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Historical flags of the British Empire and the overseas territories

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This article is about historical flags that were used across the British Empire and the overseas territories until 1999. For information about flags of the United Kingdom, the Crown dependencies and the overseas territories, see List of British flags.

The historical flags of the British Empire and the overseas territories refers to the various flags that were used across the various Dominions, Crown colonies, protectorates, and territories which made up the British Empire and overseas territories. Early flags that were used across the Empire (including the then Thirteen Colonies which later became the United States of America) tended to be variations of the Red and Blue Ensigns of Great Britain with no colonial badges or coat of arms attached to them.[1] In the first half of the 19th century, the first colonies started to acquire their own colony badges, but it was not until the UK Parliament passed the Colonial Naval Defence Act 1865 that the colonies were required to apply their own emblems.

British Empire
Flag of British Empire
Flags were used to represent a variety of territories colonies, and Dominions across the British Empire
Flags were used to represent a variety of territories colonies, and Dominions across the British Empire

The following list contains all former and current flags that have been used across the Empire and as well as British overseas territories.

Historical flags of the British Empire and the overseas territories

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Aden

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See also: Colony of Aden
Flag Date Use Description
  1937–1963 Aden A Blue Ensign defaced with an Arab ship inside a disc

Akrotiri and Dhekelia

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See also: Akrotiri and Dhekelia
Flag Date Use Description
  1960– Akrotiri and Dhekelia The Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia have never had their own official flag, and instead use the Union Jack for all official purposes.

Anguilla

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See also: Anguilla
Flag Date Use Description
  1967 Anguilla A red flag featuring the name of the island in yellow and two mermaids inside a blue oval.
  1967–1969 Anguilla The 1967–1969 independence flag and is still widely seen and used on the island as an unofficial flag to this day.
  1990–1999 Anguilla A defaced Blue Ensign with the coat of arms of Anguilla in the fly.
  1999– Anguilla A defaced Blue Ensign with the coat of arms of Anguilla in the fly. Still currently used as the flag for the island.

Antigua and Barbuda

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See also: Antigua and Barbuda
Flag Date Use Description
  1956–1962 Antigua and Barbuda A Blue Ensign defaced with the colonial coat of arms of Antigua on a white disc.
  1962–1967 Antigua and Barbuda A Blue Ensign defaced with the colonial coat of arms of Antigua.
  1967–1981 and

1981 - Present

Antigua and Barbuda This flag was adopted in 1967, to mark Antigua and Barbuda gaining Associated State status with the United Kingdom, and remained in use after full independence in 1981.


Australia

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See also: Australia
Flag Date Use Description
  1901–1903 Australia The original 1901 Federal Flag Design Competition winner. A Blue Ensign defaced with the Commonwealth Star (with 6 points) in the lower hoist quarter and the five stars of the Southern Cross in the fly half (each star had a varying number of points: 9, 8, 7, 6 and 5).
  1901–1903 Australia (Civil Ensign) A Red Ensign defaced with the Commonwealth Star (with 6 points) in the lower hoist quarter and the five stars of the Southern Cross in the fly half (each star had a varying number of points: 9, 8, 7, and 6).
  1903–1908 Australia A Blue Ensign defaced with the Commonwealth Star (with 6 points) in the lower hoist quarter and the five stars of the Southern Cross in the fly half (all stars had seven points, except the smallest star only had 5 points) as approved by King Edward VII.
  1903–1908 Australia (Civil Ensign) A Red Ensign defaced with the Commonwealth Star (with 6 points) in the lower hoist quarter and the five stars of the Southern Cross in the fly half (all stars had seven points).
  1908– Australia A Blue Ensign defaced with the seven-point Commonwealth Star in the lower hoist quarter and the five stars of the Southern Cross in the fly half. Still currently used as the national flag of Australia.
  1908– Australia (Civil Ensign) Based on the British Civil Air Ensign, with the addition of the Southern Cross and Commonwealth Star in white. Still currently used as the civil ensign of Australia.

Australian States

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Flag Date Use Description
  1876– State of New South Wales A St George's Cross with four gold stars and a lion in the fly of a Blue Ensign.
  1901–1963 State of Queensland A light blue Maltese cross with a Tudor crown on a white background in the fly of a Blue Ensign. In 1963 the Tudor Crown was replaced with the St Edward's Crown.
  1876–1904 State of South Australia A Blue Ensign with a round disc in the fly displaying Brittania and an Aboriginal Australian man on a beach beside a cliff face with a kangaroo carving.
  1904– State of South Australia A piping shrike on a gold background in the fly of a Blue Ensign.
  1901– State of Tasmania A red lion on a white background in the fly of a Blue Ensign.
  1901–1953 State of Victoria The Southern Cross surmounted by a Tudor crown in the fly of a Blue Ensign. In 1953 the Tudor Crown was replaced with the St Edward's Crown.
  1870–1953 State of Western Australia A black swan on a gold background in the fly of a Blue Ensign. In 1953 the swan was changed to face the opposite direction.

Bahama Islands

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Flag Date Use Description
  1869–1904 Bahama Islands A Blue Ensign defaced with the badge of the Bahama Islands in a white disc.
  1869–1904 Bahama Islands (Civil Ensign) A Red Ensign defaced with the badge of the Bahama Islands in a white disc.
  1904–1923 Bahama Islands A Blue Ensign defaced with the badge of the Bahama Islands in a white disc.
  1904–1923 Bahama Islands (Civil Ensign) A Red Ensign defaced with the badge of the Bahama Islands in a white disc.
  1923–1953 Bahama Islands A Blue Ensign defaced with the badge of the Bahama Islands.
  1923–1953 Bahama Islands (Civil Ensign) A Red Ensign defaced with the badge of the Bahama Islands.
  1953–1964 Bahama Islands A Blue Ensign defaced with the badge of the Bahama Islands.
  1953–1964 Bahama Islands (Civil Ensign) A Red Ensign defaced with the badge of the Bahama Islands.
  1964–1973 Bahama Islands A Blue Ensign defaced with the badge of the Bahama Islands.
  1964–1973 Bahama Islands (Civil Ensign) A Red Ensign defaced with the badge of the Bahama Islands.

Bahrain

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Flag Date Use Description
  1820–1932 Bahrain Protectorate A plain red with a white bar at the hoist.
  1932–1972 Bahrain Protectorate A white band on the left, separated from a red area on the right by twenty-eight triangles that serve as a serrated line.

Barbados

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Flag Date Use Description
  1870–1966 Barbados A Blue Ensign with the emblem of Barbados.
  1870–1966 Barbados (Civil Ensign) A Red Ensign with the emblem of Barbados.

Basutoland

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Flag Date Use Description
  1822–1966 Basutoland Flag of the United Kingdom.
  1951–1966 Basutoland (Unofficial) A Blue Ensign with the arms of Basutoland in a white disc.

Bechuanaland Protectorate

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Flag Date Use Description
  1885–1966 Bechuanaland Protectorate Flag of the United Kingdom.

Bermuda

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Flag Date Use Description
  1875–1910 Bermuda A Blue Ensign defaced with the badge of Bermuda.
  1910–1999 Bermuda A Red Ensign defaced with the coat of arms of Bermuda.
  1910–1999 Bermuda (Government Ensign) A Blue Ensign defaced with the coat of arms of Bermuda.

British America

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Flag Date Use Description
  Until 1801 (Canada)
Until 1776 (US, de facto)
Until 1783 (US, de jure)		 British America, part of what is now Canada and the United States A red ensign with the first version of the Union Jack in the canton (formed as a square). Also known as the Queen Ann Flag and amended to form the Continental Colours of the United States in 1775.

British Antarctic Territory

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Flag Date Use Description
  1963– British Antarctic Territory A defaced White Ensign with the coat of arms of the British Antarctic Territory.
  1969– British Antarctic Territory (Government Ensign) A defaced Blue Ensign with the coat of arms of the British Antarctic Territory.

