Flag of the British Leeward Islands
.svg) | |
| Use | National flag |
|---|---|
| Adopted | 1871 (with a Tudor Crown), 1952 (with a St Edward's Crown) |
| Relinquished | 1958 |
| Design | A British Blue Ensign defaced with the colony badge. |
| Designed by | Sir Benjamin Pine |
| Flag of the Governor of the British Leeward Islands | |
.svg) | |
| Adopted | 1874 (with a Tudor Crown), 1952 (with a St Edward's Crown) |
| Relinquished | 31 December 1959 |
The flag of the British Leeward Islands was the flag of the Federal Colony of the Leeward Islands. It was a Blue Ensign with a badge. The colonies under the Federal Colony had their own badges from 1909. The Governor-in-chief of the Leeward Islands used a Union Flag defaced with the coat of arms. The badge depicted two white ships sailing in opposite directions through the straits. In the foreground was a pineapple, with three smaller ones behind it. Pineapples were an important product of island agriculture. The coat of arms of Great Britain appeared above the scene.[1]
The flag was adopted in 1871 when Sir Benjamin Pine was governor. There was a rumor going around that the large pineapple represented him and the smaller ones represented his family. The flag remained in use for 85 years until the federation was dissolved as a result of the annexation of most of its islands to the larger West Indies Federation in 1958. The only change came in 1952 when the Queen Elizabeth II requested the Tudor Crown in all British symbols with St. Edward's Crown, which she wore at her coronation.[2]
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Flag during the reign of Elizabeth II (1952-1958) -
![Flag of the governor during the reign of Elizabeth II (1952-1959[a])](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ee/Flag_of_the_Governor_of_Leeward_Islands_%281952%E2%80%931959%29.svg/180px-Flag_of_the_Governor_of_Leeward_Islands_%281952%E2%80%931959%29.svg.png)
Flag of the governor during the reign of Elizabeth II (1952-1959[a])
.svg)
![Flag of the governor during the reign of Elizabeth II (1952-1959[a])](/wiki/File:Flag_of_the_Governor_of_Leeward_Islands_(1952%E2%80%931959).svg)
See also
[edit]- Former parts of the Leeward Islands
- Flag of the British Windward Islands
- Flag of the West Indies Federation
Notes
[edit]- ^ The office of governor was officially abolished on 31 December 1959, although the territory had been abolished two years earlier.
References
[edit]- ^ de Vries, Hubert. "LEEWARD ISLANDS". hubert herald. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
- ^ Boutell, Charles (1973). Boutell's heraldry (Revised ed.). London: F. Warne. p. 183–185. ISBN 0-7232-1708-4.
