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Flag of Sark
Flag of Sark
Proportion3:5
Adopted2020[1]
DesignArgent, a cross gules, in the canton two lions passant guardant or
Traditional flag of Sark. Created in 1938. Used as the Seigneur's flag, it was then used as the flag of Sark.[2]

The flag of Sark is white with a red St. George's cross and a red canton containing the two lions from the flag of Normandy. This version of the flag was officially granted in 2020[1].

Before 2020, the traditionnal flag of Sark showed the two lions protruding outside the canton and overflowing the red cross[3]. It was designed by Herbert Pitt in 1938[4] and adopted as the personal standard of the Seigneur of Sark before becoming the island's flag.[2]

History

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Sark is a Channel Island part of the Bailiwick of Guernsey, originally part of the Duchy of Normandy.

In a letter dated March 15, 1938 addressed to Sibyl Hathaway and entitled ''Island of Sark, Governement or States flag'', Herbert Pitt drew the flag of Sark with the following description: ''On a White Field, the Red cross of St George. The 1st Quarter ''Gules, 2 lions-leopards passant guardant Or'' (Normandy Ancient). The lion in base impinging on the dexter arm of the Cross''[5]. It combined the St. George's cross and the flag of Normandy of which Sark is geographically and historically part. Dame Sibyl once claimed to the Flag Institute that this flag had been in use for "at least 200 years"[6]. Seigneur Michael Beaumont wrote later: ''Who designed it when I have no idea but I would guess it was at the instigation of my grandmother, Dame Sybil Hathaway, sometime between the wars''[7].

In 1970, Dame Sybil wrote to the Flag Institute and confirmed that the flag, originally intended as a personal banner, was the flag of Sark[2]. When she died in 1974, it was draped over her coffin.[8]

 
Seigneur's personal banner since 1991

In 1987, when Sark was invited to participate in Island Games[9], Seigneur Michael Beaumont granted permission for the Seigneur's flag to be used as the flag of Sark[10]. Beaumont later insisted it was still his personal flag but the Sark residents argued that it should be for the island.[11] The dispute was settled in 1991 when Beaumont stated that due to it being perceived as Sark's flag then he would agree to it being accepted as such.[4] He then chose for his personal banner a red banner with two golden lions[2][12].

New version and official grant (2020)

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Shortly after succeeding his father as Seigneur, Christopher Beaumont realised that the flag had not been endorsed by The Crown.[14] He contacted the College of Arms to petition the Queen to approve a design of the flag in which the lions are smaller than in the traditional flag. The flag was formally granted on 4 June 2020 by Elizabeth II; this was the final grant made by her before her death[1].

Use outside Sark

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Traditional flag of Sark in Parliament Square in London (2023)

The flag of Sark is flown alongside the flags of other Crown Dependencies in Parliament Square in London.

On August 6, the flag is flown from the Ministry of Justice in London to mark the granting of the fief on that day in 1565. The Ministry of Justice is the British government department responsible for relations with the Crown Dependencies.[15][16]

Flag of Brecquou

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Flag used by Leonard Matchan for Brecquou

In the 1960s, Dame Sibyl Hathaway sold the tenement of the island of Brecqhou to Leonard Matchan. Upon taking up the tenancy, he adopted his own flag for Brecqhou using the Seigneur's flag as the basis and sewed his own personal coat of arms onto it[17][18]. In 1993, when the tenement was purchased by David and Frederick Barclay, they also adopted their own flag by using the Seigneur's flag with their coat of arms defacing it[19].

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c College of Arms (January 2023). "Recent Grants of Arms". January 2023 Newsletter (no. 70).
  2. ^ a b c d Flag Institute (1991). "Seigneur of Sark, New personal banner" (PDF). Flagmaster. 69: 11.
  3. ^ Flag Institute & Flags and Heraldry Commtitee (2020). Flying Flags in the United Kingdom (PDF). p. 10.
  4. ^ a b "The Sark Flag now has Royal approval" (PDF). Flagmaster. The Flag Institute: 18–19. 2023. Retrieved 2024-05-18.
  5. ^ Letter from Herbert Pitt dated March 15, 1938 to Dame Sybil Hattaway. Preserved in the Seigneurial Archives of the Heritage Hall of Sark.
  6. ^ Letter from Dame Sybil Hattaway dated July 27, 1970 to William Crampton from the Flag Institute. Preserved in the Seigneurial Archives of the Heritage Hall of Sark.
  7. ^ Letter from Seigneur Michael Beaumont dated December 10, 1998 to Jos Poels from the Flag Institute. Preserved in the Seigneurial Archives of the Heritage Hall of Sark.
  8. ^ Barbara Stoney (1984). Sibyl, Dame of Sark : a biography. p. 244. ISBN 0950936006.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  9. ^ "Second Island Games Guernsey 1987". Island Games Association. Retrieved 2021-06-26.
  10. ^ BBC Guernsey, Paul Armogie & Michael Beaumont (Seigneur of Sark) (2004). "The Flag of Sark". BBC Guernsey. BBC Guernsey.
  11. ^ "Seigneur of Sark, new personal banner" (PDF). Flagmaster. The Flag Institute: 11. 1991. Retrieved 2024-05-18.
  12. ^ Flag Institute (2023). "The Sark flag has now Royal approval" (PDF). Flagmaster. 166: 18–19.
  13. ^ Clark, Leonard (1956). Sark Discovered. Dent. pp. VIII. ISBN 9780234773369.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  14. ^ "The Sark Flag now has Royal approval" (PDF). Flagmaster. The Flag Institute: 18–19. 2023. Retrieved 2024-05-18.
  15. ^ "Ministry of Justice raises Sark flag for Fief dayMinistry of Justice raises Sark flag for Fief day". Guernsey Press. 2022-08-06. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  16. ^ "Sark flag flown on Ministry of Justice building in London for Liberation Day". Guernsey Press. ITV. 2020-05-10. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  17. ^ Johnson, Henry. "Sark and Brecqhou" (PDF). Shima Journal. p. 22. Retrieved 2021-06-25.
  18. ^ Ken Hawkes (1983). Sark. p. 154. ISBN 9780902550087.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  19. ^ "On Island of Sark, Twin British Brothers Joust with Feudalism". Wall Street Journal. 11 October 2005. Retrieved 2021-06-25.


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