Flag of the British South Africa Company

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The flag of the British South Africa Company

The flag of the British South Africa Company was the flag used by the

Union Flag
with the company's logo of a lion and tusk on a white circle in the centre with "B.S.A.C." underneath it.

History

The British South Africa Company headed by Cecil Rhodes received a royal charter from Queen Victoria to create a new British colony in Africa. The Pioneer Column of the BSAC set out and founded Salisbury in 1890. The BSAC flag they had ordered to be made did not reach South Africa from England in time before the column set off. As a result, the Union Flag was raised instead, although it had been suggested that they use a white flag with the letters "BSACo" on it.[1] The BSAC flag eventually arrived in the newly established Rhodesia in 1892 and was first raised over Fort Salisbury.[2] In 1893, it was raised over Bulawayo, following the company's conquest of the Matabeleland.[1][3]

In 1922, Rhodesian voters voted in the

His Majesty's Privy Council.[6] Despite the flag losing its status as a colonial flag, the BSAC flag continued to be used by the British South Africa Company as their private company flag and they would fly it over their offices in London and in the Rhodesias.[1] This situation continued until 1965 when the British South Africa Company merged with the Anglo-American Corporation.[1]

Anomalies

Red ensign (left), Blue ensign (centre), Zambian red ring version (right)
The BSAC flag in the Natural History Museum in Bulawayo

As the British South Africa Company flag had no formal description or definition in the Royal charter, the design of the flag is not standardised.

blue ensigns based upon it. Though ensigns based on the flag do appear on flag charts, it is speculated they were never used as Rhodesia did not border the sea.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "British South Africa Company" (PDF). International Congress of Vexillology. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
  2. ^ a b c "Flags of Rhodesia and Zimbabwe". Loeser.us. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
  3. ^ "The BSAC flag is hoisted in Bulawayo". South African History. 16 August 2012. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
  4. ISBN 0719038731
    .
  5. ^ Hansard (1968). Parliamentary Debates – House of Assembly. Vol. 72. Salisbury: Rhodesia House of Assembly. p. 929.
  6. ^ Northern Rhodesia Order in Council, 1924, S.R.O. 1924 No. 324, S.RO. & S.I. Rev VIII, 154
  7. ^ "Union Jack flag used by the British South Africa Company, Rhodesia, 1890–1923". National Army Museum. 21 March 1998. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
  8. ^ "British South Africa Company, Company flag 1889 - 1923 (first variant)" (PDF). Southern African Vexillological Association. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  9. ^ "British South Africa Company, Company flag 1893 - 1923 (second variant)" (PDF). Southern African Vexillological Association. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
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