![[Falkland Islands]](../images/f/fk~37.gif)
by Martin Grieve
Last modified: 2013-07-27 by rob raeside
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by Martin Grieve
The opportunity to replace the bull and ship as the distinctive device on the
Public Seal of the Falkland Islands was taken when the circumscription on the
Seal was changed after the accession of King Edward VII. The Governor, Sir W.
Grey-Wilson, wrote that, "at the time the existing seal was designed wild cattle
were the dominating feature of the colony. They have now almost entirely
disappeared and have been replaced by sheep. I am, however, disposed to regard
seals, penguins and wild geese as the most characteristic fauna of the Colony."
In about 1902 the Royal Mint produced a Seal featuring a penguin, a seal, and
two upland geese, which was approved by the Governor, and became the badge on
the Blue Ensign and Governor's flag.
In November 1905 the Colonial Office suggested to the Governor, now Sir William
L. Allardyce, that the colony should apply for Arms. He replied that he did he
did not care to apply for Arms at that time, but would like to change the flag
badge. "The majority of the colonists seem to prefer the old badge to the new
one, and I think it a pity to have done away with the old design which was so
intimately associated with the early days of the colony." In March 1906 the
Colonial Office pointed out that the change in the device on Public Seal had not
been noted in the Colonial Office, and that the flag badge was not authorized,
as it should not have been changed without His Majesty's approval.
In April 1906 the Governor reported that the Executive Council were,
"Unanimously of the opinion that the old badge should be retrieved without
alteration." The use of the old badge on the flags was resumed, and the device
on the Seal discontinued in 1910 at the beginning of the reign of King George V.
In February 1924 the Governor, through the Colonial Office, asked the College of
Arms to prepare arms for the Falkland Islands. They were granted by Royal
Warrant on 16th October 1925. Theoretically this should then have become the
badge on the flags, but it did not appear in the Admiralty Flag Book until 1937.
The arms were not liked. In a letter to the Sheep Owner's Association dated 16th
June 1947, the Governor referred to, "the coat of arms granted to the Colony in
1925, which reproduce badly and have no artistic merit." Later in the year he
told the Colonial Office that "I have under consideration the need for
substituting for the present coat of arms one of greater simplicity, which will
reproduce better and will not, as do the present arms, furnish occasion for
critical levity." New arms were granted 29 September 1948.
David Prothero, 3 May 2005
![[Falklands 1925 badge]](../misc/fk)1925.gif)
by David Prothero and António Martins
Arms granted 16th October 1925. "Per bend Azure and Or, sinister a representation of the ship "Desire" dimidiated and issuant Argent Flag and Pennon charged with a Cross Gules and dexter a Sea Lion proper, with the Motto "Desire the Right"." ... "to be borne for the said Colony of the Falkland Islands upon Seals Shields Banners or otherwise according to the Laws of Arms."
António Martins, 14 January 2000
It should have been used as a badge, surrounded by the usual garland, on the Union Flag of the Governor, and on the fly of the Blue Ensign, with no white disc. These details appeared in Amendment 5 (1937) to the 1930 edition of the Admiralty Flag Book. In practice it is likely that the earlier circular badge approved in 1876 continued to be used on both flags until replaced by the current badge in 1948.
David Prothero, 14 January 2000
The sea-lion/sailing ship arms were replaced by the current arms (sheep above a sailing ship) 29 September 1948 (from Colonial Office "Flags, Badges and Arms"). David Prothero, 25 March 2000
![[Falkland Islands]](../images/f/fk~gov37.gif)
by Martin Grieve
