Last modified: 2024-05-04 by rob raeside
Keywords: bermuda | lion | wreck | sea venture | bonaventura |
Links: FOTW homepage |
search |
disclaimer and copyright |
write us |
mirrors
.gif)
image by Zoltan Horvath, 19 April 2024
See also:
The badge on the Bermudan flag shows a ship (the Sea
Venture) foundering on rocks. The rocky coast is shown to the
left (as we see it) of the shield, and the sea is to the right.
The ship appears to be hitting the rocks. (The Sea Venture
was wrecked on the coast of Bermuda in about 1609).The shield is
being held from behind by a large red lion, in such a way that
its paws appear at the edges of the shield and its head appears
above it like a crest. Officially, it's a lion.
James Dignan, 4 December 1995
The Sea Venture Flat is half a mile offshore (not a visible
reef on the coastline, as the coat of arms suggests). This was
indeed where the Sea Venture foundered. But the
representation on the crest may have been considerable artistic
license based on historical fallacy, not fact. Some historians
claim the vessel was actually the French Bonaventura which
smacked into an inshore reef more than two decades before the Sea
Venture; Others claim it was a Spanish vessel, even earlier,
that is (or should be) depicted. Also, at least 6 of the original
Bermuda castaways off the Sea Venture remained in Bermuda
when the rest of the party sailed to Virginia 42 weeks later.
These 6 were permanent residents, holding the place for Britain
until the first party of specifically-for-Bermuda colonists
arrived in 1612. These 6 were all alive and obviously flourishing
when the 1612 lot arrived.
I don't think the Red Ensign even existed at the time the Sea
Venture founded off Bermuda in 1609. Nor did the Union Jack,
as we know it today. The Union flag then extant I don't think had
the Irish cross incorporated. It was the 1606 version, I think
with just the crosses of St. Andrew and St. George. I believe the
Sea Venture also flew just the cross of St. George, as a
separate flag.
Steven Shea, 12 February 1996
There was an unauthorised defaced blue ensign used in Bermuda
before 1910. This was the one that had the '3 ships and a dry
dock' badge, replaced by a lion holding a shield depicting a ship
wreck.
David Prothero, 3 May 1997
I read that the badge of the Sea Venture was granted in 1915.
Then was the flag used between 1910 and 1915 the oldest Blue
Ensign?
Jaume Ollé, 3 May 1997
It may be just a coincidence, but 1915 is sometimes given as
the year when the defaced Red Ensign became the unofficial land
flag of Bermuda.
I remain conviced that there have been two versions of the
Bermuda Blue Ensign, but I wouldn't argue about the date of use,
and/or authorisation of the earlier one.
I have a note about the 'dock' badge, which I saw in an early
edition of the Admiralty publication, Flags of All Nations.
I don't remember which edition but I think either the 1907,1889,
or possibly a 1905 amendment to the 1889. I also failed to notice
whether it was to be applied to a Red Ensign or a Blue Ensign,
but since there is no record of the Admiralty ever authorising a
Bermuda Red Ensign it seems more likely that it was for a Blue
one.
The same design was used on postage stamps of Bermuda between
1902 and about 1910.
Under Obsolete Colonial Ensigns, Colours of the
Fleet, list; Bermuda (-Blue) pre-1910, and under Blue
Ensign -defaced - Dependent Territories Bermuda (new design
1910), with a note about the Bermuda Red Ensign having been the
unofficial land flag since about1915.
David Prothero, 7 May 1997
I am in a position to confirm the old colonial badge of which there is a
reference in the Bermuda Library. It actually contains the
official Coats of Arms for all the British Colonies for 1910. It
is printed by His Majesty's Stationary Office in 1910.
Aidan Stones , 18 March 2000
The badge should be a lot larger to follow the current specs.
I've never seen the Governor's Flag so
I'm not sure if it just uses the shield, the shield plus motto,
or the full achievement, complete with supporters.
Graham Bartram, 4 April 2000
The badge listed as the former colonial badge is actually the
present. I am still attempting to get a scan of the old badge for
you. It is in fact a sea scape of sorts with a couple of rum
barrels on a jetty if I remember correctly.The book of which I
speak is called "Flags, Badges and Arms of the British
Dominions beyond the Seas" printed by H.M.S.O. in 1910 [hms10]. I am trying to negotiate
with our local library for access so that I can scan the whole
book. It gives a very good "snapshot" of the British
badges from the early 20th century .
