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Turks and Caicos

by by Martin Grieve, 22 June 2004

Official Name: Turks and Caicos Islands
Capital: Grand Turk (Cockburn Town)
Location: Two Groups of Islands in the North Atlantic Ocean
Government Type: British Overseas Territory with Internal Self-Government
Flag adopted: 1999 (first adopted - 7 November 1968)
Coat of arms adopted: 28 September 1965
ISO Code: TC

Overview
Presentation of Turks and Caicos
The Red Ensign
Governor's Flag
Coat of Arms

See also:

Overview

According to a book of W. Crampton's, the arms depict a conch, a crayfish and a cactus.
Joan-Francois Blanc, 13 November 1996

The lobster (or whatever is it in upper fly part of the shield) is light blue, as it is in N.Smith's 'FOTW'. In W.Smith's book it is multicoloured. On some pictures there is a helmet over the shield. The ratio is in N.Smith's book aprox. 5:9 that seems to me quite unusual, and I am readier to accept 1:2, as I found in several other places.
Željko Heimer, 11 February 1996

The charges on the shield are a Queen conch shell, a spiny lobster and a Turk's Head cactus. The shield is supported by two flamingoes, and has as its crest a pelican between two sisal plants.
James Dignan, 22 November 1995

I noticed that theres an authorization for use of the blue ensign dated 7 November 1958. The blue ensign in 1958 looks too much the Historical Flag of 1875, only changed apparently with the badge improvements. Was always in use from c. 1875 to 1958, or perhaps was a interruption before 1958?
Jaume Olle', 8 July 2003

There is an error of ten years. Defacement of the Blue Ensign with the shield of the arms that were granted on 28 September 1965 received Royal approval through the College of Arms. Recorded at College of Arms in "Standards" Volume 3, page 113; 7 November 1968.
Whilst checking this I found that the Union Jack defaced with the Turks & Caicos 1875 badge was cancelled 22 September 1923. [National Archives (PRO) ADM 116/1847B].
It is not known when the Union Jack defaced with the present badge came into use. Probably 1973 when the Bahamas became independent and the Turks & Caicos Adm