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Barbados - Colonial Flag

1885 - 1958
by Jaume Ollé, 16 September 2000

Colonial Flags - Overview
Colonial Flag 1958-1966
Colonial Badge 1885-1958
Design on Coins

See also:

Colonial Flags - Overview

The old flag of Barbados (blue ensign with Neptune) was in use until 1958, and also in the governor's flag (UJ with a white disk with wreath). After a short period in the West Indies Federation, on 1961 Barbados became autonomous, and a new shield was granted. The new shield was probably used in the blue ensign (within a white disk) and in the UJ of the governor (within a white disk with wreath). The current national flag was adopted on 30 November 1966.
Jaume Ollé, 5 May 1997

The image above is the 19th Cent. flag (used until 1966).
source: Znamierowski's "The World Encyclopedia of Flags" [zna99].
Blas Delgado Ortiz, 11 September 2000

Looking at historical flags of BB - it is not quite clear when was the flag with Neptune used? What was before and what afterwards. What is the CoA granated in 1961 (the current national CoA?). Do we have any confirmation of the flags in 1961-66 period?
Also the comment by Blas Delgado Ortiz is rather vague and not at all helpful in understanding the BB history (especially in the view of 1961 CoA grant).
&#x017Deljko Heimer, 24 Febuary 2001

Blas exactly refers to the illustration p. 108 (bottom) at [zna99], with two rows of three Blue Ensigns each. In the first row there is Barbados (XIXth century - 1966).
Ivan Sache, 25 Febuary 2001

There are a number of errors in the reports on Barbados Colonial Flag. The figure in the badge is Britannia not Neptune. As far as I know this is incorrect that this badge was use only until 1958 and the badge continued to be used until 1966. There was no "new shield" in connection with internal self-government in 1961.
The badge on the Blue Ensign labelled 1958 to 1966 is the Arms which were not granted until 21 Dec 1965.
Barbados joined the Federation of the West Indies in January 1958 and remained in it until 1962 when it came to an end with the withdrawal of Jamaica. In May 1962 Barbados helped form the West Indies Federation which had its federal capital in Barbados. The Federation was abandoned in 1966 and Barbados became independent.
David Prothero, 6 October 2001

The reason she holds a trident, according to Politikens Flagbook, is to symbolize her rule over the seas (or if you prefer "the waves").
Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg, 7 October 2001

Barbados used a circular seal in 1870 flag.
David Prothero, 8 April 2005

There seem to be some differences between the seal of the Colony, as depicted here and as it is shown on the postage stamps of the colonial period. The principal difference seems to be that the angle at which the Trident is held in Britannia's hand tends to vary considerably, from almost vertical on some stamps to the acute angle on the badge shown on the colonial flag.
Ron Lahav, 29 April 2005

Colonial Flag 1958-1966

by Jaume Ollé

Colonial Badge 1855-1958

by Juan Manuel Gabino Villascán, 27 September 2000

Design on Coins

by Juan Manuel Gabino Villascán, 3 January 2005

In a Barbadian coin (penny) dating of 1792, is engraved what could be the correct version of the first Barbados coat of arms. Here is a reconstruction, colors are assumed. According to the coin, what we called "Neptune" is actually George III, king of the United Kingdom from 1738 to 1820. The horses are not dolphin-tailed, while George III is driving a sea-chariot. In the coin, the name of the island is spelled: Barbadoes. I am not sure if such a name was used in the defaced blue ensign. It is very clear, George III is wearing crown, and one order (I don't know what could it be). This is probably also that the badge was adopted not in the 1800s but late 1700s.
Juan Manuel Gabino Villascán, 3 January 2005

This is the sort of design that was used on coins; it is not a coat of arms. The first arms for Barbados were not granted until 1865. Colonial badges on British ensigns were not introduced until 1865. The first Barbados flag badge, based on the seal of the colony, was introduced in 1870. On it, the name was spelt " Barbadoes ".
David Prothero, 3 January 2005

To confuse things further, the colony's first stamps - in 1852 - were marked "Barbados", but prior to that they used a rubber handstamp similar to a modern postmark (as was common in the early days of stamps) marked "Barbadoes". The handstamp was first used in 1849.
James Dignan, 4 January 2005

I checked my documents and found British flag chart published in 1905 shows the badge with "Babadoes" inside and British flag book published in 1955 shows "Babados".
Nozomi Kariyasu, 5 January 2005