted in 1910. The white and green shield has a red lion holding a scrolled shield showing the sinking of the ship Sea Venture one mile off the coast of Bermuda in 1609. The ship struck a reef after being caught in a hurricane. The Red Ensign is likely to have been chosen as Bermuda's land flag due to Canadian influence.
104" (264cm) x 50" (127cm) with Jute Rope & Bronze Inglefield clips. Shows pool of water at bottom in shield
10` x 5` with what appears to be a pool as well
The current Edition of BR20 doesn't show any such puddle, neither does the change number 5 nor change number 1 to the previous Edition, and BR20 (does after all) set the official standard. Not that this is in any way definitive but just as a matter of interest, a quick glance at Znamierowski (1999), Pedersen (1970) and the Flaggenbuch (1939) doesn't show any pool either. It would thus appear that there should be no water below the lion's feet on the current badge, and evidence would strongly suggest that there never was (at least officially). Christopher Southworth
Bermuda flag at Olympic Games
Postcard showing the flags of the United Kingdom, Dominion of Canada and Bermuda
Bermuda Government Ensign
With the Bermuda Police Service flag
Bermuda stamps (featuring Governor's flag)
Royal Bermuda Yacht Club
From page 86 of Graham Bartram's British Flags & Emblems
Royal Bermuda Yacht Club Signal Flags Yardarm in a 1939 Ad
British West Indies and the CaribbeanAnguilla
What appears to be the Bermudan Governor's flag on the right from a National Geographic article in the February 1937 issue titled "Changing Berlin".
Remembrance Day 2010
Colours of the Bermuda Regiment
From page 86 of Graham Bartram's British Flags & Emblems
Royal Bermuda Yacht Club Signal Flags Yardarm in a 1939 AdThe national flag of Anguilla consists of a Blue Ensign with the British flag in the canton, charged with the coat of arms of Anguilla in the fly. The coat of arms consists of three dolphins, which were featured on the earlier Anguillan flag, and which stand for friendship, wisdom and strength.
The flag is Anguilla's third flag other than as part of Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla. The island's first flag was a red blue flag featuring the name of the island in yellow and two mermaids. Variants to this flag were also widely used, with some substituting red for purple and some not bearing the name of Anguilla. This flag was widely disliked, and was replaced during Anguilla's brief period of independence by the Dolphin Flag, which is still widely seen around the island. This flag was a banner of the arms found on the current flag, and was white with a broad blue band across the base of the flag, above which were three stylised golden dolphins. It was adopted in 1990.
Governor of Anguilla
http://www.flags.net/ANGU02.htm
The governor's official flag comprises the Union Jack and the Anguilla coat of arms surrounded by a laurel wreath. It is flown at Government House when the Governor is in residence and on any motor car or boat in which he is making an official visit. The coat of arms uses the same dolphin design that appears on the flag and is edged with gold. The official seal is the shield with a double circle around it containing the words Anguilla: Strength and Endurance.
Antigua and Barbuda
"Prior to associated statehood, Antigua apparently had no coat of arms, although a seal for public business had existed since the early 19th century. The design of that seal, represented in colours on a shield. The shield had been incorporated with similar "armorialized seals on a shield of blue and white wavy stripes in a coat of arms granted to the Colony of the Leeward Islands on 10 April 1909 (*). After the Colony of the Leeward Islands was dissolved on 1 July 1956 flag badges were developed for its former components, which became separate Colonies. The flag badge of Antigua, represented on a white disk on the fly of the British Blue Ensign for use on government vessels, was the shield which had appeared in the arms of the Leeward Islands. It represented blue water in the foreground and a light blue sky with white clouds at the top. Between, in natural pastel shades, were a beach, bushes, and hills surmounted by a gray building. The most prominent feature -- on the sinister side of the shield -- was an agave plant. This badge, replaced at the time of associated statehood, had been introduced sometime in 1957."Antigua and Barbuda Governor General
