Last modified: 2024-05-04 by rob raeside
Keywords: bermuda | governor |
Links: FOTW homepage |
search |
disclaimer and copyright |
write us |
mirrors
image by Clay Moss, 25 November 2005
See also:
Previous (pre-1999) flag
image by Clay Moss, 25 November 2005
In the 1961 edition of H. Gresham Carr's Flags of the World [car61] is the following entry on pages 102 and 103:
BERMUDA uses her Arms. On the Union Flag the shield is placed upon the white circular background, which is surrounded by the garland. On the Blue Ensign there is no wreath or background. The shield is with a green-grassy "mound in base, upon which is seated a red lion "affront?." The lion supports a scrolled shield upon which is a representation of the wreck of the Sea Venture, [...] In passing, it is interesting to note that Bermuda has retained the 1606 pattern Union Flag, i.e. without the St. Patrick's Cross, as a reminder of its great age as a colony.
Which is maddingly non-specific! Does this mean the Union Flag in all contexts? Or only when used as a Union Flag (presumably including in the Governor's Flag) It could, of course, be a piece of spurious information Carr accepted as a fact. It's also interesting to note that Carr does not mention the Bermudian Red Ensign, which is of course now the colony's flag, even though that was instituted in 1915 (according to Crampton's Observer's Book of Flags, 1991, p. 45)
Also whilst on the subject of colonial Red Ensigns, Carr
states (p. 52) that according to the 1894 Merchant Shipping Act
the Red Ensign must be worn undefaced by all British merchant
vessels, including colonial vessels, unless an Admiralty Warrant
has been granted authorising a local Red Ensign.
Roy Stilling, 6 March 1996
Bermuda uses her coat of arms as per all British colonies for
the Governor's standard ie: the badge placed on a white disc
surrounded by a garland in the centre of the Union Flag.
The flag used locally by civilians for both boats and on land is
the defaced red ensign. However, larger vessels registered on the
Bermuda registry of shipping fly the undefaced red ensign as
required by the Admiralty. This flag is also used by the
government on land in conjunction with the Union Flag.
The defaced Blue ensign is used solely by the government marine
services (tugs, ferries, harbour patrol vessels etc.)
During the 1960/70s the official Bermuda flag used the coat of
arms on a white disc on the red ensign, but I have never seen it
like this on the blue ensign.
One or two of these still exist and I am still trying to find one
before they are destroyed through use. I too have heard of the
usage of the 1606 Union Flag, however I have never come across
any evidence of this, although I am still looking and will let
you know if I find out. There are several good books in our local
library, but they have been out of reach due to recent
renovations. Unfortunately, due to our "overextensive"
use of the Union Flag, most old photographs of Bermuda show this
flag only.
Aidan Stones , 4 April 2000
I have recently come across some old Bermuda photographs from
the 1930s and 40s which show the Bermuda flag. I still do not
see any evidence of the pre-1801 union flag being used.
Aidan Stones , 19 May 2000
As I understand it, the gold ring was originally requested by
the Governor of Gibraltar as being part of the arms of that
territory, and it was included into all the others by a sort of
accident.
Christopher Southworth, 29 May 2005
The correct proportions of the Union Flag for use in the field
by the British Army are 3:5, but the correct ratio for all
defaced Red or Blue Ensigns is 1:2 whether for use on land or
sea, and as far as I can discover the occasional use of 3:5.is
either a misunderstanding of the recommendations for other flags
or a commercial/economic decision by flag manufacturers.
Christopher Southworth, 24 November 2005
