^{This page is part of © FOTW Flags Of The World website}

Bermuda

by Zeljko Heimer 17-FEB-1996

The Sea Venture
The Union flag

See also:

British Colonies
Badge of the Bermuda Regiment

The Sea Venture

The badge on the Bermudan flag shows a ship (the "Sea Venture") foundering on rocks. The rocky coast is shown to the left (as we see it) of the shield, and the sea is to the right. The ship appears to be hitting the rocks. (The Sea Venture was wrecked on the coast of Bermuda in about 1609). The shield is being held from behind by a large red lion, in such a way that its paws appear at the edges of the shield and its head appears above it like a crest. officially, it's a lion.
James Dignan 4-DEC-1995

The Sea Venture Flat is half a mile offshore (not a visible reef on the coastline, as the coat of arms suggests). This was indeed where the "Sea Venture" foundered. But the representation on the crest may have been considerable artistic license based on historical fallacy, not fact. Some historians claim the vessel was actually the French "Bonaventura," which smacked into an inshore reef more than two decades before the "Sea Venture." Others claim it was a Spanish vessel, even earlier, that is/should be/depicted. Also, at least 6 of the original Bermuda castaways off the "Sea Venture" remained in Bermuda when the rest of the party sailed to Virginia 42 weeks later. These 6 were permanent residents, holding the place for Britain until the first party of specifically-for-Bermuda colonists arrived in 1612. These 6 were all alive and obviously flourishing when the 1612 lot arrived.
I don't think the Red Ensign even existed at the time the "Sea Venture" founded off Bermuda in 1609. Nor did the Union Jack, as we know it today. The Union flag then extant I don't think had the Irish cross incorporated. It was the 1606 version, I think with just the crosses of St. Andrew and St. George. I believe the "Sea Venture" also flew just the cross of St. George, as a separate flag.
Steven shea 12-FEB-1996

The Union flag

In the 1961 edition of H. Gresham Carr's Flags of the World [car61] and can cite the following entry on pages 102 and 103:

BERMUDA uses her Arms. On the Union Flag the shield is placed upon the white circular background, which is surrounded by the garland. On the Blue Ensign there is no wreath or background. The shield is with a green-grassy "mound in base, upon which is seated a red lion "affronté." The lion supports a scrolled shield upon which is a representation of the wreck of the Sea Venture, [...] In passing, it is interesting to note that Bermuda has retained the 1606 pattern Union Flag, i.e. without the St. Patrick's Cross, as a reminder of its great age as a colony.

Which is maddingly non-specific! Does this mean the Union Flag in all contexts? Or only when used as a Union Flag (presumably including in the Governor's Flag) It could, of course, be a piece of spurious information Carr accepted as a fact. It's also interesting to note that Carr does not mention the Bermudian Red Ensign, which is of course now the colony's flag, even thoug that was instituted in 1915 (according to Crampton's Observer's Book of Flags, 1991, p45)

Also whilst on the subject of colonial Red Ensigns, Carr states (p52) that according to the 1894 Merchant Shipping Act the Red Ensign must be worn undefaced by all British merchant vessels, including colonial vessels, unless an Admiralty Warrant has been granted authorising a local Red Ensign.

Roy Stilling, 1996-MAR-06

A 1982 postage stamp from Bermuda shows the regimental colours and colour party of the Bermuda regiment. A flag is shown which appears to be the pre 1801 Union Jack with a badge in its centre as described above.

James Dignan, 1996-MAR-07

Actually it's a set of six commemoratives of the Bermuda Regiment. One shows the regtal colours, of which the "Regimental" one is blue with the maltese cross badge of the regiment in the center according to regulations for all British Army colours. Another stamp shows the Queen's birthday parade with two flags prominently displayed. One is the Sovereign's standard, and the other is the Union Jack with the Bermuda badge in the center as mentioned above, but it is not the pre-1801 Jack. It has the St. Patrick's cross. From the context of association with the Sovereign's Standard can we deduce that this is the Governor General's Flag?

If interested you can see the badge of the Bermuda Regiment at the top of my page: http://www.du.edu/~tomills/military/empire.htm

Tom F. Mills, 1996-MAR-07