(*) The crest of that coat of arms was a pineapple closely resembling the one in the Antigua crest. The background of the Leeward Islands shield may have inspired the similar blue and white wavy stripes found in the flag of The West Indies, an abortive federation (1957-1962) of which Antigua was a part. That flag and the flag badge of the Leeward Islands are described in an article on the new flag of Dominica in THE FLAG BULLETIN, Volume XVII, No. 6 pp. 166-169. Martin Grieve
Officially there was no Red Ensign, but many were in use unofficially by the 1930s, and in 1962 the Port Director of Nassau estimated that there were probably over 1,000 defaced Red Ensigns being flown by yachts at the time, and that more than 5,000 yachts had the ensign, and would have flown it at some time in the past. The Colonial Office wrote to the Bahamian government: "We realise that the unauthorised wearing of the defaced Red Ensign in both the Bahamas and Bermuda has become so widespread that there seems no possibility of bringing about its discontinuance without the creation of much ill-feeling, and do not therefore intend taking action against those concerned. On the other hand, the Board of Admiralty has again ruled that the present misuse of the defaced Red Ensign cannot be regularised." [Bahamian Symbols by Whitney Smith in Flag Bulletin March-June 1976]
David Prothero
Lighthouse Service
Royal Nassau Sailing Club
Governor's Flag
Barbados
1885 - 1958
1958 - 1966
Barbados Governor
British Virgin Islands
From Graham Bartram's British Flags & Emblems, page 12
Cayman Islands
Dominica
1955-1965
1965-1978
Grenada
1903-1974
Governor's Flag
1957-1962
Jamaican Red Ensign
Badge on the left is from an 1881 book. That on the right intended as an improvement in a later book. David Prothero
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Trinidad and Tobago
Colonial Red Ensign
Turks and Caicos Islands
Cotton Bunting with original natural rope/twine and wood peg. Marked on the edge of the bunting "18 Bahamas" The flag itself is oiled open weave cotton or wool. Same construction as many flags of the era. The edges of the flag are bound. The Union Jack is printed directly on the material and the printed circle of the Bahamas Crest is sewn onto the flag. 18" long 8.25" wide.
1964-1973
Lighthouse Service
Royal Nassau Sailing Club
Governor's Flag
Barbados
1885 - 1958
"The badge of Barbados displays the well-known design which appears on the stamps of that colony. A female figure, crowned and attired in robes of crimson and ermine, holding a trident is standing in a shell which is being drawn along the surface of the sea by two sea-horses. On the Union flag the garland surrounds the badge; on the Blue Ensign the garland is omitted."
H. Gresham Carr, "Flags of the world (1956) page 91
I..O. Evans in "The observers book of flags (1966) is more open: "The badge of Barbados represents Britannia, crowned and holding her trident, standing in a sea-shell and drawn by two sea-horses."
Martin Grieve
image by Martin GrieveIn a Barbadian coin (penny) dating of 1792, is engraved what could be the correct version of the first Barbados coat of arms. Here is a reconstruction, colours are assumed. According to the coin, what we called "Neptune" is actually George III, king of the United Kingdom from 1738 to 1820. The horses are not dolphin-tailed, while George III is driving a sea-chariot. In the coin, the name of the island is spelled: Barbadoes. I am not sure if such a name was used in the defaced blue ensign. It is very clear, George III is wearing crown, and one order (I don't know what could it be). This is probably also that the badge was adopted not in the 1800s but late 1700s. Juan Manuel Gabino Villascán
1958 - 1966Barbados Governor
British Virgin Islands
From Graham Bartram's British Flags & Emblems, page 12
The eleven lamps which surround the figure of St. Ursula each represent 1,000 of the 11,000 Virgins who, according to the legend, were martyred along with St. Ursula. The figure of St. Ursula and the lamps are surrounded by a garland of two green branches.