British Cameroon

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Flag Date Use Description
  1922–1961 British Cameroons A Blue Ensign defaced with the words 'British Cameroon' surrounding bananas, all inside a white disc.

British Central Africa Protectorate

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Flag Date Use Description
  1893–1907 British Central Africa Protectorate A Blue Ensign with an emblem of the British Central Africa Protectorate.

British Ceylon

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See also: British Ceylon
Flag Date Use Description
  1875–1948 Ceylon A Blue Ensign defaced with the coat of arms of Ceylon.
  1875–1948 Ceylon (Civil Ensign) A Red Ensign defaced with the coat of arms of Ceylon.

British Columbia Colony

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See also: Colony of British Columbia (1866–1871)
Flag Date Use Description
  1866–1871 British Columbia Colony A Blue Ensign defaced with the seal of the Colony, all inside a white disc.

British East Africa

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Flag Date Use Description
  1888–1895 British East Africa Company A Union Jack with the logo of the British East Africa Company in the centre.
  1895–1921 East Africa Protectorate A Blue Ensign defaced with an emblem of British East Africa.
  1895–1921 East Africa Protectorate (Civil Ensign) A Blue Ensign defaced with an emblem of British East Africa.

British Guiana

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See also: British Guiana
Flag Date Use Description
  1875–1906 British Guiana A Blue Ensign defaced with the badge of British Guiana.
  1906–1919 British Guiana A Blue Ensign defaced with the badge of British Guiana inside a white disc.
  1906–1919 British Guiana (Civil Ensign) A Red Ensign defaced with the badge of British Guiana inside a white disc.
  1919–1954 British Guiana A Blue Ensign defaced with the badge of British Guiana.
  1919–1954 British Guiana (Civil Ensign) A Red Ensign defaced with the badge of British Guiana.
  1955–1966 British Guiana A Blue Ensign defaced with the coat of arms of British Guiana inside a white disc.
  1955–1966 British Guiana (Civil Ensign) A Red Ensign defaced with the coat of arms of British Guiana inside a white disc.

British Hong Kong

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See also: British Hong Kong
Flag Date Use Description
  1870–1876 British Hong Kong A Blue Ensign defaced with the letters HK and a royal crown in a white disc.
  1876–1941,
1945–1955		 British Hong Kong A Blue Ensign defaced with the colonial badge of Hong Kong.
  1955–1959 British Hong Kong A Blue Ensign defaced with the colonial badge of Hong Kong.
  1959–1997 British Hong Kong A Blue Ensign defaced with the coat of arms of Hong Kong in a white disc.

British Honduras

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See also: British Honduras
Flag Date Use Description
  1870–1919 British Honduras A Blue Ensign defaced with the badge of British Honduras inside a white disc.
  1870–1919 British Honduras (Civil Ensign) A Red Ensign defaced with the badge of British Honduras inside a white disc.
  1919–1981 British Honduras A Blue Ensign defaced with the badge of British Honduras.
  1919–1981 British Honduras (Civil Ensign) A Red Ensign defaced with the badge of British Honduras.

British India

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See also: British Raj
Flag Date Use Description
  1733–1801 East India Company A flag with red and white stripes and the flag of Great Britain in the canton.
  1801–1858 East India Company A flag with red and white stripes and the flag of the United Kingdom in the canton.
  1858–1947 British India Flag of the United Kingdom.
  1880–1947 British India (Red Ensign) A Red Ensign defaced with the Order of the Star of India
  1885–1947 British India (Standard of the viceroy) A Union Jack with the Star of India in the center, surmounted by the Tudor Crown. Used at various International events to represent Imperial India.
  1879–1947 British India (Blue Ensign) A Blue Ensign defaced with the Star of India, used as the naval flag.

British Indian Ocean Territory

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See also: British Indian Ocean Territory
Flag Date Use Description
  1990 British Indian Ocean Territory A defaced Union Jack with blue wavy stripes with a palm tree with a gold crown on the stump.
  1990– British Indian Ocean Territory A defaced Union Jack with blue wavy stripes with a palm tree with a gold and red crown on the stump.

British Leeward Islands

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See also: British Leeward Islands
Flag Date Use Description
  1871–1952 British Leeward Islands A Blue Ensign defaced with the emblem of the British Leeward Islands in the fly.
  1871–1952 British Leeward Islands (Civil Ensign) A Red Ensign defaced with the emblem of the British Leeward Islands in the fly.
  1952–1958 British Leeward Islands A Blue Ensign defaced with the emblem of the British Leeward Islands in the fly.
  1952–1958 British Leeward Islands (Civil Ensign) A Red Ensign defaced with the emblem of the British Leeward Islands in the fly.

British New Hebrides

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See also: New Hebrides
Flag Date Use Description
  1906–1952 British New Hebrides A Blue Ensign defaced with the badge of British New Hebrides.
  1952–1980 British New Hebrides A Blue Ensign defaced with the badge of British New Hebrides.
  1966–1980 New Hebrides Condominium The New Hebrides Condominium used several flags that features the flags of both the United Kingdom and France, this version has sky blue field.

British Malaya

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See also: British Malaya and Federated Malay States
Flag Date Use Description
  1895–1946 Federated Malay States The flag was striped horizontally with an overall 1:2 to ratio with white stripe at the top, red, yellow and black at the bottom. In the centre was a white oblong, with a horizontal major axis, and a Malayan tiger (Malay: Harimau Malaya) leaping, face to the left.
  1895–1946 Federated Malay States (Civil Ensign) The flag was striped horizontally with an overall 1:2 to ratio with white stripe at the top, red, yellow and black at the bottom with the Union Jack in the canton.

Straits Settlements

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See also: Straits Settlements
Flag Date Use Description
  1868–1874 British Straits Settlements A Blue Ensign defaced with a golden crown at the bottom right hand corner.
  1874–1904 British Straits Settlements A Blue Ensign defaced with a white disc containing three gold crowns separated by a red inverted pall.
  1874–1904 British Straits Settlements (Civil Ensign) A Red Ensign defaced with a white disc containing three gold crowns separated by a red inverted pall.
  1904–1925 British Straits Settlements A Blue Ensign defaced with a white disc containing three gold crowns separated by a red inverted pall.
  1925–1946 British Straits Settlements A Blue Ensign defaced containing three gold crowns separated by a red inverted pall.
  1904–1946 British Straits Settlements (Civil Ensign) A Red Ensign defaced with a white disc containing three gold crowns separated by a red inverted pall.

British Mauritius

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See also: British Mauritius
Flag Date Use Description
  1869–1906 British Mauritius A Blue Ensign defaced with the former badge of Mauritius in a white disc.
  1906–1923 British Mauritius A Blue Ensign defaced with the coat of arms of Mauritius in a white disc.
  1906–1968 British Mauritius (Civil Ensign) A Red Ensign defaced with the coat of arms of Mauritius in a white disc.
  1923–1968 British Mauritius A Blue Ensign defaced with the coat of arms of Mauritius.

British Nigeria (Northern & Southern)

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See also: Colonial Nigeria
Flag Date Use Description
  1900–1914 Northern Nigeria Protectorate A Blue Ensign defaced with the badge of the Northern Nigeria Protectorate in a red disc.
  1900–1914 Southern Nigeria Protectorate A Blue Ensign defaced with the badge of the Southern Nigeria Protectorate in a green disc.
  1914–1952 British Nigeria A Blue Ensign defaced with a green Star of David surrounding a Tudor Crown with the white word "Nigeria" under it on a red disc.
  1914–1952 British Nigeria (Civil Ensign) A Red Ensign defaced with a green Star of David surrounding a Tudor Crown with the white word "Nigeria".
  1952–1960 British Nigeria A Blue Ensign defaced with a green Star of David surrounding a St. Edward's Crown with the white word "Nigeria" under it on a red disc.
  1952–1960 British Nigeria (Civil Ensign) A Red Ensign defaced with a green Star of David surrounding a St. Edward's Crown with the white word "Nigeria".

