Historical flags of the British Empire and the overseas territories

List of UK flags
	English flags
	Northern Irish flags
	Scottish flags
	Welsh flags
	Cornish flags
	Gibraltarian flags
	Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha flags
	Royal Standards
	Former British Empire

**British Empire**
British Empire
	Left: Flag of Great Britain (before 1801); Right: Flag of the United Kingdom
	Flags were used to represent a variety territories, colonies and dominions across the Empire

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, territories which made up the British Empire and current Overseas territories. Early flags that were used across the Empire (In particular the then Thirteen Colonies which would later become the United States of America) tended to 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 were used across the Empire and as well as current British overseas territories until 1999.

Historical Flags of the British Empire and the overseas territories[]

Aden[]

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1937–1963	Aden	A blue ensign defaced with an Arab ship inside a disc

Anguilla[]

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	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–	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[]

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	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[]

Note: Australia formally became an independent country from the United Kingdom under the Statute of Westminster Adoption Act 1942 which formally adopted the Statute of Westminster 1931 and backdated the adoption to 3 September 1939.

Date	Use	Description
1901–1903	Australia	The original 1901 Federal Flag Design Competition winner. A British 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 British 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).
1908–1939	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.
1908–1939	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
1901–1939	State of New South Wales	A St George's Cross with four gold stars and a lion in the fly of a British blue ensign. Still used as the state flag.
1901–1939	State of Queensland	A light blue Maltese cross with a Tudor crown on a white background in the fly of a British blue ensign.
1901–1904	State of South Australia	A British 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.
1904–1939	State of South Australia	A piping shrike on a gold background in the fly of a British blue ensign. Still currently used as the state flag.
1901–1939	State of Tasmania	A red lion on a white background in the fly of a British blue ensign. Still currently used as the state flag.
1901–1939	State of Victoria	The Southern Cross surmounted by a Tudor crown in the fly of a British blue ensign.
1901–1939	State of Western Australia	A black swan on a gold background in the fly of a British blue ensign.

Bahama Islands[]

Date	Use	Description
1869–1904	Bahama Islands	A Blue Ensign with the Badge of the Bahama islands.
1904–1923	Bahama Islands	A Blue Ensign with the Badge of the Bahama Islands.
1923–1953	Bahama Islands	A Blue Ensign with the Badge of the Bahama Islands.
1953–1964	Bahama Islands	A Blue Ensign with the Badge of the Bahama Islands.
1953–1964	Bahama Islands (Civil Ensign)	A British Red Ensign with the Badge of the Bahama Islands. Note: change in the design of the crown within the badge.
1964–1973	Bahama Islands	A Blue Ensign defaced with the Badge of the Bahama Islands.
1964–1973	Bahama Islands (Civil Ensign)	A British Red Ensign with the Badge of the Bahama Islands. Note: change in the design of the crown within the badge.

Bahrain[]

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

Basutoland[]

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1822–1966	Basutoland	Flag of the United Kingdom.
	1951–1966	Basutoland (Unofficial)	A Blue Ensign with an emblem of Basutoland.

Bermuda[]

Date	Use	Description
1875–1910	Bermuda	The original colonial flag was a blue ensign with a seal showing a dry dock and three sailing ships.
1910–1999	Bermuda	A Red Ensign with the coat of arms of Bermuda.
1910–1999	Bermuda (Government Ensign)	A Blue Ensign with the coat of arms of Bermuda.

British America[]

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	Until 1801 (Canada) Until 1776 (US, de facto) Until 1783 (US, de jure)	British America, part of which 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[]

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1963–	British Antarctic Territory	A defaced white ensign with the Coat of arms of the British Antarctic Territory. Still currently used to represent the territory within the United Kingdom.
	1969–	British Antarctic Territory (Government Ensign)	A defaced blue ensign with the Coat of arms of the British Antarctic Territory. Still currently used to represent the territory within the United Kingdom.

British Cameroon[]

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[]

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

British Ceylon[]

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1815–1948	Ceylon	A blue ensign defaced with the Coat of Arms of Ceylon.