The present flag was adopted in 1956 and the devices incorporated in the badge were those which had previously been used in the Public Seal. The badge is set against the background of the Union Jack, which is the flag of the United Kingdom. Gvido Petersons, 7 May 2003
Seemingly rare flag with badge in white circle
The present flag was adopted in 1956 and the devices incorporated in the badge were those which had previously been used in the Public Seal. The badge is set against the background of the Union Jack, which is the flag of the United Kingdom. Gvido Petersons, 7 May 2003
Seemingly rare flag with badge in white circle
1955-1965Badge: HMS Magnificent in the fortress of Cabrits in Saint Ruperts Bay, Porstmouth. Later. c. 1958 the same badge but in form of shield was used on blue ensign. It was suppressed on 9 November 1965 when the arms, granted 21 July 1961 were added to the flag. Seems that the flag was used always without white circle, but seems that the first idea was with white circle.Jaume Olle'
1965-1978
Governor's Flag
1903-1974
In the centre of the badge you can see a sugar cane mill moved by oxen. This mill is apparently made of metal, due to the blue colour of it. In Puerto Rico they were made of wood. This very kind of sugar cane mill, known in Spanish America as trapiche, was called «Blood Sugar Cane Mill» or «Trapiche de Sangre», because many slaves lost their hands when they were trampled and squashed by the moving rolls of this particular mill. The slave had to pass by hand through the moving rolls the bundle of sugar cane they were carrying, and sometimes there hands got caught in too. Blas Delgado
Red EnsignThe latin inscription beneath the ship — «clarior e tenebris» translates as «light out of darkness», and the ship, it has been suggested is to represent that of Columbus. It appeared on the Blue Ensign from 1903 to 1974. It may possibly have been used on the Union Jack after the Windward Islands administration was dissolved in 1960, or after the Associated States were established in 1967, until independence in 1974.
The World Statesmen web-site has a list of Administrators up to 1967, and thereafter, Governors from 1967 to 1974. I have no idea if this flag ever actually existed. Martin GrieveHere's one example I've found:
1957-1962
3rd February 1661 - Grant of Arms. Blazon in ABC of Heraldry by G.C.Rothery, 1915; "Argent, a cross gules, thereon five pineapples or. Crest, a crocodile on a log, proper. Supporters, dexter, a West Indian native woman proper, crined or, girt about the waist with feathers alternately gules and argent, holding a basket of fruit, the head wreathed with a band azure rising therefrom a feather gold; sinister, a West Indian native man proper, girt about the waist with the feathers, holding in his hand a bow or, the head wreathed with a band azure, rising therefrom a circlet of feathers alternately gules and argent."
Nothing about the helm and mantling, which is of a type usually associated with royal arms, and no reference to a motto.
1875 - Arms used as flag badge on Blue Ensign and Union Jack. Oval shield surmounted by crocodile crest. No supporters, or helm or motto. On a white disc surrounded by a green garland on Union Jack for Governor when embarked on a vessel within the area of his government. On Blue Ensign for vessels in the service of the government, possibly on a white disc.
1906 - Flag badge changed. Arms on a conventional shield, supporters, crest, motto (Indus Uterque Serviet Uni) on white scroll. No helm or mantling.
8th April 1957 - New grant of Arms by Royal Warrant due to the doubtful blazon of the original Arms. Royal helm and mantling allowed. Full armorial achievement. Used on Blue Ensign, on a white disc, and on Union Jack, within a garland.
13th July 1962 - Out of Many, One People, replaced Latin motto. Colour of scroll possibly changed at same time from white to yellow. Less than a month before independence so would not have featured on a flag.
6th August 1962. Both flags discontinued. David Prothero
by Blas Delgado Ortiz
96" by 54" (8 feet by 4.5 feet)
65 inches (1650mm) long by 36 inches (920mm) and made from hessian type cotton.
65 inches (1650mm) long by 36 inches (920mm) and made from hessian type cotton.
Jamaica did not have an official defaced Red Ensign. That is not to say that there were no unofficial Red Ensigns, but there can be no precise date for them. Furthermore, the badge is similar to those that appeared on the Blue Ensign and the governor’s Union Flag between 1957 and 1962, but has had the helm and mantling removed and the colours simplified. One particular error is the absence of the outline of the shield between the supporters.Jamaica’s first badge, 1875, was an oval shield bearing St George’s cross with five gold pineapples, one in the centre of the cross and one in the middle of each arm. A very small helm above the shield was surmounted by a (probably green) crocodile on a red and white torse.In 1906 this was replaced by a badge similar to the badge in the image except that; it had a shield (conventional shape), the scroll was in two separate curves with less elaborate flourishes, the crocodile was green with a stubby tail, the supporters had blue clothing around their hips.From 1957 until independence in 1962 the badge was the present coat of arms. This differed from the previous badge in that, a helm and mantle were inserted between the top of the shield and the torse of the crocodile crest, the colour of the clothing of the supporters was changed from blue, to green and brown, the crocodile became a little more elegant with a longer curving tail.At some point the motto on the scroll was changed from "indus uterque serviet uni" to "out of many, one people", but I do not know whether this happened in 1957 and appeared on the badge and arms, or in 1962 and has appeared only on the actual arms.