British Solomon Islands

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See also: British Solomon Islands
Flag Date Use Description
  1906–1947 British Solomon Islands A Blue Ensign defaced with the badge of the Solomon Islands.
  1906–1947 British Solomon Islands (Civil Ensign) A Red Ensign defaced with the badge of the Solomon Islands.
  1947–1956 British Solomon Islands A Blue Ensign charged with the badge of the Solomon Islands.
  1947–1956 British Solomon Islands (Civil Ensign) A Red Ensign charged with the badge of the Solomon Islands.
  1956–1966 British Solomon Islands A Blue Ensign charged with the badge of the Solomon Islands.
  1956–1977 British Solomon Islands (Civil Ensign) A Red Ensign charged with the badge of the Solomon Islands.
  1966–1977 British Solomon Islands A Blue Ensign charged with the badge of the Solomon Islands without a white disc.

British Somaliland

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See also: British Somaliland
Flag Date Use Description
  1903–1950 British Somaliland A Blue Ensign defaced with the coat of arms of British Somaliland.
  1903–1950 British Somaliland (Civil Ensign) A Red Ensign defaced with the coat of arms of British Somaliland.
  1950–1952 British Somaliland A Blue Ensign defaced with the coat of arms of British Somaliland.
  1950–1952 British Somaliland (Civil Ensign) A Red Ensign defaced with the coat of arms of British Somaliland.
  1952–1960 British Somaliland A Blue Ensign defaced with the coat of arms of British Somaliland.
  1952–1960 British Somaliland (Civil Ensign) A Red Ensign defaced with the coat of arms of British Somaliland.

British Virgin Islands

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See also: British Virgin Islands
Flag Date Use Description
  1960– British Virgin Islands A Blue Ensign defaced with the coat of arms of the British Virgin Islands.
  1960– British Virgin Islands (Civil Ensign) A Red Ensign defaced with the coat of arms of the British Virgin Islands.

British West Africa

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See also: British West Africa
Flag Date Use Description
  1866–1888 British West Africa A Blue Ensign defaced with the badge of British West Africa Settlements.

British Windward Islands

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See also: British Windward Islands
Flag Date Use Description
  1886–1903 British Windward Islands A Blue Ensign defaced with the coat of arms of the British Windward Islands inside a disc.
  1903–1953 British Windward Islands A Blue Ensign defaced with the coat of arms of the British Windward Islands inside a disc.
  1903–1953 British Windward Islands (Civil Ensign) A Red Ensign defaced with the coat of arms of the British Windward Islands inside a disc.
  1953–1958 British Windward Islands A Blue Ensign defaced with the coat of arms of the British Windward Islands inside a disc.
  1953–1958 British Windward Islands (Civil Ensign) A Red Ensign defaced with the coat of arms of the British Windward Islands inside a disc.

Burma

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See also: British rule in Burma
Flag Date Use Description
  1939–1941; 1945–1948 Colony of Burma A Blue Ensign defaced with the badge of the Colony of Burma

Brunei

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Flag Date Use Description
  1906–1959 Brunei A yellow field cut by black and white diagonal stripes.
  1959–1983 Brunei Flag of Brunei

Canada

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See also: Canada and Canada under British rule
  • Note: Canada formally became an independent country from the United Kingdom under the Statute of Westminster 1931.
Flag Date Use Description
  1867–1965 Canada (national flag) The Union Jack served as the formal national flag of Canada from Confederation to 1965. However, from the late 19th century to 1965, the civil ensign for Canada, the Canadian Red Ensign, was also used as an unofficial national flag and symbol for Canada.[2]
  1868–1921 Canada (civil ensign and de facto national flag) A red ensign defaced with the coat of arms of the Dominion of Canada.
  1870 Canada (civil ensign variant) A red ensign defaced with the coat of arms of the Dominion of Canada surrounded by an arc of golden maple leaves.
  1873 Canada (civil ensign variant) A red ensign defaced with the coat of arms of the Dominion of Canada surrounded by an arc of golden maple leaves within a white disc.
  1896 Canada (civil ensign variant) A red ensign defaced with the coat of arms of the Dominion of Canada surrounded by an arc of golden maple leaves within a white disc.
  1896 Canada (civil ensign variant) A red ensign defaced with the coat of arms of the Dominion of Canada with the Crown of Saint Edward (Heraldry).
  1868–1921 Canada (naval ensign) A blue ensign defaced with the coat of arms of the Dominion of Canada.
  1873–1921 Canada (civil ensign variant) A red ensign defaced with the coat of arms of the Dominion of Canada.
  1905–1922 Canada (civil ensign variant) A version of the Canadian red ensign defaced with the coat of arms of the Dominion of Canada that was used from 1905 until 1922.
  1905–1922 Canada (naval ensign variant) A version of the Canadian blue ensign defaced with the coat of arms of the Dominion of Canada that was used from 1905 until 1922.
  1921–1931 Canada (civil ensign variant and de facto national flag) A red ensign defaced with the coat of arms of the Dominion of Canada.
  1921–1931 Canada (civil ensign variant) A red ensign defaced with the coat of arms of the Dominion of Canada within a white disc. Used at the opening ceremony of the 1936 Summer Olympic Games.
  1921–1931 Canada (naval ensign) A blue ensign defaced with the coat of arms of the Dominion of Canada.

Cayman Islands

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Flag Date Use Description
  1958–1999 Cayman Islands A blue ensign defaced with the coat of arms of the Cayman Islands within a white disc.
  1958–1999 Cayman Islands (Civil Ensign) A red ensign defaced with the coat of arms of the Cayman Islands within a white disc.

Cape Colony

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See also: Cape Colony
Flag Date Use Description
  1876–1910 Cape Colony A blue ensign defaced with the shield-of-arms of Cape Colony.

Cook Islands

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See also: Kingdom of Rarotonga and Cook Islands Federation
Flag Date Use Description
  1888–1893 Kingdom of Rarotonga Three horizontal stripes of red, white and red, with three blue five-pointed stars on the right side of the white band, and a Union Jack in the canton.
  1893–1901 Cook Islands Federation Three horizontal stripes of red, white and red, with a Union Jack (defaced with a palm tree on a mound of sand in the centre) in the canton.

Cyprus

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Flag Date Use Description
  1881–1922 Cyprus A Blue Ensign defaced with the badge of British Cyprus
  1922–1960 Cyprus A Blue Ensign defaced with two red lions.
  1922–1960 Cyprus (Civil Ensign) A Red Ensign defaced with two red lions.

Dominica

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Flag Date Use Description
  1955–1965 Dominica A Blue Ensign with the arms of Dominica
  1965–1978 Dominica A Blue Ensign with the coat of arms of Dominica

Falkland Islands & Dependencies

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See also: Falkland Islands and Falkland Islands Dependencies
Flag Date Use Description
  1876–1925 Falkland Islands
Falkland Islands Dependencies		 A blue ensign defaced with the seal of the Falkland Islands.
  1925–1948 Falkland Islands
Falkland Islands Dependencies		 A blue ensign defaced with the Colonial Badge of the Falkland Islands.
  1948–1982,
1982–1999		 Falkland Islands
Falkland Islands Dependencies
(1948–1982) (1982–1985)		 A blue ensign defaced with the Coat of arms of the Falkland Islands on a white disc.
  1948–1982,
1982–1999		 Falkland Islands (Civil Ensign)
 The 1948–1999 Civil Ensign was a Red ensign defaced with the Coat of arms of the Falkland Islands on a white disc.

