Historical flags of the British Empire and the overseas territories explained

British Empire
Image Flag2:	Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
Flag Type:	Left: Flag of Great Britain (before 1801) Right: Flag of the United Kingdom

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.

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

Aden

Akrotiri and Dhekelia

Anguilla

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		The 1967–1969 independence flag and is still widely seen and used on the island as an unofficial flag to this day.
1990–1999		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

Australia

Date	Use	Description
1901–1903		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		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–		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

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		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–		A piping shrike on a gold background in the fly of a Blue Ensign.
1901–		A red lion on a white background in the fly of a Blue Ensign.
1901–1953		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		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

Date	Use	Description
1869–1904		A Blue 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.
1923–1953		A Blue Ensign defaced with the badge of the Bahama Islands.
1953–1964		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		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

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

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

Basutoland

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

Bermuda

Date	Use	Description
1875–1910		A Blue Ensign defaced with the badge of Bermuda.
1910–1999		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 Antarctic Territory

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1963–		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 Ceylon

British Columbia Colony

British East Africa

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

British Guiana

British Hong Kong

British Honduras

British India

Date	Use	Description
1733–1801		A flag with red and white stripes and the flag of Great Britain in the canton.
1801–1858		A flag with red and white stripes and the flag of the United Kingdom in the canton.
1858–1947		Flag of the United Kingdom.
1880–1947		A Red Ensign defaced with the Order of the Star of India
1885–1947		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

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

British New Hebrides

British Malaya

See also: British Malaya and Federated Malay States.

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1895–1946		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

Date	Use	Description
1868–1874		A Blue Ensign defaced with a golden crown at the bottom right hand corner.
1874–1904		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		A Blue Ensign defaced with a white disc containing three gold crowns separated by a red inverted pall.
1925–1946		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

British Nigeria (Northern & Southern)

British Solomon Islands

British Somaliland

British Virgin Islands

British West Africa

British Windward Islands

Burma

Brunei

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

Canada

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.

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

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1958–1999		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

Cook Islands

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1888–1893		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		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

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

Dominica

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

Falkland Islands & Dependencies

Date	Use	Description
1876–1925		A blue ensign defaced with the seal of the Falkland Islands.
1925–1948		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

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1877–1883		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		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		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		A Blue Ensign with the coat of arms of Fiji on a white disc.
	1908–1970		A Red Ensign with the coat of arms of Fiji on a white disc.
	1924–1970		A Blue Ensign with the coat of arms of Fiji centred on the fly half.

Gambia Colony and Protectorate

Gibraltar

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–		A white and red flag with the banner of the coat of arms of Gibraltar. Still currently used as the flag of Gibraltar.

Grenada

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1875–1903		A blue ensign defaced with the then badge of Grenada on a disc.
	1903–1967		A blue ensign defaced with the then badge of Grenada on a disc.
	1967–1974		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

Gold Coast

Heligoland

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1807–1890		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.

Ireland

Jamaica

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

Kenya

Kuwait

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

Lagos Colony

Lower Canada

Malacca

Malta

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

Montserrat

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1909–1960		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.

New Guinea

New South Wales Colony

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1867–1870		A Blue Ensign defaced with the letters "NSW".
	1870–1876		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		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

Date	Use	Description
1862–1870		A white flag bearing the red cross of St George with a yellow crown at the centre.
1870–1904		A blue ensign defaced with a seal of the crown and underwritten is "Terra Nova".
1904–1931 (used as Civil Ensign until 1965)		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)		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

See also: Colony of New Zealand and New Zealand.

Note: Although it had been self-governing since 1852, New Zealand formally became an independent country from the United Kingdom under the Statute of Westminster Adoption Act 1947, which adopted the Statute of Westminster 1931.

Date	Use	Description
1840–1902^[3]		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

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

North Borneo

Date	Use	Description
1882–1902		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		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		A blue ensign defaced with the new badge of Crown Colony of North Borneo.

Nova Scotia

Nyasaland

Palestine

Date	Use	Description
1920–1948		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		A blue ensign defaced with the word Palestine inside a white disc, for use by customs and postal service vessels.

Territory of Papua

Penang

Province of Canada

Qatar

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

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1859		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		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		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

Date	Use	Description
1958–1967		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 Lucia

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1875–1939		A blue ensign defaced with the emblem of Saint Lucia.
	1939–1967		A blue ensign defaced with the emblem of Saint Lucia.
	1967–1979		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

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

Seychelles

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

Sierra Leone

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1889–1914		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.

South Australia Colony

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1870–1876		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		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 Africa

Rhodesia (Northern & Southern)

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

Sarawak

Singapore

Sudan

Tanganyika

Tasmania Colony

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1875		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		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.

Trinidad and Tobago

Date	Use	Description
1889–1958		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		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

Turks and Caicos Islands

Date	Use	Description
1889–1968		A blue ensign defaced with the former coat of arms of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
1968–1999		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

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

Uganda

Upper Canada

Victoria Colony

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1870–1877		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		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		A defaced British Blue Ensign with the stars of the southern cross from then on having 5, 6, 7, 7 and 8 points.