Governor of Jamaica
I took this image from Leni Riefenstahl's Olympia (from the 1936 Berlin Olympics)
I took this image from Leni Riefenstahl's Olympia (from the 1936 Berlin Olympics)
Royal Jamaica Yacht Club
Leeward Islands
Sewn flag produced by Flying Colours
The Jamaica Yacht Club was formed in 1884 by a group of enthusiastic sailors. On the 29th of November 1889, the Club was granted a Royal Charter by Queen Victoria following a visit by Prince Edward, then the Prince of Wales, who later became Edward VII. Until 1962, when Jamaica became an independent nation within the Commonwealth, the Commodores were all Governors of Jamaica, whether or not they were yachtsmen. In 1963 the Commodore was chosen for the first time from the membership of the Club.Montserrat
The badge was adopted in 1906, whereas the flag only much later, officially in 1960. One version has the badge directly on the Blue Ensign occupying an imaginary circle, the diameter being 4/9 the hoist width. A variant may or may not have been extant, and this version shows the badge on a white circle. Both the versions with white disc and without have been reported, but it is not clear which is correct. Martin Grieve
Flag displayed in my classroom
Sewn flag produced by Flying Colours
The colonial flag of Leeward Islands was used between 1871 and 1956 in the Caribbean. The badge was designed by Sir Benjamin Pine, the first Governor. His flag was the Union Jack with the badge on a disc surrounded by a garland of laurel. The flag was used until the dissolution of the Leeward Islands colony in 1956. Nevertheless, the scales are all wrong - the "mutant" pineapple is several times larger than the further pineapples, rather more than perspective should allow, and the nearer ship is smaller than the further one!
The differences of the Royal Arms depicted on the Leewards badge are:
- The shield is elliptical rather than circular
- The lettering is in black as opposed to gold
- The English lion faces the shield, instead of staring out at the observer.
- The English lions on the first and fourth quadrants of the shield are gradually lengthened to accommodate the elliptical shape. Martin Grieve
Governor's Flag
The flag was introduced in 1874, three years after the Leeward Islands Federal Colony had been established in 1871. It was a re-organisation of the previously loosely associated islands of Antigua, Montserrat, St Christopher, Nevis, Virgin Islands and Dominica.
Usually the flag badge of a colony was derived from the pictorial element of its Public Seal. No seal existed when the Governor, Sir Benjamin Pine, was asked to submit a badge for the Leeward Islands, and he took the opportunity to contrive this bizarre badge, with a large pineapple for himself, three smaller pineapples for his family, and a completely out of scale ship. One has to ask why the Admiralty bothered to insist that all flag badges should be submitted for their approval, if they were prepared to approve this?
In a reversal of the usual procedure, the seal of the colony was copied from the badge, but fortunately revised. The foreground, three small pineapples, and royal arms were removed, and the two ships replaced by a steamer and a sailing ship of equal size, one on either side of an enlarged central pineapple.
In 1940 Dominica was transferred to the Windward Islands, and the whole federation dissolved in 1956. The post of governor of the Leeward Islands was not abolished until 1960, so I suppose his flag lasted until then.
Elements of the arms granted to the Leeward Islands on 10 April 1909 became the flag badges of the individual island groups when the Federation was dissolved in 1956. Antigua, top left; Dominica, top right; Montserrat and Virgin Islands at the bottom. The two shields in the centre were combined with another scene to produce a tierced in pairle reversed shield for St Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla. David Prothero
Windward and Leeward Islands
The flag of the British Windward Islands was the flag of the Federal Colony of the Windward Islands. It was a Blue Ensign with a badge. The separate colonies under the Federal Colony each had their own ensigns. In 1903, the shape of the crown on the badge was changed slightly. The Governor-in-chief of the Windward Islands used a Union Flag defaced with the coat of arms.