Fiji

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Flag Date Use Description
  1877–1883 Fiji A Blue Ensign with a white disc in the fly containing a badge of foliage and crossed war-clubs with a superimposed shield bearing a mermaid looking at herself in a hand mirror. The badge is based on what was then the seal of the Supreme Court of Fiji.
  1883–1903 Fiji A Blue Ensign with a white disc in the fly displaying a Saint Edward's Crown surmounted by a crowned lion with the word "FIJI" beneath it.
  1903–1908 Fiji A Blue Ensign with a white disc in the fly displaying a Tudor Crown surmounted by a crowned lion with the word "FIJI" beneath it.
  1908–1924 Fiji A Blue Ensign with the coat of arms of Fiji on a white disc.
  1908–1970 Fiji (Civil Ensign) A Red Ensign with the coat of arms of Fiji on a white disc.
  1924–1970 Fiji A Blue Ensign with the coat of arms of Fiji centred on the fly half.

Gambia Colony and Protectorate

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See also: Gambia Colony and Protectorate
Flag Date Use Description
  1889–1965 Gambia Colony and Protectorate A blue ensign defaced with an elephant and the letters G. under the feet of the elephant all inside a disc.
  1889–1965 Gambia Colony and Protectorate (Civil Ensign) A red ensign defaced with an elephant and the letters G. under the feet of the elephant all inside a disc.

Gibraltar

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See also: Gibraltar
Flag Date Use Description
  1875–1921 Gibraltar (Government Ensign) A blue ensign defaced with the badge of Gibraltar on a white disc.
  1921–1939 Gibraltar (Government Ensign) A blue ensign defaced with the badge of Gibraltar.
  1939–1999 Gibraltar (Government Ensign) A blue ensign defaced with the badge of Gibraltar.
  1982– Gibraltar A white and red flag with the banner of the coat of arms of Gibraltar. Still currently used as the flag of Gibraltar.

Grenada

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Flag Date Use Description
  1875–1903 Grenada A blue ensign defaced with the then badge of Grenada on a disc.
  1903–1967 Grenada A blue ensign defaced with the then badge of Grenada on a disc.
  1967–1974 Grenada Three equal horizontal stripes blue, yellow and green from top to bottom and a branch of a pomegranate inside a white oval in the middle.

Gilbert and Ellice Islands

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See also: Gilbert and Ellice Islands
Flag Date Use Description
  1932–1976 Gillbert and Ellice Islands A blue ensign defaced with the Coat of Arms of Gilbert and Ellice Islands.

Gilbert Islands

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See also: Kiribati
Flag Date Use Description
  1976–1979 Gillbert Islands A blue ensign defaced with the Coat of Arms of Gilbert Islands. Identical with the previous flag of Gilbert and Ellice Islands.

Gold Coast

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See also: Ghana
Flag Date Use Description
  1877–1957 Gold Coast A blue ensign defaced with an elephant and the letters GC under the feet of the elephant all inside a disc
  1877–1957 Gold Coast (Civil Ensign) A red ensign defaced with an elephant and the letters GC under the feet of the elephant all inside a disc

Heligoland

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See also: Heligoland
Flag Date Use Description
  1807–1890 Heligoland The flag of Heligoland with the Union Jack in the canton.
  1807–1890 Heligoland (Government Ensign) A blue ensign defaced with the coat of arms of British Heligoland on a white disc in the fly.

Ionian Islands

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Flag Date Use Description
  1815–1864 Ionian Islands A blue ensign defaced with the shield of the symbol of Mark the Evangelist (symbol of the Republic of Venice) and surrounded with the red border.

Iraq

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Flag Date Use Description
  1924–1932 Mesopotamia Flag of Mandatory Iraq; continued to be used after independence until 1959.

Ireland

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See also: Irish Free State
Flag Date Use Description
  1922–1949 Irish Free State A vertical tricolour of green, white and orange. Still used as the national flag for the Republic of Ireland.

Jamaica

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Flag Date Use Description
  1875–1906 Jamaica A British Blue Ensign defaced with the Coat of arms of Colonial Jamaica within a white disc.
  1906–1957 Jamaica A British Blue Ensign defaced with the Coat of arms of Colonial Jamaica within a white disc.
  1906–1957 Jamaica (Civil Ensign) A British Red Ensign defaced with the Coat of arms of Colonial Jamaica within a white disc.
  1957–1962 Jamaica A British Blue Ensign defaced with the Coat of arms of Colonial Jamaica within a white disc.
  1957–1962 Jamaica (Civil Ensign) A British Red Ensign defaced with the Coat of arms of Colonial Jamaica within a white disc.
  1962 Jamaica A British Blue Ensign defaced with the Coat of arms of Colonial Jamaica within a white disc.
  1962 Jamaica (Civil Ensign) A British Red Ensign defaced with the Coat of arms of Colonial Jamaica within a white disc.

Kedah

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Flag Date Use Description
  1912–1950 Kedah Protectorate A red flag with Kedah's coat of arms on the upper left. Still in use to this day.

Kenya

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See also: Kenya Colony
Flag Date Use Description
  1920–1963 Kenya A Blue Ensign defaced with a red lion rampant guardant.
  1920–1963 Kenya (Civil Ensign) A Red Ensign defaced with a red lion rampant guardant.

Kuwait

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Flag Date Use Description
  1899–1914 Kuwait Protectorate The flags of the Ottoman Empire were used.
  1914–1921 Kuwait Protectorate A red flag with the word "Kuwait" in the center.
  1921–1940 Kuwait Protectorate A Shahada was added in the fly half.
  1940–1961 Kuwait Protectorate A wasm sign was added in the fly half.

Labuan

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See also: Crown Colony of Labuan
Flag Date Use Description
  1912–1946 Labuan A blue ensign defaced with the badge of Labuan.

Lagos Colony

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See also: Lagos Colony
Flag Date Use Description
  1888–1906 Lagos Colony A blue ensign defaced with an elephant and the letter L. under the feet of the elephant all inside a disc

Lower Canada

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See also: Lower Canada
Flag Date Use Description
  1791–1801 Lower Canada The Red Ensign of Great Britain.
  1801–1841 Lower Canada The Red Ensign of the United Kingdom.

Malacca

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See also: Crown Colony of Malacca
Flag Date Use Description
  1946–1957 Malacca A blue ensign defaced with A Famosa motif.

Maldives

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Flag Date Use Description
  1903–1953 Maldives Protectorate

Malta

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Flag Date Use Description
  19th century Malta A red ensign defaced with a white St George's cross.
  1875–1898 Malta A blue ensign defaced with the badge of Malta in a white disc.
  1898–1923 Malta A blue ensign defaced with the badge of Malta in a white disc.
  1923–1943 Malta A blue ensign defaced with the badge of Malta.
  1943–1964 Malta A blue ensign defaced with the badge of Malta in a white disc.

Montserrat

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Flag Date Use Description
  1909–1960 Montserrat A Blue Ensign with the coat of arms of Montserrat in the fly.
  1960–1999 Montserrat A Blue Ensign with the coat of arms of Montserrat in the fly.

Kingdom of Mosquitia

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Flag Date Use Description
  1824–1844 Kingdom of Mosquitia Six horizontal stripes alternating blue and white, and in the canton, a Union Jack.

Muscat and Oman

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Flag Date Use Description
  1820–1970 Muscat and Oman Protectorate

Natal Colony

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Flag Date Use Description
  1843–1910 Natal A Blue Ensign defaced with the coat of arms of Natal.

New Guinea

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See also: Territory of New Guinea
Flag Date Use Description
  1884–1888 British New Guinea A blue British ensign with a white disc in the fly featuring the Tudor Crown over the initials "N.G.".
  1888–1906 British New Guinea A blue British ensign with a white disc in the fly featuring the Tudor Crown over the initials "B.N.G.".
  1919–1949 Territory of New Guinea A blue ensign defaced with a crown and the syllables T.N.G underneath inside a white disc.

