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Transvaal Colony (South Africa)

1877-1881 and 1900-1910

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by Graham Bartram

First British Colony (1877-1881)
Second British Colony (1900-1910)
Fancy Transvaal flag

See also:

First British Colony proposed badge (1877-1881)

image sent by David Prothero, 16 May 2002

The South African Republic (Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek) was annexed by Britain in 1877 and became the Crown Colony of the Transvaal. SAVA published a Journal entitled "The Union Jack over Southern and Central Africa, 1795 - 1994" [brl94] in 1994 which covers all these flags (and those used in what is now Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Botswana, Malawi etc). For the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek (Transvaal) under British Administration (1877 - 1881), a Colonial badge was prepared but a flag was never taken into use.
Bruce Berry, 7 Oct 1996

Proposed badge for Union Jack of British Administrator Transvaal was cancelled 1884. It was based upon a supposed Public Seal. When the Admiralty were informed that no Public Seal had been approved for Transvaal the badge was cancelled.
David Prothero, 16 May 2002

Seems like the dexter part is a Union Jack without St. George's cross. On second thoughts, maybe it was the so called "Burgers flag"? (the national flag of the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek from Oct. 1874 till May 1875).
Mark Sensen, 16 May 2002

Second British Colony (1900-1910)

by Mark Sensen, recolored by Antonio Martins, 27 Oct 1999

The Zuid-Afrikaansche Republek was conquered in 1902 and renamed the Crown Colony of Transvaal. It adopted a Blue ensign with lion couchant badge in the fly which was in use between 1902 -1910.
Bruce Berry, 7 Oct 1996

You illustrate the flag of the Transvaal after the Anglo-Boer War, as a blue ensign with a badge of a lion. This flag never existed, not even on paper. It is an assumption made on the basis of common practice elsewhere, and erroneously attributed to this case. No Admiralty warrant exists for it. If it were used on a flag at all (and I seriously doubt that it was) then it was a circular badge in the centre of the Union Flag.
Michael Faul, 22 Jul 2002

Michael Faul is of the opinion that no Transvaal Blue ensign after the Anglo-Boer-South African War of 1899-1902 actually existed. He is correct in saying that no Admiralty Warrant e