British Columbia Colony[]

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[]

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

British Guiana[]

Date	Use	Description
1875–1906	British Guiana	A blue ensign defaced with a sailing ship.
1906–1919	British Guiana	A blue ensign defaced with a sailing ship.
1919–1954	British Guiana	A blue ensign defaced with a sailing ship and the motto inside an oval.
1955–1966	British Guiana	A blue ensign defaced with a triangular badage with sailing ship and the motto inside an oval.

British Hong Kong[]

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. This flag was used until the transfer of sovereignty in 1997. It has also been used during the 2019–20 Hong Kong protests

British Honduras[]

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1870–1919	British Honduras	A blue 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.

British India[]

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	A red ensign defaced with the badge of the Order of the Star of India
1885–1947	British India	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 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[]

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1871–1956	British Leeward Islands	A blue ensign with the emblem of the British Leeward Islands in the fly.

British New Hebrides[]

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[]

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.

British Straits Settlements[]

Date	Use	Description
1868–1874	British Straits Settlements	A blue ensign defaced with a golden crown at the bottom right hand corner.
1874–1925	British Straits Settlements	A blue ensign defaced with a white disc containing three gold crown; separated with a red inverted pall, which looks like an inverted Y.
1925–1942	British Straits Settlements	A blue ensign containing three gold crown; separated with a red inverted pall, which looks like an inverted Y.

British Mauritius[]

Date	Use	Description
1869–1906	British Mauritius	A Blue Ensign defaced with the 1869 Coat of arms 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.
1923–1968	British Mauritius	A Blue Ensign defaced with the Coat of arms of Mauritius.

British Nigeria (Northern & Southern)[]

Date	Use	Description
1900–1914	Northern Nigeria Protectorate	A Blue Ensign defaced with the badge of the Northern Nigeria Protectorate in a green 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.
1952–1960	British Nigeria	A blue ensign defaced with the a green Star of David surrounding a St. Edward's Crown with the white word "Nigeria" under it on a red disc.

British Solomon Islands[]

Date	Use	Description
1906–1947	British Solomon Islands	A Blue Ensign defaced with the name of the protectorate's and the Tudor Crown.
1947–1956	British Solomon Islands	A Blue Ensign charged with a shield depicting a black-and-white sea turtle.
1956–1966	British Solomon Islands	A Blue Ensign charged with a shield divided quarterly – depicting a lion, an eagle, a turtle, a frigate bird, and weapons from the region – on a white disc.
1966–1977	British Solomon Islands	Identical to the previous version, save for the removal of the white disc.

British Somaliland[]

Date	Use	Description
1903–1950	British Somaliland	A Blue Ensign defaced with a Kudu inside a white disc.
1950–1952	British Somaliland	A blue ensign defaced with the shield of arms of the British Somaliland.
1952–1960	British Somaliland	A blue ensign defaced with the shield of arms of the British Somaliland.

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.

British West Africa[]

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1866–1888	British West Africa	A blue ensign defaced with an elephant with the words “West Africa Settlements” under the feet of the elephant all inside a disc.

British Windward Islands[]

Date	Use	Description
1886–1903	British Windward Islands	A blue ensign defaced with the arms of the British Windward Islands inside a disc.
1903–1958	British Windward Islands	A blue ensign defaced with the arms of the British Windward Islands inside a disc.
1953–1960	British Windward Islands	A blue ensign defaced with the arms of the British Windward Islands inside a disc.

Burma[]

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1939–1941; 1945 – January 3, 1948	Burma	A blue ensign defaced with a peafowl inside a disc.

Brunei[]

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

Canada[]

Note: Canada formally became an autonomous and de facto independent country from the United Kingdom under the Statute of Westminster in 1931 but continued to use variants the Canadian Red Ensign as the national flag until 1965. Canada's full separation would come in 1982.