New South Wales Colony

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Flag Date Use Description
  1867–1870 New South Wales Colony A Blue Ensign defaced with the letters "NSW".
  1870–1876 New South Wales Colony A Blue Ensign with gold stars; 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 points with the "Governor's Badge" located in the fly. The badge was the Southern Cross and an imperial crown situated above the Southern Cross.
  1876–1901 New South Wales Colony A Blue Ensign with a badge located in the fly. The badge, based on the coat of arms, is a white disc with the cross of St George, a golden lion passant guardant in the centre of the cross and an eight-pointed gold star on each arm of the cross. This flag is still currently used as the state flag.

Newfoundland

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See also: Newfoundland Colony and Dominion of Newfoundland
Flag Date Use Description
  1862–1870 Newfoundland A white flag bearing the red cross of St George with a yellow crown at the centre.
  1870–1904 Newfoundland A blue ensign defaced with a seal of the crown and underwritten is "Terra Nova".
  1904–1931 (used as Civil Ensign until 1965) Newfoundland A red ensign defaced with the Great Seal of Newfoundland and between 1907 and 1931 was the de facto national flag of Newfoundland. Used as a civil ensign until 1965.
  1904–1931 Newfoundland (Civil and Naval flag) A Blue Ensign defaced with the Great Seal of Newfoundland, primarily civil and naval use.
  1931–1949 (Province flag until 1980) Newfoundland The Union Jack was used in Newfoundland as the national flag from 1931 until confederation with Canada in 1949 and was then used as the province flag until 1980.

New Zealand

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See also: Colony of New Zealand and New Zealand
Flag Date Use Description
  1840–1902[3] New Zealand Adopted following the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840.
  1867–1869 New Zealand (naval ensign) A Blue Ensign defaced with the red letters “NZ” with white edge written into the lower fly half. This flag was used on New Zealand Government ships.
  1902 New Zealand (national flag) A Blue Ensign with the Southern Cross of four white-edged red five-pointed stars centred on the fly half. This flag is still currently used as the National flag of New Zealand.
  1869 New Zealand (civil ensign) A Red Ensign with the Southern Cross of four white five-pointed stars centred on the fly half. This flag is still currently used as the Civil Ensign of New Zealand.

Niger Coast Protectorate

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Flag Date Use Description
  1884–1893 Oil Rivers Protectorate A blue ensign defaced with the badge of the Oil Rivers Protectorate in a disc.
  1893–1899 Niger Coast Protectorate A blue ensign defaced with the badge of the Niger Coast Protectorate in a white disc.

North Borneo

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See also: North Borneo
Flag Date Use Description
  1882–1902 North Borneo A blue ensign defaced with the badge of the North Borneo Chartered Company.
  1882–1902 North Borneo (Civil Ensign) A red ensign defaced with the badge of the North Borneo Chartered Company.
  1902–1948 North Borneo A blue ensign defaced with the badge of the North Borneo Chartered Company.
  1902–1948 North Borneo (Civil Ensign) A red ensign defaced with the badge of the North Borneo Chartered Company.
  1948–1963 North Borneo A blue ensign defaced with the new badge of Crown Colony of North Borneo.
  1948–1963 North Borneo (Civil Ensign) A red ensign defaced with the new badge of Crown Colony of North Borneo.

Nova Scotia

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See also: Nova Scotia
Flag Date Use Description
  1858– Nova Scotia A blue saltire on a white field with the Royal Arms of Scotland in the centre. An unofficial banner of arms first used by the public in 1858, based on the then-disused 1625 arms of Nova Scotia. The Union Flag was Nova Scotia's official flag both before and after joining Canada in 1867. The 1625 arms were officially restored in 1929, and widely used as flag thereafter, but not officially adopted as the provincial flag until 2013.

Nyasaland

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See also: Nyasaland
Flag Date Use Description
  1914–1919 Nyasaland A blue ensign defaced with the coat-of-arms of Nyasaland within a white circle.
  1919–1925 Nyasaland A blue ensign defaced with a larger version of the coat-of-arms of Nyasaland.
  1925–1964 Nyasaland A blue ensign defaced with the coat-of-arms of Nyasaland.

Orange River Colony

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Flag Date Use Description
  1900–1910 Orange River Colony A blue ensign defaced with a springbok antelope in a disc

Palestine

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See also: Mandatory Palestine
Flag Date Use Description
  1920–1948 British Mandate of Palestine The Union Flag was used as the general land flag of the mandate. land flag of the mandate.
  1927–1948 British Mandate of Palestine (civil ensign) A red ensign defaced with the word Palestine inside a white disc, for use by ships registered in the territory.
  1927–1948 British Mandate of Palestine A blue ensign defaced with the word Palestine inside a white disc, for use by customs and postal service vessels.

Territory of Papua

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See also: Territory of Papua
Flag Date Use Description
  1906–1949 Territory of Papua A blue ensign defaced with a crown and the word Papua underneath inside a white disc.

Penang

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See also: Crown Colony of Penang
Flag Date Use Description
  1949–1952 Penang A blue ensign defaced with the pre-1985 lesser arms of Penang.
  1952–1957 Penang Flag badge depicting the areca nut palm tree leaved and fructed proper on a mound with a wreath of the colours of the settlement arms adopted on 16 June 1952 by the Settlement Council.[4]

Pitcairn Islands

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Flag Date Use Description
  1984– Pitcairn Islands A blue ensign defaced with the coat of arms of the Pitcairn Islands.

Province of Canada

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See also: Province of Canada
Flag Date Use Description
  1841–1867 Province of Canada The Flag of the United Kingdom.

Qatar

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Flag Date Use Description
  1916–1932 Qatar Protectorate A white band on the hoist side, separated from a red area on the fly side by ten white triangles which act as a serrated line.
  1932–1936 Qatar Protectorate A white band on the hoist side, separated from a maroon area on the fly side by eight white triangles which act as a serrated line.
  1936–1949 Qatar Protectorate A nine-pointed serrated edge, diamonds and the word "Qatar".
  1949–1971 Qatar Protectorate A white band on the hoist side, separated from a maroon area on the fly side by nine white triangles which act as a serrated line.

Queensland Colony

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Flag Date Use Description
  1859 Queensland Colony On 10 December 1859, "a light blue flag with a red St George's Cross and union in the corner" (now known as the Queensland Separation Flag) was flown in Brisbane to mark Queensland's separation from New South Wales.
  1870–1876 Queensland Colony A blue ensign defaced but no Badge present. In its place was a profile of Queen Victoria on a blue disc surrounded by a white annulus on which the word "Queensland" was inscribed in gold.[5]
  1876–1901 Queensland Colony British Blue Ensign defaced with the state badge on a white disc in the fly. The badge is a light blue Maltese Cross with an imperial crown in the centre of the cross. This flag is still currently used as the state flag of Queensland.

Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla

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Flag Date Use Description
  1958–1967 Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla A blue ensign with the emblem of the territory in the fly.
  1967 Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla A vertical tricolour of green, yellow and blue.
  1967–1983 Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla A vertical tricolour of green, yellow and blue with a black palm tree in the centre.

Saint Helena and Dependencies

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Flag Date Use Description
  1874–1984 Saint Helena and Dependencies A blue ensign defaced with the triangular coat of arms of Saint Helena.

Saint Lucia

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Flag Date Use Description
  1875–1939 Saint Lucia A blue ensign defaced with the emblem of Saint Lucia.
  1939–1967 Saint Lucia A blue ensign defaced with the emblem of Saint Lucia.
  1967–1979 Saint Lucia A cerulean blue field with a gold triangle in front of a black isosceles triangle outlined in white in the centre.