Aidan Stones, 19 May 2000
The original badge, introduced in about 1875, was derived from
the seal of 1817. It shows three ships at sea in the
background and a wet-dock, with gates closed, in the
foreground. The current badge replaced it in 1910.
Graham Bartram , 21 May 2000
According to the display catalouge of the flag display in ICV
19 (York, July 2001): "Bermuda uses the red ensign with its
badge on land. The badge shows the wreck of the Sea Venture, the
ship that provided the early British settlers. The ship was
wrecked on a submarine reef, not dashed against cliffs."
Dov Gutterman, 2 August 2001
The motto on the scroll "Quo Fata Ferunt"
means "Whither the Fates carry [us]".
Rob Raeside and Nozomi Kariyasu, 15 August 2002
James Dignan pointed out that the images we previously had of
the bermuda flag (see: Badge with a
"Puddle") show the red lion affronté holding the
shield, with what looks like a small pool of water below the
shield, while there is no such puddle on the badge.
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, 20 November 2005
Pedersen (English edition, 1971) does show a blueish
discoloration, probably a printing error. The Dutch edition of
1980 does show the blue puddle clearly (In my opinion, the puddle
should be made green). The flagchart of Shipmate of 2002,
authorized by the Flag Research Center, does show the blue
puddle.
Jarig Bakker, 20 November 2005
Pedersen does show a slight discolouration but I thought that
it was meant to been shading, and given the other official
sources I quoted it looks like flagchart and Flag Research Center
did make a mistake.
Christopher Southworth, 20 November 2005
I personally thought the puddle was a result of ocean water
leaking from the shield that the lion is holding, but that's
neither here nor there. I have 2 "official" Bermuda
flags, neither of which look exactly like anything I have drawn
or I have seen drawn. I reckon they are, as they say, close
enough for government work.
The "official" image that Christopher Southworth
sent shows a bluish ocean in the smaller shield. I have not seen
another image anywhere with a bluish ocean. Everything I have
seen along with all of the Bermuda flags at my disposal have a
foamy white ocean driving the ship into the rocks.
Clay Moss, 20 November 2005
The 'puddle' appears originally to have been shading in the
grass (?) compartment. Here are image
from Flags of the World 1915 by W.J.Gordon and image from from Flags of
Maritime Nations 1914.
David Prothero, 20 November 2005
There are images showing the ocean blue, including that used
by the CIA Factbook, but they are far outnumbered by those
showing it white.
Unless better contrary evidence shows up I vote to leave the
ocean white. I base this on the following reasons:
1- The small coat of arms on the Government of Bermuda's homepage
shows the ocean white. See <www.gov.bm>
-very small, but the ocean is clearly white.
2- Photos of actual flags show it white, e.g. <www.limeyinbermuda.com>,
<www.donkihote.com>
and <www.painetworks.com>.
I did find a variant that, if the color is not distorted, shows
the ocean gray at <people.cedarville.edu>.
3- A Bermuda stamp at <seaside.hfxns.org>
shows the arms with white ocean.
Ned Smith, 20 November 2005
The image in BR20 (with a blue ocean) is the
official image to which all others should theoretically conform,
however, unless the official blazon (assuming such a thing
exists) stipulates the actual colour/colours of the ocean then
heraldically speaking there is no reason why it should not be
white, blue or grey depending upon interpretation. My own spec
was altered recently to conform to the official image, but Change
Number 1 to the previous Edition showed a beige-grey ocean which
adds yet a further complication.
Christopher Southworth, 20 November 2005
Earlier, I had suggested giving priority to the version with
white ocean rather than the "official" version with
blue ocean, unless we had evidence the blue ocean version
actually existed. Well, we can rest assured that it does, thanks
to photo at Ebay.
Ned Smith, 23 November 2005
National guidelines and regulations for the use of the Coat of
arms are at "Visual
Identity Programme Policy and Guidelines".
Jan Oskar Engene, 13 January 2008
99.gif)
image by Clay Moss, 27 November 2005
pud.gif)
image by Clay Moss, 27 November 2005
.jpg){kind=link}
1915.jpg){kind=link}
1914.jpg){kind=link}
