Flag of Guernsey

This is a good article. Click here for more information.
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Guernsey
UseNational flag
Proportion2:3[1]
Adopted30 April 1985
DesignA red cross of St George, which reflects the island's constitutional relationship with the English Crown, and a gold cross shown on the banner of William the Conqueror which represents the historic connection with the Duchy of Normandy.[2]
Designed byHerbert Pitt
Civil ensign of Guernsey
Government ensign of Guernsey
Flag of the
governor of Guernsey
Guernsey national football team wearing the official and unofficial flags at a Muratti Vase
game
state ensign

The flag of Guernsey was adopted in 1985 and consists of the red

blue ensign
.

History

Prior to 1985, Guernsey had no official unique flag and instead used the

Government of Guernsey carried out official studies in 1906 and 1935 to determine any unique and identifiable historical flags that Guernsey could use to represent it.[6] In 1983, the Bailiff of Guernsey argued the need for a new flag for Guernsey because of the confusion caused by using the flag of England.[7] The impetus for the flag's creation was confusion at the 1982 Commonwealth Games, where Guernsey competed under the flag of England – some other nations' competitors erroneously believed England was entering two teams into the Games.[7]

The Bayeux Tapestry: William the Conqueror holding a banner with a golden cross; this was used for the design of the Guernsey flag.

Research was carried out by Deputy Bailiff Sir

Second World War.[7]

Thereafter, the Guernsey flag was used in the Grosse Rocque ceremony, replacing the Union Jack, which had traditionally been raised on Grosse Rocque every August bank holiday.[8] The flag would then fly on the rock continuously for a year before being replaced with a new one.[9] The flag of Guernsey is flown from all of the States of Guernsey buildings except on designated flag-flying days, when the Union Jack is used instead. These days mostly relate to birthdays and anniversaries of senior members of the Royal Family as well as Commonwealth Day and Remembrance Sunday.[10] The flag is also flown on the anniversary of the Battle of Hastings on all public buildings.[11]

The flag provided inspiration for the

Priory of England and the Islands in a church service which included granting a new flag from the British College of Arms including elements of the flag of Guernsey.[13]

The flag is not universally supported. Some Guernsey sports fans complain that the flag lacks Guernsey's sporting colour of green or the crest of Guernsey. In the 2000s, a green and white tribar with the coat of arms of Guernsey in the centre was created by Guernsey sports fans to be used as Guernsey's unofficial sporting flag.[14]

Guernsey ensign

At the same time as the flag of Guernsey was adopted, the Royal Warrant also provided for creation of a Guernsey

blue ensign version of the Guernsey ensign for maritime usage on government vessels.[16]

Gallery of historical flags

The previous flag of Guernsey was the

Union Flag in canton. Further details of its use and official status remain doubtful, however.[17]

  • 1936–1985 flag
    1936–1985 flag
  • 19th century flag
    19th century flag
  • Unofficial sporting flag of Guernsey
    Unofficial sporting flag of Guernsey

Parish flags

See also

References

  1. ^ Guernsey; Flags of the World; (c.1996 – Present)
  2. ^ "Flags and Arms". Guernsey Royal Court. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  3. ^ Le Conte, David, Designing the Flag, Review of the Guernsey Society, Spring 1996, Vol LII No 1
  4. ^ a b Nicolls, Bruce, A New Flag for Guernsey, Review of the Guernsey Society, Winter 1985, Vol XLI No 3
  5. ^ Smith, Whitney. "flag of Guernsey". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
  6. ^ a b c "The Guernsey Flag". BBC. 22 July 2004. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
  7. ^ a b c d "25 years under the Guernsey flag". BBC News. 15 April 2010. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
  8. ^ "Saviour found for Guernsey flag ceremony". BBC News. 28 September 2010. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
  9. ^ "Raising the flag for Liberation at Cobo". BBC News. 13 May 2010. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
  10. ^ "Flag Flying Days in Guernsey". Guernsey Royal Court. 25 February 1947. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
  11. ^ "Guernsey flags flown to commemorate Battle of Hastings". ITV. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  12. ^ "Guernsey Ambulance and Rescue celebrates 75 years". BBC News. 2 June 2011. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
  13. ^ "Guernsey St John Ambulance goes independent". BBC News. 26 November 2012. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
  14. ^ "Green-white-green Tricolour on Guernsey". Crwflags.com. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
  15. ^ "Flags and Arms". Guernsey Royal Court. 9 May 1985. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
  16. ^ "The Blue and Red Ensigns of Her Majesty's Fleet" (PDF). Royal Navy. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  17. ^ "Guernsey flag". The Sarnian. 31 May 2017. Retrieved 3 February 2018.

External links