Governor's Flag
The Federal Colony of the Windward Islands became the Territory of the Windward Islands in June 1956, and was dissolved in 1960. The Windward Island badge was designed in 1884/85. It had by then been realised that the pictorial scene from the seal of a colony did not make a satisfactory badge on flags, and various combinations of crowns, crests and initials had been tried in different colonies over the previous five years. I imagine that originally each quarter of the shield was to have had an emblem representing one of the four islands. This intention would have been spoilt when Barbados was detached in 1885, leaving only three islands. There was in any case no obvious emblem for any of the islands, and the problem of what to put in the fourth quarter probably led to the decision to have a shield quartered with just four plain colours. The lettering on the garter does not follow the usual convention, in which the inner edge of the garter is used as the line on which words are written. Instead the first and last words are reversed, so that "Windward" rests on the outer edge, "Governor-in-Chief" on the inner edge, and "Islands" on the outer edge.
David Prothero
From the Clay Moss collection
In May 1938 Sir Gerald Woods Wollaston, Garter Principal King of Arms, wrote to the Colonial Office that the Windward Islands badge was armorial but had not been granted by the College of Arms; it should be changed, or the colony should apply for a grant of arms. The letter was passed to the Governor who asked for the badge to be granted as arms. The Colonial Office applied for a grant of arms, but failed to ask what the arms would look like, and were embarrassed by the result. The Arms granted on 16 August 1939 were blazoned:
"Quarterly Gules, Or, Vert and Sable with the motto 'I pede fausto'; to be borne for said Windward Islands upon Seals, Banners or otherwise according to the Laws of Arms."
In other words the badge, as arms, was reduced to just a quartered shield of four plain colours and a motto. No additional embellishments, and the garter and crown removed.
Garter wrote that the crown used as a crest was a personal prerogative of the King and unsuitable for any other person or body. He classed colonial governments as corporate bodies on a par with banks. The garter emblem should be used only as relating to the Order of the Garter and with no inscription upon it, other than the motto of the Order. Eventually Garter agreed that badges were outside his province, and unofficially approved the idea of a crown being included in badge of Windward Islands. In January 1940 the Governor suggested that the garter should be replaced by a plain white ring bearing the same inscription, and that the ground within the ring should be white and not blue, but as far as I know this was not done, and the badge remained as before. David Prothero
An earlier blue ensign had a white disc divided horizontally into two segments. The upper segment [about three quarters of the circle] had a view of St.Lucia from the west. The shore line is roughly on the diameter of the circle. [Geo17] describes it "for a badge a landscape in which appear the Pitons, twin mountains of the island, and the ever-bubbling volcano Soufriere, with a land-locked harbor in the foreground." Above Castries flies the Union flag of Great Britain on the fort. The motto is in the lower segment, black on white:
Statio Haud Malefida
Carinis
It means, 'Hardly a faithless guard for ships.' The same motto went with the Arms used on the other Blue Ensign.
This badge was not introduced in 1938 but, with more subdued colours, in 1875. It was reluctantly approved by the Administrator, who wrote, "[It] is the device on the seal as colony does not possess any arms or badge. No doubt the simplest and best device would have been merely the name of the colony, but we must abide by the Order in Council." (CO 323/321).
St Lucia, being one of the Windward Islands had no separate Governor and it has often been assumed that the badge of the island was used only on the Blue Ensign. This was not correct for St Lucia, and probably not for the other Windward Islands. "25 Mar 1919. St Lucia Despatch. The colony’s badge is used only on the defaced Union Flag of the Administrator. The Blue Ensign is used only by the Harbour Master who defaced it with the letters ‘H M’ in white on the fly."
1939 - 1967 Flag
The badge was replaced in 1937. The amendment to the Admiralty Flag Book shows the new badge drawn on a white circle with the notes; "On Union Flag as shown with garland for Administrator." "On Blue Ensign with no white circle."
The seal was replaced in 1937 as was usual at the beginning of a new reign. It was hoped that an emblem could be designed that would be not only the distinctive local element of the seal, but also a general purpose badge and a flag badge, and that it would be ready in time for the Coronation. However there were delays caused by the inability of the Colonial Office and the Royal Mint Advisory Committee to agree on the design.
One consequence was that the flag badge was approved by George VI on 26 Oct 1937, but the arms were not granted until 16 Aug 1939. "Sable, two sugar canes one in pale surmounted by another in fess between in the first and fourth quarters a rose and in the second and third quarters a fleur de lis all Or." Notice, "sugar canes", not "bamboo", as written in Smith's "Flags and Arms" 1980.