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

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Flag Date Use Description
  1877–1907 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines A blue ensign defaced with the coat of arms of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
  1907–1979 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines A blue ensign defaced with the coat of arms of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Seychelles

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Flag Date Use Description
  1903–1961 Seychelles A Blue Ensign defaced with a palm tree and a tortoise aside encircled .
  1903–1961 Seychelles (Civil Ensign) A Red Ensign defaced with a palm tree and a tortoise aside encircled .
  1961–1976 Seychelles A Blue Ensign defaced with the legend "Seychelles" on top a palm tree and a tortoise below encircled.
  1961–1976 Seychelles (Civil Ensign) A Red Ensign defaced with the legend "Seychelles" on top a palm tree and a tortoise below encircled.

Sierra Leone

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See also: Sierra Leone Colony and Protectorate
Flag Date Use Description
  1889–1916 Sierra Leone A Blue Ensign defaced with an elephant and the initials S.L. encircled.
  1916–1961 Sierra Leone A Blue Ensign defaced with the coat of arms of Sierra Leone inside a white disc.
  1916–1961 Sierra Leone (Civil Ensign) A Red Ensign defaced with the coat of arms of Sierra Leone inside a white disc.

South Australia Colony

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Flag Date Use Description
  1870–1876 South Australia Colony A blue ensign defaced with a black disc in the fly containing the Southern Cross and the two pointers (Alpha and Beta Centauri).
  1876–1901 South Australia Colony A blue ensign defaced with a badge design of an artistic rendition of the arrival of Britannia (a woman in flowing garb and holding a shield, representing the new settlers) meeting an Aboriginal person sitting with a spear on a rocky shoreline.

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

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Flag Date Use Description
  1992–1999 South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands A Blue Ensign defaced with the Coat of arms of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands inside a white disc.

South Africa

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See also: Union of South Africa
  • Note: South Africa formally became a country independent from the United Kingdom in 1931 after formally adopting the Statute of Westminster.
Flag Date Use Description
  1910–1912 Union of South Africa A red ensign defaced with the shield-of-arms of the Union of South Africa inside a white disc. This South Africa Red Ensign was South Africa's de facto national flag between 1910 and 1928 and was flown at times from Government buildings despite it only being officially used between 1910 and 1912.
  1910–1928 Union of South Africa A blue ensign defaced with the shield-of-arms of the Union of South Africa The Blue Ensign was flown over the Union's offices abroad between 1910 and 1928.
  1912–1928 Union of South Africa The design of the Red Ensign was modified slightly in 1912 when the shield was placed on a white disc so as to make it more distinguishable. The Red Ensign continued to be used as the flag of the South African merchant marine until 1951.[6]
  1928–1961 Union of South Africa A flag based on the Prince's Flag, with three smaller flags centred in the white stripe. The smaller flags were the Union Jack towards the hoist, the flag of Orange Free State hanging vertically and the Transvaal Vierkleur towards the fly. This flag continued to be used by the Republic of South Africa until 1994.

Rhodesia (Northern & Southern)

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See also: Company rule in Rhodesia, Northern Rhodesia, and Southern Rhodesia
Flag Date Use Description
  1890–1924
(1890–1924 Northern)
(1890–1923 Southern)		 Rhodesia A Union Jack with a lion holding ivory and initials of the British South Africa Company in the centre.
  1924–1964 Northern Rhodesia A blue ensign defaced with the shield-of-arms of Northern Rhodesia.
  1923–1953
1968–1980		 Southern Rhodesia A blue ensign defaced with the shield-of-arms of Southern Rhodesia.
  1953–1963 Rhodesia and Nyasaland A blue ensign defaced with the shield-of-arms of Rhodesia and Nyasaland.
  1964–1968 Southern Rhodesia A light blue ensign defaced with the shield-of-arms of Southern Rhodesia.
  1979–1980 Southern Rhodesia Flag of the United Kingdom.

Sarawak

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See also: Crown Colony of Sarawak
Flag Date Use Description
  1870–1946 Flag of the Sarawak Protectorate A cross, half black and half red, on yellow based on shield-of-arms of Sarawak.
  1947–1963 Sarawak A blue ensign defaced with the shield-of-arms of Sarawak inside a white disc.
  1947–1963 Sarawak (Civil Ensign) A red ensign defaced with the shield-of-arms of Sarawak inside a white disc.

Singapore

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See also: Colony of Singapore
Flag Date Use Description
  1946–1952 Singapore A blue ensign defaced with a white disc containing a Tudor crown within a red inverted pall.
  1946–1952 Singapore (Civil Ensign) A red ensign defaced with a white disc containing a Tudor crown within a red inverted pall.
  1952–1959 Singapore A blue ensign defaced with a white disc containing Saint Edward's crown within a red inverted pall.
  1952–1959 Singapore (Civil Ensign) A red ensign defaced with a white disc containing Saint Edward's crown within a red inverted pall.
  1959–1963 Singapore A horizontal bicolour of red and white, defaced in the canton with a white Malay crescent moon and a pentagon of five white Chinese stars. Still used as the national flag of the Republic of Singapore.

Sudan

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See also: Anglo-Egyptian Sudan
Flag Date Use Description
  1922–1955 Anglo-Egyptian Sudan The Flag of the Kingdom of Egypt and the Union Jack used simultaneously.
  1955 Flag used during the 1955 Afro-Asian Conference White flag with the word "SUDAN" in red.

Tanganyika

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See also: Tanganyika (territory)
Flag Date Use Description
  1923–1961 Tanganyika A red ensign defaced with the head of a giraffe in a white disc.
  1923–1961 Tanganyika (Government Ensign) A blue ensign defaced with the head of a giraffe.

Tasmania Colony

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Flag Date Use Description
  1875 Tasmania Colony A white cross on a blue field, in the canton was the Union Flag, and in the fly was five five-pointed stars of the Southern Cross.
  1876–1901 Tasmania Colony A defaced blue ensign with the state badge located in the fly. The badge is a white disc with a red lion passant in the centre of the disc. Still currently used as the state flag of Tasmania.

Transjordan

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Flag Date Use Description
  1921–1946 Transjordan (British Mandate of Jordan) Flag of the Emirate of Transjordan.

Transvaal Colony

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Flag Date Use Description
  1900–1910 Transvaal A blue ensign defaced with a disc showing a lion lying on an African plain with palm trees.[7]

Trinidad and Tobago

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Flag Date Use Description
  1889–1958 Trinidad & Tobago A Blue Ensign defaced with a circular badge depicting a ship arriving in front of a mountain.
  1889–1958 Trinidad & Tobago (Civil Ensign) A Red Ensign defaced with a circular badge depicting a ship arriving in front of a mountain.
  1958–1962 Trinidad & Tobago A Blue Ensign defaced with a escutcheon depicting a ship arriving in front of a mountain.
  1958–1962 Trinidad & Tobago (Civil Ensign) A Red Ensign defaced with a escutcheon depicting a ship arriving in front of a mountain.

Tuvalu

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See also: Gilbert and Ellice Islands
Flag Date Use Description
  1976–1978 Tuvalu A blue ensign defaced with a circular badge with a hut and the motto of Tuvalu.

Turks and Caicos Islands

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Flag Date Use Description
  1889–1968 Turks and Caicos Islands A blue ensign defaced with the former coat of arms of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
  1968–1999 Turks and Caicos Islands A blue ensign defaced with the coat of arms of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
  1968–1999 Turks and Caicos Islands (Civil Ensign) A red ensign defaced with the coat of arms of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Trucial States

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Flag Date Use Description
  1820–various Trucial States Trucial Maritime flag
  1936–various Trucial States Trucial Maritime flag
  1964–1971 Trucial States Unofficial flag of the Trucial States Council

Uganda

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See also: Uganda Protectorate
Flag Date Use Description
  1914–1962 Uganda A blue ensign defaced with a grey crowned crane inside a disc.
  1962 Uganda Unofficial provisional flag of Uganda from March 1962 to 9 October 1962. Divided into vertical stripes of green-blue-green, separated by narrower yellow stripes, and in the centre the silhouette of a yellow crane.

