Royal Niger Company

Badge: A black Y with the words 'ARS', 'JUS', and 'PAX' written on the arms, surrounded by a red ring. Each angle between the arms of the Y is 120 degrees. The ends of the arms are square and do not touch the ring. The letters are yellow non-serif.

Meaning: The arms of the Y represent: the Quorra from the NW, the Benue from the NE, and the union of them both from Lokoja to the sea. The badge which the Foreign Office considered unsuitable was proposed by G.D. Goldie-Taubman, Vice-Chairman of Company who wrote that the meaning of the colours was self-evident.

Use: The Admiralty approved the badge for use on the fly of the St George's cross White Ensign on the presumption that its use would be confined to inland waterways. The company actually used it on a plain White Ensign, flown at sea as well as on inland waters. When this was discovered the Admiralty withdrew the warrant and issued a new warrant authorizing use of the badge on the Blue Ensign.

Dates: White Ensign was approved 2 June 1887 and authorization withdrawn 1 Feb 1888. It probably continued to be used without authorization until June 1888 while Company argued with the Admiralty. The defaced Blue Ensign was authorized 1 Feb 1888. It was presumably used until 1899 when the Royal Niger Company charter was surrendered. 18 June 1888 The Company was told to fly plain Red Ensign on merchant ships.

Source: Public Records Office reference FO 403/75/1885-87 and 403/76
David Prothero, 5 February 2001

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From Trade Winds on the Niger