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The Gambia under British rule

Last modified: 2009-09-12 by antónio martins
Keywords: the gambia | gambia | elephant (proper) | colonial | initials | g. |
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Gambia colonial ensign
image by Martin Grieve
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Description of the flag

The none-too imaginative British had the same badge for all their minor West African possessions: Identical flags were granted to Ghana and Sierra Leone, differing only by having the initials "G.C." and "S.L.", instead of "G."
Josh Fruhlinger, 13 Feb 1996

This flag was in use in the period 1889-1965.
David Prothero, 20 Sep 2000

The ground of the Gambia badge is yellow, and shows a brown elephant standing in front of a palm-tree between green mountains. In base is the initial letter "G" in red. When this badge appears on the Union Flag it is surrounded by the garland, while on the Blue Ensign it has no garland. Before the Gold Coast became the self-governing dominion of Ghana on March 6th, 1957, its badge was similar to that of Gambia but bore the initials "G.C." It was displayed on the Union Flag and the Blue Ensign in like manner.
Jarig Bakker, 25 Sep 2000, quoting [car61]

Gold Coast and Gambia were granted arms in 1957 and 1964 respectively, in preparation for independence.
David Prothero, 26 Sep 2000

Was there a pre-1965 governor’s flag with the same "G." badge? Was there a flag for Governors-General in the period 1965-1970? For the same period, would there be a royal flag?
Željko Heimer, 06 Oct 2001


Governor General (1965-1970)

Gambia GG flag
image by Graham Bertram and Željko Heimer, 21 Mar 2003

Typical British pattern for Governor General: Royal blue flag with royal crest and name of the state ("THE GAMBIA") on golden ribbon. Source: [ynn93]
Željko Heimer, 16 Jun 2002


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