Upper Canada

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See also: Upper Canada
Flag Date Use Description
  1791–1801 Upper Canada The Red Ensign of Great Britain.
  1801–1841 Upper Canada The Red Ensign of the United Kingdom.

Victoria Colony

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Flag Date Use Description
  1870–1877 Victoria Colony A defaced British Blue Ensign with the Southern Cross located in the fly. The stars of the Southern Cross were white and had 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 points with only the leftmost and rightmost stars having one point pointing to the top of the flag.
  1877 Victoria Colony A defaced British Blue Ensign with the stars of the southern cross from then on having 5, 6, 7, 7 and 8 points in a white disc.
  1877–1901 Victoria Colony A defaced British Blue Ensign with the stars of the southern cross from then on having 5, 6, 7, 7 and 8 points.

Weihaiwei

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See also: Weihaiwei under British rule
Flag Date Use Description
  1903–1930 Weihaiwei A Blue Ensign defaced with two Mandarin ducks by a pond inside a disc.

Western Australia Colony

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Flag Date Use Description
  1870–1901 Western Australia Colony A Blue Ensign defaced with a swan in a yellow disc. The flag was still used as the state flag until 1953.

Western Samoa

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Flag Date Use Description
  1914–1920 Western Samoa The flag of New Zealand was used during the control of NZ-forces.
  1922–1962 Western Samoa A Blue Ensign defaced with three palm trees encircled.

West Indies Federation

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Flag Date Use Description
  1958–1962 West Indies Federation It has four equally-spaced narrow white stripes with a large orange-gold disc over the middle two lines in the centre of the flag, undulating horizontally across a blue field.

Zanzibar

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Flag Date Use Description
  1896–1963 Zanzibar A red flag used during the British protectorate.

Historical governors' flags

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Flag Date Use Description
  1869–1901 Flag of the governor-general of Canada A Union Jack, defaced with a white circle, at the centre of which is the crowned shield of arms of Canada in 1869, surrounded by a wreath of green maple leaves.
  1901–1921 Flag of the governor-general of Canada A Union Jack, defaced with a white circle, at the centre of which is the crowned shield of arms of Canada in 1869, surrounded by a wreath of green maple leaves.
  1921–1931 Flag of the governor-general of Canada A Union Jack, defaced with a white circle, at the centre of which is the crowned shield of arms of Canada in 1921, surrounded by a wreath of stylize green maple leaves.
  1869–1874 Flag of the governor of New Zealand A Union Jack defaced with four white stars in the form of a cross. This design was due to a misinterpretation of design instructions.
  1874–1908 Flag of the governor of New Zealand A Union Jack defaced with a white circle with four red stars and the initial 'NZ' in the center. The whole surrounded by a green wreath.
  1908–1936 Flag of the governor of New Zealand A Union Jack defaced with a white circle with four red stars and the initial 'NZ' in the center. The whole surrounded by a wreath of fern.
  1875–1948 Flag of the governor of Ceylon A Union Jack defaced with the badge of Ceylon.
  1875 – c. 1898 Flag of the governor of Malta A Union Jack defaced with the Badge of Malta.
  c. 1898 – 1943 Flag of the governor of Malta A Union Jack defaced with the Badge of Malta.
  1943–1964 Flag of the governor of Malta A Union Jack defaced with the Badge of Malta.
  1875–1906 Flag of the governor of Jamaica A Union Jack defaced with the Badge of Colonial Jamaica.
  1906–1957 Flag of the governor of Jamaica A Union Jack defaced with the Badge of Colonial Jamaica.
  1957–1962 Flag of the governor of Jamaica A Union Jack defaced with the Badge of Colonial Jamaica.
  1962 Flag of the governor of Jamaica A Union Jack defaced with the Badge of Colonial Jamaica.
  1877–1883 Flag of the governor of Fiji A Union Jack defaced with a white disc in the centre surrounded by a laurel wreath and containing a badge of foliage and crossed war-clubs with a superimposed shield bearing a mermaid looking at herself in a hand mirror.
  1883–1903 Flag of the governor of Fiji A Union Jack defaced with a white disc in the centre surrounded by a laurel wreath and containing a Saint Edward's Crown surmounted by a crowned lion with the word "FIJI" beneath it.
  1903–1908 Flag of the governor of Fiji A Union Jack defaced with a white disc in the centre surrounded by a laurel wreath and containing a Tudor Crown surmounted by a crowned lion with the word "FIJI" beneath it.
  1908–1970 Flag of the governor of Fiji A Union Jack defaced with the full coat of arms of Fiji on a white disc surrounded by a laurel wreath in the centre.[8]
  1881–1905 Flag of the high commissioner of Cyprus A Union Jack defaced with the letters "C.H.C".
  1905–1960 Flag of the high commissioner and the governor of Cyprus A Union Jack defaced with two red lions.
  1882–1903 Flag of the governor of North Borneo A yellow flag with lion in the centre pointing towards the right direction.
  1903–1915 Flag of the governor of North Borneo A yellow flag with lion in the centre pointing towards the left direction.
  1915–1946 Flag of the governor of North Borneo A Union Jack defaced with the Badge of North Borneo.
  1948–1963 Flag of the governor of North Borneo Crown A Union Jack defaced with the Badge of North Borneo Crown Colony.
  1884–1981 Flag of the governor of British Honduras A Union Jack defaced with the Badge of British Honduras. Also used on the Colony of the Bay Islands.
  1885–1947 Flag used by the British governors-general, governors, lieutenant governors, chief commissioners and other British officers in India A Union Jack defaced with the Star of India surmounted by the Tudor Crown.
  1899–1903 Flag of the commissioner of Weihaiwei A Union Jack defaced with Chinese dragon in a yellow disc.
  1903–1930 Flag of the commissioner of Weihaiwei A Union Jack defaced with a pair of Mandarin ducks.
  1902–1909 Flag of the governor-general of Australia A Union Jack defaced with a six pointed star, surmounted with the Tudor Crown, surrounded by ears of corn and a gold circlet.
  1909–1936 Flag of the governor-general of Australia A Union Jack defaced with a seven pointed star, surmounted with the Tudor Crown, surrounded by ears of corn and a gold circlet.
  1903–1961 Flag of the governor of Seychelles A Union Jack defaced with the Badge of Colonial Seychelles.
  1961–1976 Flag of the governor of Seychelles A Union Jack defaced with the Badge of Colonial Seychelles
  1874–1904 Flag of the governor of the Straits Settlements A Union Jack defaced with the badge of Straits Settlements.
  1904–1946 Flag of the governor of the Straits Settlements A Union Jack defaced with the badge of Straits Settlements.
  1906–1968 Flag of the governor of Mauritius A Union Jack defaced with the Badge of Colonial Mauritius.
  1906–1953 Flag of the resident commissioner of the British New Hebrides A Union Jack defaced with the badge of British New Hebrides.
  1952–1980 Flag of the resident commissioner of the British New Hebrides A Union Jack defaced with the badge of British New Hebrides.
  1910–1955 Flag flown on Government House, Hong Kong and the governor's official car during British rule A Union Jack defaced with the then Colonial Badge of Hong Kong.
  1955–1959 Flag flown on Government House, Hong Kong and the governor's official car during British rule A Union Jack defaced with the then Colonial Badge of Hong Kong.
  1959–1997 Flag flown on Government House, Hong Kong and the governor's official car during British rule A Union Jack defaced with the then Coat of arms of Hong Kong.
  1910–1931 Flag of the governor-general of the Union of South Africa A Union Jack defaced with the Coat of Arms of South Africa.
  1914–1952 Flag of the governor(-general) of Nigeria A Union Jack defaced with the Badge of Nigeria.
  1952–1960 Flag of the governor(-general) of Nigeria A Union Jack defaced with the Badge of Nigeria.
  1914–1964 Flag of the governor of Nyasaland A Union Jack defaced with the badge of Nyasaland.
  1921–1922 Flag of the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland A Union Flag defaced with an Irish Harp.
  Until 1973 Personal flag of the governor of Northern Ireland A Union Jack defaced with the Coat of arms of Northern Ireland.
  1922–1956 Flag of the governor-general of the Sudan A Union Flag defaced with a white disc surrounded by a wreath of laurel. As no badge or coat of arms existed for Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, the disc instead contained the words "Governor General of the SUDAN".
  1924–1951 Flag of the governor of Southern Rhodesia A Union Jack defaced with the shield from Coat of Arms of Southern Rhodesia.
  1951–1952 Flag of the governor of Southern Rhodesia A blue flag with a Tudor Crown in the centre (in official proportions of 7:9).
  1952–1965
(de jure 1952–1970)		 Flag of the governor of Southern Rhodesia A blue flag withna St. Edward's Crown in the centre (in official proportions of 7:9).
  1940–1952 Household flag of the governor of Southern Rhodesia A red flag with a Tudor Crown in the centre, used as a car flag.
  1952–1965 Household flag of governor of Southern Rhodesia A red flag with the representation of the Zimbabwe Bird in yellow, used as a car flag.
  1929–2024 Personal flag of the lieutenant governor of Nova Scotia A Union Jack defaced with the shield of the Arms of Her Majesty in Right of Nova Scotia surrounded by a circle of 18 green maple leaves.
  1939–1964 Flag of the governor of Northern Rhodesia A Union Jack defaced with the shield from Coat of Arms of Northern Rhodesia.
  1946–1963 Flag of the governor of Sarawak A Union Jack defaced with the Badge of Sarawak Crown Colony.
  1946–1952 Flag of the governor of Singapore A Union Jack defaced with the Badge of Singapore Crown Colony.
  1952–1959 Flag of the governor of Singapore A Union Jack defaced with the Badge of Singapore Crown Colony.
  1951–1966 Flag of the resident commissioner of Basutoland A Union Jack defaced with the badge of Basutoland.
  1953–1963 Flag of the governor-general of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland A dark blue flag with the crest from the royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom at the top, and the words "Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland" on a golden scroll below.
  1955–1963 Flag of the British resident of Zanzibar A Union Jack defaced with a badge of sailboat that surmounted by a crown.
  1959–1965 Flag of the lieutenant governor of Ontario The Canadian Red Ensign defaced by a disc bearing the shield of the Arms of Ontario surrounded by a chain of green maple leaves.
  1956–1967 Flag used by the British governor of Antigua and Barbuda A Union Jack defaced with the Coat of arms of Antigua and Barbuda.
  1967–1981 Flag used by the British governor of Antigua and Barbuda A Union Jack defaced with the Coat of arms of Antigua and Barbuda.
  1807–1890 Flag of the Lieutenant-Governor of British Heligoland A Union Jack defaced with the Coat of arms of British Heligoland.
  1875–1910 Flag of the governor of Bermuda A Union Jack defaced with the then Coat of arms of Bermuda.
  1910–1999 Flag of the governor of Bermuda A Union Jack defaced with the Coat of arms of Bermuda.
  1958–1999 Flag of the governor of the Cayman Islands A Union Jack defaced with the Coat of arms of the Cayman Islands.
  1876–1925 Flag of the governor of the Falkland Islands A Union Jack defaced with the then Colonial Badge of the Falkland Islands.
  1925–1948 Flag of the governor of the Falkland Islands A Union Jack defaced with the then Colonial Badge of the Falkland Islands.
  1948–1999 Flag of the governor of the Falkland Islands A Union Jack defaced with the Coat of arms of the Falkland Islands.
  1875–1939 Flag of the governor of Gibraltar A Union Jack defaced with the then Colonial Badge of Gibraltar.
  1939–1982 Flag of the governor of Gibraltar A Union Jack defaced with the then Colonial Badge of Gibraltar.
  1982–1999 Flag of the governor of Gibraltar A Union Jack defaced with the Coat of arms of Gibraltar.

