Governor's Flag 1882-ca.1910 (British North Borneo, Malaysia)

Last modified: 2006-08-26 by ian macdonald
Keywords: british north borneo | lion (red) | bordure (yellow) |
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~1:2   image by Juan Manuel Gabino and Santiago Dotor
Flag adopted 5th January 1882, abandoned ca.1910

• Description

See also:

• Governor's Ensign and Naval Jack 1882-1948 (also Governor's Flag ca.1910-1948) (British North Borneo 1881-1963, Malaysia)
• British North Borneo 1881-1963 (Malaysia)
• Sabah (Malaysia)
• Malaysia
• Malaysia - Index of all pages

Description

Governor's Yellow Flag. Company red lion badge on a yellow flag with a dark yellow border. I assume that it was the land equivalent of the defaced Union Flag that was only used afloat. "The flag for the Governor of Sabah not resembling in any way any flag in use in Her Majesty's Navy, My Lords have no objection to its being adopted as proposed." 5th January 1882.

23rd March 1923. In answer to an enquiry the Company Secretary wrote:

"Pale yellow flag is old flag of Governor of Sabah. Is no longer used. 'Governor of Sabah' was term originally used when territory first acquired from Sultans of Brunei and Sulu. Term long since fallen into disuse. Now designated "Governor and Commander in Chief, North Borneo."

"the pale yellow flag has not been in use for a great many years."

Using Juan Manuel Gabino's British North Borneo Company badge, I have made an image of the Governor's Yellow Flag, assuming proportions of 1:2 and a border as wide as 1/12th of the hoist, as shown in David Prothero's scan of Flags of Maritime Nations 1914. A beautiful flag in my humble opinion, and remarkably oriental rather than British in design.
Santiago Dotor, 17-18 July 2001