Date	Use	Description
1868–1921	Canada	A red ensign defaced with the coat of arms of the Dominion of Canada.
1870	Canada	A red ensign defaced with the coat of arms of the Dominion of Canada surrounded by an arc of golden maple leaves.
1873	Canada	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	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	A red ensign defaced with the coat of arms of the Dominion of Canada with the Crown of Saint Edward (Heraldry).
1868–1921	Canada (Government Ensign)	A blue ensign defaced with the coat of arms of the Dominion of Canada.
1873–1921	Canada	A red ensign defaced with the coat of arms of the Dominion of Canada.
1905–1922	Canada	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 (Government Ensign)	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.
1921–1957	Canada	A red ensign defaced with the coat of arms of the Dominion of Canada.
1921–1957	Canada	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.
1921–1957	Canada (Government Ensign)	A blue ensign defaced with the coat of arms of the Dominion of Canada.
1957–1965	Canada	A red ensign defaced with the coat of arms of the Dominion of Canada.
1957–1965	Canada (Government Ensign)	A blue ensign defaced with the coat of arms of the Dominion of Canada.

Cayman Islands[]

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[]

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

Cook Islands[]

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[]

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1881–1922	Cyprus	A blue ensign defaced with the letters, "CHC" inside a white disc.
	1922–1960	Cyprus	A blue ensign defaced with two red lions.

Dominica[]

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

East Africa Protectorate[]

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1895–1920	East Africa Protectorate	A blue ensign defaced with a red rampant lion in a white disc.

Falkland Islands & Dependencies[]

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[]

Date	Use	Description
1877–1883	Fiji	A blue British 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.
1883–1908	Fiji	A blue British ensign with a white disc in the fly displaying a crown surmounted by a lion with the word "FIJI" beneath it.
1908–1924	Fiji	A Blue Ensign with the Fiji Coat of Arms on a white disc.
1924–1970	Fiji	A Blue Ensign with the Fiji Coat of Arms centred on the fly half.

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.

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—	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[]

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[]

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[]

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[]

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1821–1957	Gold Coast	A blue ensign defaced with an elephant and the letters GC under the feet of the elephant all inside a disc

Heligoland[]

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1807–1890	Heligoland	The flag of Heligoland with the Union Jack in the canton.

Ionian Islands[]

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[]

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1924–1959	Mesopotamia	Flag of Mandatory Iraq.

Ireland[]

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[]

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.
1957–1962	Jamaica	A British Blue 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.

Kedah[]

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1912–1950	Kedah Protectorate	Colony of Kedah Red Coat of arms.

Kenya[]

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1920–1963	Kenya	A blue ensign defaced with a red rampant lion.

Kuwait[]

Date	Use	Description
1899–1914	Kuwait Protectorate	The flags of the Ottoman Empire was 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[]

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1912–1946	Labuan	A blue ensign defaced with a ship.

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[]

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[]

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1946–1957	Malacca	A blue ensign defaced with A Famosa motif.

Maldives[]

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1903–1953	Maldives Protectorate

Malta[]

Date	Use	Description
19th century	Malta	A red ensign defaced with a white St George's cross, but no badge.
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 without white disc.
1943–1964	Malta	A blue ensign defaced with the badge of Malta in a white disc.

Montserrat[]

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1960–1999	Montserrat	A blue ensign with the Coat of arms of Montserrat in the fly.

Mosquito Coast[]

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1834–1860	Mosquito Coast	Union jack, prominent over the top quarter closest to the flag mast. The field of the flag is composed of ten horizontal stripes in blue and white alternatively.

Muscat and Oman[]

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1820–1970	Muscat and Oman

Natal Colony[]

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

New Guinea[]

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[]

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[]

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[]

Note: New Zealand formally became an independent country from the United Kingdom in 1947 under the Statute of Westminster Adoption Act 1947 which formally adopted the Statute of Westminster 1931.

Date	Use	Description
1840–1867	New Zealand	Adopted following the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840.
1867–1869	New Zealand	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.
1902–1947 (official, in use from 1869)	New Zealand	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.
1869–1947	New Zealand (Civil Flag)	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
	1893–1899	Niger Coast Protectorate	A blue ensign defaced with the shield-of-arms of the colonial Niger Coast Protectorate.