The design was by Edward Kruger-Gray, based on a draft submitted by the Administrator. Gray's first design had an English lion, passant guardant in the 1st and 4th quarters. This was rejected as being unbalanced, and his second design the lions were replaced by leopard heads. This in turn was rejected, because the leopard had no significance in St Lucia. The rose was considered to be more familiar, and to have the advantage, for locally produced badges, of being easier to draw. The black background is surprising. It represented the period when Castries on St Lucia was an important coal-bunkering port. According to the Administrator, "it was the largest in the Western Atlantic, and possibly, excluding Europe, in the whole world."
The St Lucia "black shield" badge should not have been set on a white disc on the Blue Ensign at any time. David Prothero
The first badge of St Vincent was submitted to the Admiralty in 1877 and illustrated in Arms & Badges of the Several Colonies of Great Britain. In 1906, during the preparation of a new Admiralty Flag Book it was noted that «Badge differs from seal in absence of motto Pax et Justica, absence of clasped hands on altar, absence of plate in hand of figure bending over flame, drapery different. Make badge more like seal.» The revised badge appeared in the 1907 Drawings of the Flags in Use at the Present Time by Various Nations David Prothero
Colonial Red Ensign
Fully stitched Union Jack & emblem with the sailing ships appears to be hand drawn but may be an old print sewn in, has 'MISCERIQUE PROBAT POPULOUS ET FOEDERA JUNCI' written across the bottom.
This image is based on photo of a red ensign taken by Dov Gutterman at a flag display in ICV 19 (York, July 2001). The original flag is from Clay Moss collection. According to the display catalogue: "The badge is an example of a seal rather than coat of arms. The motto reads: "She is content to make treaties and unite peoples." This version may have been unofficial or its origin is not clear. Blas Delgado Ortiz and Dov Gutterman
Trinidad and Tobago Governor's flag
Turks and Caicos Islands
1876-1948
The 'Bullock Triumphant' was approved 1876. It was based on the existing seal which had been designed when, 'wild cattle were the dominating feature of the Colony'. I have an idea that it was also a punning reference to a Captain Bullock who was involved in the early history of the Falkland Islands. David Prothero
1925 - 1948
Pre 1999 flags
THE RECOVERY OF THE FALKLAND ISLANDS FLAG 1982
I was a young Stoker serving onboard HMS ACTIVE. ... Two days after the Argentinean surrender the ACTIVE was anchored in Port William, a sea inlet adjacent to Port Stanley, with many of the ships that had been involved it the conflict. Volunteers were sought from our crew to proceed ashore to sort mail in an improvised sorting office or provide a gash collection party. ... Once the lorry was emptied we were given five minutes to skirmish through the “Spoils of war” and soon I found myself walking over piles of ammunition, discarded kit and dismantled weapons. I discovered a rucksack on a pile of kit and on closer inspection found personal effects, rosily beads, pictures and letters and beneath a flag. The flag appeared to be a union jack and once unrolled a crest appeared in the centre. ... The offer of £20 and a 4.5 pistol in exchange for the flag was quickly turned down and off I went with my prize. I have since discovered that the flag, which measures 4ft X 6ft, was used for ceremonial purposes and was most likely stolen from the Drawing room sideboard of Government House in Stanley shortly after the Argentine occupation. How the flag arrived on the dump? I believe that the surrendering forces abandoned their kit on the streets of Stanley and this was bulldozed by the British forces eventually ending up on the dump at Stanley. I still have the flag and several people have commented on its probable value. For me the true value or more importantly "Cost" could never be calculated and to that end the flags is destined to be passed down my family line with my memories of 1982. Mick Procter http://www.falklands25.com/memories.php
Falklands flag taking pride of place in my classroom for 25th anniversary of the Liberation of the islands from Argentine aggression.
The interior of Christ Church bears a number of reminders, in the form of plaques and flags of the events of 1982 and of the liberation of the Falklands from fascist Argentinian aggression by British forces. The photo on the right shows the Globe Tavern in Stanley
South Georgia and Sandwich Islands
The 'Bullock Triumphant' was approved 1876. It was based on the existing seal which had been designed when, 'wild cattle were the dominating feature of the Colony'. I have an idea that it was also a punning reference to a Captain Bullock who was involved in the early history of the Falkland Islands. David Prothero
Cllr. White raises the Falkland Islands flag with: Madam Mayor, Cllr. Lynden Thorpe and the Mayor's Consort; Andrew Rosindell MP; Sukey Cameron, Falkland Islands Government UK Representative; and military representatives.
