Flag of Southern Rhodesia

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

Southern Rhodesia
blue ensign
with the coat of arms of Southern Rhodesia
Designed byGovernment of Southern Rhodesia
Adopted1964 (Southern Rhodesia)
1965 (Rhodesia)
Relinquished1965 (Southern Rhodesia)
1968 (Rhodesia)

The flag of Southern Rhodesia was a

blue ensign, later changed to a sky-blue ensign, with the coat of arms of Southern Rhodesia on it. The flag was in use in Southern Rhodesia (later Zimbabwe) from 1924 to 1953 and from 1963 to 1965. It was also used by the unrecognised Rhodesia from 1965 to 1968. The flag was initially used unofficially internally before being approved for use outside of the colony by the Colonial Office in 1937. The colour was changed to sky blue in 1964 to protest the treatment of Southern Rhodesia after its inclusion in the failed Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland
.

Construction

Southern Rhodesia Memorial Avenue in Norfolk; the pale blue Southern Rhodesia flag is flying on the left

The flag of Southern Rhodesia consisted of a blue ensign with the Union Jack in canton. The coat of arms was designed to be symbolic of Southern Rhodesia. The lion and thistles came from the coat of arms of Cecil Rhodes, the founder of Southern Rhodesia, and the yellow pick on a green background symbolised mining and farming.[1]

History

Southern Rhodesia

The flag of Southern Rhodesia was adopted in 1924 by the

Coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, Southern Rhodesia should have its own flag to represent it. The Colonial Office agreed it would be the most appropriate to use the flag designed by the Southern Rhodesian High Commission and made it official however the Southern Rhodesian High Commissioner stated that this only approved the flag of Southern Rhodesia for official use outside the colony and the Union Jack was the official flag internally.[3]

The flag of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. The red lion represents Southern Rhodesia.

In 1956, Southern Rhodesia entered into a

federal union with Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland to form the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. Upon union, a blue ensign with a unified badge was adopted to replace the respective previous flags. Southern Rhodesia was represented in the federation's flag by a red lion that had previously been on their old flag.[4]

Rhodesia

Following the collapse of the federation in 1964, Southern Rhodesia then started calling itself Rhodesia and adopted a new flag at the behest of the

Queen Elizabeth II, despite the British government not recognising UDI. Smith said: "Let there be no doubt that we in this country stand second to none in our loyalty to the Queen, and whatever else other countries may have done or may yet do, it is our intention that the Union Jack will continue to fly in Rhodesia and the national anthem continue to be sung."[9]
: 5 

Despite Smith's claim, some Rhodesians felt that the flag implied that Rhodesia was still a colony and not an independent nation.

Duke of Montrose, who said it represented Rhodesia's past and was a symbol of their active rebellion against the British government.[9]: 8  Despite these calls, the flag of Southern Rhodesia was abandoned and replaced with the new flag of Rhodesia in 1968.[10] During the formal changeover ceremony on the third anniversary of UDI, Smith noticeably expressed sadness when the flag of Southern Rhodesia was lowered to the Last Post.[11]

After UDI

Owing to Rhodesia's UDI not being recognised officially internationally, whenever Rhodesia appeared on the international stage, the new flag was not used. In 1972, the

God Save the Queen" as their anthem instead of "Rise, O Voices of Rhodesia". The Rhodesian Olympic Committee agreed to this however the manager Ossie Plaskitt stated "We are ready to participate under any flag, be it the flag of the Boy Scouts or the Moscow flag. But everyone knows very well that we are Rhodesians and will always remain Rhodesians."[12] Eventually the IOC voted in favour of rescinding the invitation to Rhodesia as African nations threatened a boycott of the Olympics and because the United Kingdom would not issue Southern Rhodesian passports to the athletes.[13]

In 1979, Southern Rhodesia was restored under the direct control of a British governor following the Lancaster House Agreement. Despite the restoration of the colony, the Union Jack was treated as the only official flag of Southern Rhodesia for this time, though the flag of Zimbabwe Rhodesia was also used as a de facto flag.[14] When Lord Soames arrived to become Governor of Southern Rhodesia, the Zimbabwe Rhodesia flag was flying at the airport and not the Union Jack. When asked why, the Rhodesian airport officials stated "We can fly whatever flag we like".[14] The flag of Southern Rhodesia was not used again; it was the Union Jack rather than the Southern Rhodesian flag that was lowered when Britain granted independence to Zimbabwe in April 1980.[15]

See also

References

  1. ISBN 0822518252
    .
  2. ISBN 0719038731
    .
  3. ^
    ISBN 978-1869191122
    .
  4. ISBN 0903274000
    .
  5. ^ "Southern Rhodesia gets flag". New York Times. 8 April 1964. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
  6. ^ a b Smith, Whitney, ed. (1976). The Flag Bulletin. Volumes 15–17. Winchester, Massachusetts: Flag Research Center. p. 46.
  7. ISBN 978-1466934085
    .
  8. ISBN 0299131238
    .
  9. ^ a b c d Kenrick, David (2 July 2015). "These Colours Don't Run: Choosing the Rhodesian Flag". Academia.edu. Retrieved 20 July 2016.[permanent dead link]
  10. ^ Smith, L.G. (1974). The statute law of Rhodesia: made on or before the 31st August, 1974, Volume 1. Salisbury: Government Printer. p. 91.
  11. ^ "Union Jack lowered for the last time in independent Rhodesia". Montreal Gazette. 11 November 1968. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
  12. ^ "ON THIS DAY 1972: Rhodesia out of Olympics". BBC News. 22 August 1978. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
  13. ^ "Olympics: Rhodesia expelled". Montreal Gazette. 23 August 1972. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
  14. ^
    ISSN 0720-0471
    .
  15. ^ "High Independence Hopes Vanish for Most Zimbabweans". Voazimbabwe.com. 18 April 2016. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Flag_of_Southern_Rhodesia&oldid=1170110082"