North Borneo[]

Date	Use	Description
1882–1948	North Borneo	A blue ensign defaced with the badge of North Borneo Chartered Company.
1882–1948	North Borneo (Civil Enisgn)	A red ensign defaced with the badge of North Borneo Chartered Company.
1948–1963	North Borneo	A blue ensign defaced with the new badge of Crown Colony of North Borneo.

Nova Scotia[]

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1858–1867	Nova Scotia	A blue saltire on a white field with the Royal Arms of Scotland in the centre. Still used as the provincial flag.

Nyasaland[]

Date	Use	Description
1914–1919	Nyasaland	A blue ensign defaced with the within a white circle.
1919–1925	Nyasaland	A blue ensign defaced with a larger version of the .
1925–1964	Nyasaland	A blue ensign defaced with an updated colourised version of the .

Orange River Colony[]

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

Palestine[]

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1927–1948	British Mandate of Palestine	A red ensign defaced with the word Palestine inside a white disc, for use by ships registered in the territory. The Union Jack was used as the general land flag of the mandate.

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[]

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1946–1949	Penang	A blue ensign defaced with the pre-1985 lesser arms of Penang.

Pitcairn Islands[]

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1984–	Pitcain Islands	A blue ensign defaced with the coat of arms of the Pitcairn Islands. Still currently used as the flag of the islands.

Province of Canada[]

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

Qatar[]

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1936–1949	Qatar Protectorate	A nine-pointed serrated edge, diamonds and the word "Qatar".

Queensland Colony[]

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.^[2]
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[]

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1958–1967	Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla	A blue ensign with the emblem of the territory in the fly.
	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[]

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[]

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[]

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[]

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1903–1961	Seychelles	A Blue 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.

Sierra Leone[]

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1889–1914	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.

South Australia Colony[]

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 sitting with a spear on a rocky shoreline.

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands[]

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[]

Note: South Africa formally became an independent country from the United Kingdom in 1931 after formally adopting the Statute of Westminster.

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.^[3]
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)[]

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[]

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.
	1946–1963	Sarawak	A blue ensign defaced with the shield-of-arms of Sarawak.

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, which looks like an inverted Y.
	1952–1959	Singapore	A blue ensign defaced with a white disc containing Saint Edward's crown within a red inverted pall, which looks like an inverted Y.

Egypt[]

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1922–1956	Anglo-Egyptian Sudan	The Flag of the Kingdom of Egypt and the Union Jack used simultaneously.

Tanganyika[]

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1919–1961	Tanganyika	A red ensign defaced with the head of a giraffe in a white disc.

Tasmania Colony[]

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.
	1875–1901	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.

Jordan[]

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

Transvaal Colony[]

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.^[4]

Trinidad and Tobago[]

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.

Tuvalu[]

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[]

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.

Trucial States[]

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[]

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1914–1962	Uganda	A blue ensign defaced with a grey crowned crane inside a disc.

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[]

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[]

Flag	Date	Use	Description
	1903–1930	Weihaiwei	A Blue Ensign defaced with two Mandarin ducks by a pond inside a disc.

Western Australia Colony[]

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[]

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.
1922–1962	Western Samoa (Civil Ensign)	A Red Ensign defaced with three palm trees encircled. Used at sea.

West Indies Federation[]

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[]

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

Historical Governor's flags[]

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.
1883–1908	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 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.^[5]
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.
1994–1981	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
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 on	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.
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.
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.

Others[]

Date	Use	Description
1600–1858	Flag of the English/British East India Company	Numerous white and red stripes with the St George's Cross in the canton, the number of stripes was not determined.
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 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.

References[]

^ "Flags of the British Empire and Commonwealth". Historical Flags of Our Ancestors. Retrieved 2018-11-25.
^ Ausflag (1995) 'Queensland', http://www.ausflag.com.au/flags/qld.html Archived 2008-05-22 at the Wayback Machine, [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.