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Governor General of South Africa

by Blas Delgado Ortiz,14 May 2002, after image sent by Mike Oettle, 7 May 2002

Flag of the Governor-General of South Africa (1910-1931)
Governor-General's emblem
Governor General 1931-1953
Governor General 1953-1961

See also:

Flag of the Governor-General of South Africa

Here are images scanned from National and Provincial Symbols by F G Brownell (Chris van Rensburg Publications) of the (Union Jack) flag of the Governor-General of South Africa (as used in the first two decades of the Union of South Africa) and of the coat of arms emblem in the roundel at the centre of the flag.
Brownell is the recently retired State Herald.
Mike Oettle, 7 May 2002

I understand this is the predecessor of the 1931-1953 governor-general's flag, with royal crest and "Union of South Africa", "Unie van Suidafrika" scrolls on blue field.
At what precise date, along 1931, was the latter flag introduced?
Santiago Dotor, 13 May 2002

The Governor-General of South Africa flew a flag with the Tudor Crown Royal Crest on a dark blue field from 1931-1953 and thereafter with a St. Edward's Crown Royal Crest from 1953 until 30 May 1961. The crest was between two scrolls inscribed with the name of the country in both official languages, "Union of South Africa" above and "Unie van Suid-Afrika" below.
This design for the flags of the Governors-General followed the Balfour Declaration of 1926 which reflected the move towards greater self-determination and sovereignty and defined in general terms the constitutional relationship between Great Britain and the self-governing dominions. In the words of the Declaration, Great Britain and the dominions were "equal in status, and in no way subordinate to one another". These sentiments were later embodied in the Statute of Westminster (December 1931). Subsequently King George V decided that the flags of the Governors-General of all the Dominions should be adapted to indicate more clearly their changed function as his personal representatives. The introduction of this new flag coincided with the arrival of a new Governor-General, the Earl of Clarendon, in South Africa. The Earl was sworn in on 26 January 1931 in Cape Town, following which the new flag would have been flown.
Prior to this, as correctly surmised by Santiago, the Governor-General flew a British Union flag charged in the centre with the full South African arms between 31 May 1910 and 1931.
Bruce Berry, 14 May 2002

And this should be the famous acacia wreath typical of british South Africa flags, briefly refered on our page <nz_gov.html>. I'm glad I'll have finnaly something to link it to... :-)
António Martins-Tuválkin, 16 May 2002

Governor-General's emblem

sent by Mike Oettle, 7 May 2002

Governor General 1931-1953

by Zeljko Heimer, 26 Mar 2003

South Africa 1931-1953 (two scrolls, bilingual) - image after 'Flags of The World' by Bill Yenne, Published by Bison Books, Copyright 1993.
Zeljko Heimer, 26 Mar 2003

Governor General 1953-1961

by Zeljko Heimer, 24 Mar 2003

South Africa 1953-1961 (two scrolls, bilingual) - image after 'Flags of The World' by Bill Yenne, Published by Bison Books, Copyright 1993.
Zeljko Heimer, 24 Mar 2003