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Anguilla

by mark sensen - 1995-10-27

Flag of independance
First Flag

Flags of independance

by mark sensen - 1995-10-26

On 12 July 1967 Anguilla seceded from the Associate State and adopted the white flag with three dolphins (standing for friendship, wisdom and strength).
On 1 February 1980 Anguilla became a separate crown colony and adopted the blue ensign with the former flag as a sort of badge
mark sensen - 1995-10-26

It (the "dolphin flag") seems to be unofficial. Shaw (1994) says that Anguilla has had a design which was "unofficial...since 1967", or shortly after the U.K. forces landed. Crampton (1990) simply says it was "adopted shortly after its secession in 1967", with no word on the adopting body.
It seems to me that there is no reason why the dolphin flag may not still be being used on Anguilla itself. Indeed using its design in the Blue Ensign flag badge seems pretty much to legitimise it to me.
Yes, the dolphin flag is still used on Anguilla in its original capacity -- unofficially. Its design was taken as the island's official coat of arms in 1990, and therefore its use was legitimized on a Blue Ensign to form the official flag of the dependency. (Shaw)
Steve `Scooter' Kramer - 1996-09-27

First Flag

by jaume olle - 1996-09-27

yesterday we spoke about the Anguilla independence flag.
Posted is the first flag of Anguilla Island when this island proclaimed its independance. Between 12 and 23 July 1967 Anguilla did not have a flag but on 23 July 1967 was adopted a flag named "Mermaid flag", which was in use until 29 September 1967, when the Dolphin flag was introduced.
Source: The flag Bulletin XXX:5 /143
Jaume Olle - 1996-09-27

The 'Mermaid flag' was AFAIK a one-off and was never adopted officially. It was created by a group of self-appointed San Franciscan 'advisors' to Anguilla whose main intention seems to have been to earn a fast buck out of selling Anguillan flags, passports, visa, stamps etc - rather like some of the fake 'micronations' which crop up from time to time.
A more sinister plot later emerged whereby drug barons were accused of attempting to take over the island's government to use it as a base for their activities. Although probably just a convenient fictional cover, this was the reason given by the British for their 'invasion' of Anguilla in 1969. Anguilla thereby joined the very short list of nations (Rhodesia being the other one) to have returned to British rule having experienced a period of independence, albeit unrecognized.
Vexillographically, the Mermaid flag is IMHO is total mess - any flag which has to have the name of the country in huge letters across it surely lacks any meaningful symbolism. The dolphin flag OTOH, is a beautiful piece of vexillography.
Stuart A.Notholt - 1996-09-29