Lying at 10 Downing Street to mark the 30th anniversary of the liberation of the islands from Argentine fascist occupation.
Opened in 1983, the Falkland Islands Government Office aims to raise awareness of the Islands and represent the interests of the Falkland Islands Government and people, targeting government, members of Parliament, media and the general public in the UK.
Governor of the Falkland Islands
Naval Party 8901 of the Royal Marines raising the Governor's flag outside Government House, formally ending the war against Argentine fascism on June 15.
Personal collection
Above my classroom door
Statue of a Falklands' Marine Yomper, outside the former Marine barracks, Eastney, Portsmouth.
Tristan da Cunha
Image from page 13 of Graham Bartram's British Flags & Emblems.
http://www.tristandc.com/newsabroad.php
Graham Bartram himself designed this flag, adopted on October 20, 2002 in a proclamation made by the Governor of Saint Helena under a Royal Warrant granted by Queen Elizabeth II. Prior to this, as a dependency of Saint Helena, Tristan da Cunha used the Flag of Saint Helena for official purposes. The flag is a blue ensign design, defaced with the Coat of Arms of Tristan da Cunha- a Tristan longboat above a Naval Crown, with a central shield decorated with four yellow-nosed Albatrosses and flanked by two Tristan rock lobsters. Below this is a scroll with the territory's motto, Our faith is our strength.
Governor's Flag
Flying over King Edward Point in 2010
Ascension Island
British Antarctic Territory
The flag for use on land is a white ensign (without cross) with the arms of the territory, quite large, in the fly. The flag is for flying at British Antarctic bases (which previously flew the British flag) and at the British Antarctic Survey headquarters in Cambridge, England. I have also suggested that it be flown at the Discovery Centre in Dundee, where the RRS Discovery is moored, next to an Antarctic exploration museum. The RRS Discovery was the ship that first carried Captain Scott to the pole in 1901 and on further expeditions. She is the ship that forms the crest of the arms of the British Antarctic Territory. Graham Bartram
British Antarctic Territory Government Ensign
The blue ensign is still in use. I know this as I am a consultant to the Foreign Office Polar Regions Section. The blue ensign with shield remains the government ensign of the British Antarctic Territory and is therefore flown by vessels undertaking work on behalf of the British Antarctic Territory authorities, which includes those vessels working for/with the British Antarctic Survey. The new white ensign is not intended for use at sea, but lacking a civil ensign (there is a strange lack of civil vessels registered in British Antarctic Territory) then a civilian vessel visiting British Antarctic Territory would fly it as the courtesy ensign. Foreign government vessels should fly the defaced blue ensign. The Commissioner's flag could of course be flown as a rank flag by any vessel carrying the Commissioner, but not as an ensign. Graham Bartram
British Antarctic red ensign
Flag of the Commissioner of the British Antarctic Territory
Ross Dependency (Proposed)
Ross Dependency (unofficial) flag designed by Jame Dignan. The main colour is not sky/azure blue nor is it an intermediate blue. Dignan has recommended RGB 40%, 60%, 80-100% ("ice blue") which has been interpreted as RGB 40%, 60%, 90%. On the right are Ross Dependency stamps commemorating the Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition. Currently, only the New Zealand national flag serves in an official capacity in the Ross Dependency. The only other 'official' flag seen in photographs was the New Zealand Post flag to denote Scott Base's post office.
The flag of the commissioner of the British Antarctic Territory is a Union flag defaced with a white disc with a gold edge, covered by a laurel wreath, with the full achievement of arms in the centre. An interesting feature is the gold ring under the laurel. I have seen references to the governor of Gibraltar's flag where the presence of the gold ring is associated with the gold border that sometimes appears on the Gibraltar arms. I suspect from this flag, that all governor/commissioner flags that bear a laurel wreath are meant to have a gold ring under them. I don't think the Commissioner of the British Antarctic Territory is the same person as the governor of the Falklands. As far as I know the Falklands, has a resident governor, whereas the British Antarctic Territory's commissioner is head of the Polar Regions Department of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London. I'm not sure where or when he'll use his flag. Graham Bartram