Weihaiwei

Western Samoa

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

Zanzibar

Historical governors' flags

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1869–1901		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		A Union Jack defaced with the badge of Ceylon.
	1875 – c. 1898		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		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		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		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		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		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		A Union Jack defaced with Chinese dragon in a yellow disc.
	1903–1930		A Union Jack defaced with a pair of Mandarin ducks.
	1902–1909		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		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		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		A Union Jack defaced with the Badge of Colonial Mauritius.
	1906–1953		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		A Union Jack defaced with the then Colonial Badge of Hong Kong.
	1955–1959		A Union Jack defaced with the then Colonial Badge of Hong Kong.
	1959–1997		A Union Jack defaced with the then Coat of arms of Hong Kong.
	1910–1931		A Union Jack defaced with the Coat of Arms of South Africa.
	1914–1952		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		A Union Jack defaced with the badge of Nyasaland.
	1921–1922		A Union Flag defaced with an Irish Harp.
	Until 1973		A Union Jack defaced with the Coat of arms of Northern Ireland.
	1922–1956		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 "".
	1924–1951		A Union Jack defaced with the shield from Coat of Arms of Southern Rhodesia.
	1951–1952		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		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		A Union Jack defaced with the shield from Coat of Arms of Northern Rhodesia.
	1946–1963		A Union Jack defaced with the Badge of Sarawak Crown Colony.
	1946–1952		A Union Jack defaced with the Badge of Singapore Crown Colony.
	1952–1959		A Union Jack defaced with the Badge of Singapore Crown Colony.
	1951–1966		A Union Jack defaced with the badge of Basutoland.
	1953–1963		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		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.
https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/images/a/ag_gob1.gif	1956–1967		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		A Union Jack defaced with the Coat of arms of British Heligoland.

Others

Date	Use	Description
1600–1858		Numerous white and red stripes (no set number) with the St George's Cross in the canton.
1707–1800		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		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.
–1965		A Red Ensign defaced with the initials of the company.
pre–1801		The pre-1801 Red Ensign defaced with the initials of the company.
–1821	Flag of the North West Company	A Red Ensign defaced with the initials of the company.
1889–1961		A Union Jack with the logo of the British South Africa Company in the middle.
1889–1961		A Blue Ensign defaced with the Symbol of the British South Africa Company.
1801–1922		The Union Jack defaced with the Coat of Arms of Ireland.
–post 1800		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–		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–	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–	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.

Notes and References

Web site: Flags of the British Empire and Commonwealth. 2018-11-25. Historical Flags of Our Ancestors. 2018-11-25. https://web.archive.org/web/20181125030813/http://www.loeser.us/flags/british_note_5.html. live.
Web site: The history of the National Flag of Canada. www.canada.ca. 4 February 2020. 6 June 2022. Government of Canada.
Web site: Flags of New Zealand Page 3 – Union Jack. nzhistory.govt.nz. New Zealand Government. 11 May 2015. 6 June 2022.
Web site: NewspaperSG . 2024-01-25 . eresources.nlb.gov.sg.
Ausflag (1995) 'Queensland', http://www.ausflag.com.au/flags/qld.html, [9 March 2004]
Merchant Shipping Act 1951 (South Africa); South Africa Government Gazette No 6085 dated 25 July 1958.
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).
"Union Jack flag with Fijian crest ", Museum of New Zealand. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
Web site: Kelly . Ralph . 8 August 2017 . A flag for the Empire . https://web.archive.org/web/20230813214957/https://www.flaginstitute.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/ICV27-B8-Kelly.pdf . 13 August 2023 . 13 August 2023 . The Flag Institute . PDF.
News: Ingall . Jennifer . 4 June 2021 . Why the Dangarsleigh war memorial flies the Empire flag and what it means to the community . ABC News . 13 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230813215116/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-06-05/dangarsleigh-memorial-celebrates-century-flying-empire-flag/100180732 . 13 August 2023.

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

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

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1869–1906		A Blue Ensign defaced with the former badge of Mauritius in a white disc.
	1906–1923		A Blue Ensign defaced with the coat of arms of Mauritius in a white disc.
	1923–1968		A Blue Ensign defaced with the coat of arms of Mauritius.

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1906–1947		A Blue Ensign defaced with the badge of the Solomon Islands.
	1947–1956		A Blue Ensign charged with the badge of the Solomon Islands.
	1956–1966		A Blue Ensign charged with the badge of the Solomon Islands.
	1966–1977		A Blue Ensign charged with the badge of the Solomon Islands without a white disc.

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1903–1950		A Blue Ensign defaced with the coat of arms of British Somaliland.
	1903–1950		A Red Ensign defaced with the coat of arms of British Somaliland.
	1950–1952		A Blue Ensign defaced with the coat of arms of British Somaliland.
	1950–1952		A Red Ensign defaced with the coat of arms of British Somaliland.
	1952–1960		A Blue Ensign defaced with the coat of arms of British Somaliland.
	1952–1960		A Red Ensign defaced with the coat of arms of British Somaliland.

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

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1870–1919		A Blue Ensign defaced with the badge of British Honduras inside a white disc.
	1919–1981		A Blue Ensign defaced with the badge of British Honduras.

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

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1900–1914		A Blue Ensign defaced with the badge of the Northern Nigeria Protectorate in a red disc.
	1900–1914		A Blue Ensign defaced with the badge of the Southern Nigeria Protectorate in a green disc.
	1914–1952		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.
	1952–1960		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.

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1886–1903		A Blue Ensign defaced with the coat of arms of the British Windward Islands inside a disc.
	1903–1953		A Blue Ensign defaced with the coat of arms of the British Windward Islands inside a disc.
	1953–1958		A Blue Ensign defaced with the coat of arms of the British Windward Islands inside a disc.

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1791–1801		The Red Ensign of Great Britain.
	1801–1841		The Red Ensign of the United Kingdom.

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

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

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1949–1952		A blue ensign defaced with the pre-1985 lesser arms of Penang.
	1952–1957		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]

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1910–1912		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		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		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		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.

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1870–1946		A cross, half black and half red, on yellow based on shield-of-arms of Sarawak.
	1947–1963		A blue ensign defaced with the shield-of-arms of Sarawak.

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1922–1955		The Flag of the Kingdom of Egypt and the Union Jack used simultaneously.
	1955		White flag with the word "SUDAN" in red.

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1914–1962		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.