^{This page is part of © FOTW Flags Of The World website}

Belize - Colonial Flags of British Honduras

British Honduras Blue ensign 1919-1981
by Martin Grieve, 6 August 2005

Overview
1870 Flag
1919 Flags
British Honduras Blue ensign 1919-1981

Lieutenant Governor/Governor Flag

Red Ensign
The Badge
Variant ?

See Also:

Overview

This flag is a standard British Blue Ensign, with the badge of British Honduras. The badge is divided in three portions. In the first field, there is a Union Jack on a white background. This makes two UJ's on the flag. The second field displays four tools, also found on the Coat of Arms. The four tools are: a sledgehammer, a saw, an axe and an oar. The bottom field shows a ship sailing toward the hoist. The ship is flying a red flag, probably a British Red Ensign. This flag was used as the Colonial flag of British Honduras, and was then used as a state and war ensign until the 80's.
Željko Heimer, 22 July 1996

According to Crampton's The World of Flags 1990, the Coat of Arms was granted in 1907 (see above). However, Crampton does not say which of the Coat of Arms or the badge came first. A possible theory would be that the badge was designed before the arms. In effect, the ship at sail is a clear sign of late 19th century Caribbean colony designs. Thus, the 1907 coat of arms must have been an attempt to make the badge more 'heraldically correct', and so, the badge must have come before the arms. This is an educated guess, but a guess nonetheless. Which preceded which is still unclear.
Roy Stilling, 22 July 1996

Belize was known as British Honduras until 1973. Badge approved 1870 and apparently displayed on a white disc until about 1920. A letter dated 12-dec-1919 was sent to the Crown Agents (who supplied flags to British Honduras), telling them that there should be no white circle on the British Honduras Blue Ensign. This flag continued to be used until probably 1981.
David Prothero, 6 March 1999

The old Coat of Arms was granted by Royal warrant on 28 Jan. 1907 . Note: this is the date for the CoA, and not the colonial badge. As Roy says ,the badge probably came earlier (perhaps 1860s).
The current Coat of Arms was adopted at independence and differs only in minor details (e.g. the UJ was eliminated from the canton of the shield). Differences in the shape of the scroll etc. are probably heraldic license and not new Coat of Arms . The supporters used to be both Black. T