Others

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Flag Date Use Description
  1600–1858 Flag of the English/British East India Company Numerous white and red stripes (no set number) with the St George's Cross in the canton.
  1707–1800 Flag of the British East India Company Numerous white and red stripes with the Union Jack of Great Britain in the canton. Accepted to be one of the inspirations for the Grand Union Flag that eventually evolved into the current flag of the United States.
  1801–1858 Flag of the British East India Company Numerous white and red stripes with the Union Jack of the United Kingdom in the canton.
  1682–1707 Flag of the Hudson's Bay Company The English Red Ensign defaced with the initials of the company.
  1707–1801 Flag of the Hudson's Bay Company The pre-1801 Red Ensign defaced with the initials of the company.
  c. 1801–1965 Flag of the Hudson's Bay Company A Red Ensign defaced with the initials of the company.
  pre–1801 Flag of the North West Company The pre-1801 Red Ensign defaced with the initials of the company.
  c. 1801–1821 Flag of the North West Company A Red Ensign defaced with the initials of the company.
  1889–1961 Flag of the British South Africa Company A Union Jack with the logo of the British South Africa Company in the middle.
  1889–1961 Ensign of the British South Africa Company A Blue Ensign defaced with the Symbol of the British South Africa Company.
  1801–1922 Flag of the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland The Union Jack defaced with the Coat of Arms of Ireland.
  c. 1701–post 1800 Green Ensign An unofficial merchant navy flag consisting of a green field with an earlier version of the golden harp and the Flag of England in the canton, no record of its actual use.
  Post 1800–c. 1922 Green Ensign An unofficial merchant navy flag consisting of green field with golden harp and the Union Jack in the canton, no record of its actual use.
  Post 1910–c. 1921 British Empire flag An unofficial flag of the British Empire featuring its constituent dominions and India. Its origins are unclear, but it could not have been in use until after 1910 when South Africa was granted a coat of arms. Flown by civilians throughout the empire for coronations, the British Empire Exhibition and Empire Day. This variant was likely created for the 1911 coronation of King George V.[9]
  1921– British Empire flag of the Dangarsleigh War Memorial An unofficial flag of the British Empire featuring its constituent dominions and India. A unique design was featured at the 1921 opening of the Dangarsleigh War Memorial, and it is still sometimes flown today on special occasions.[10]
  Post 1930–c. 1945 British Empire flag An unofficial flag of the British Empire featuring its constituent dominions and India. This variant was likely created for the 1937 coronation of King George VI.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Flags of the British Empire and Commonwealth". Historical Flags of Our Ancestors. Archived from the original on 2018-11-25. Retrieved 2018-11-25.
  2. ^ "The history of the National Flag of Canada". www.canada.ca. Government of Canada. 4 February 2020. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  3. ^ "Flags of New Zealand Page 3 – Union Jack". nzhistory.govt.nz. New Zealand Government. 11 May 2015. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  4. ^ "NewspaperSG". eresources.nlb.gov.sg. Retrieved 2024-01-25.
  5. ^ Ausflag (1995) 'Queensland', http://www.ausflag.com.au/flags/qld.html Archived 2008-05-22 at the Wayback Machine, [9 March 2004]
  6. ^ Merchant Shipping Act 1951 (South Africa); South Africa Government Gazette No 6085 dated 25 July 1958.
  7. ^ The flag is the colonial flag which replaced the "Vierkleur" of the South African Republic (horizontally red, white and blue with a vertical green stripe at the hoist).
  8. ^ "Union Jack flag with Fijian crest Archived 2020-08-01 at the Wayback Machine", Museum of New Zealand. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
  9. ^ Kelly, Ralph (8 August 2017). "A flag for the Empire" (PDF). The Flag Institute. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 August 2023. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
  10. ^ Ingall, Jennifer (4 June 2021). "Why the Dangarsleigh war memorial flies the Empire flag and what it means to the community". ABC News. Archived from the original on 13 August 2023. Retrieved 13 August 2023.
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