Flag ('defaced' blue ensign)

This flag is from early 20th century Western Samoa. It is a Blue Ensign featuring an applique Union Jack on a part of the flag known as the upper left canton, and a circular badge depicting three coconut palm trees (hand painted) on the part of the flag known as the fly.

Introduction of the flag

In 1920, Western Samoa became a “League of Nations Class C Mandate” of the United Kingdom, that delegated the actual governance of the country to New Zealand, a British Dominion.

According to David Prothero, an official Blue Ensign was introduced on 17 December 1920, depicting three palms on sandy soil, in a circle on the fly. On 4 May 1921, the Government of the Dominion of New Zealand wrote to the Admiralty, requesting warrants for defaced Red and Blue Ensigns for Western Samoa, adding that, "Ensigns with three palm trees encircled, and emblazoned on the fly had been used, by officials, and by the public, since the British Military Occupation." The defaced Blue Ensign was used on land, and the defaced Red Ensign at sea (1).

In January, 1922, a pictorial issue of stamps for Western Samoa was placed on sale with the design featuring the unfurled Blue Ensign of Samoa with three coconut palms in the fly, a Samoan fale and two coconut-palms in the background (2).

Retirement of the flag

In March 1923, it was reported in a Samoan newspaper that the Blue Ensign with the Samoan badge in the fly was now obsolete and not an authorised flag of Western Samoa. Only three British flags could be correctly flown in the territory.

1. The Union Flag (Union Jack) to be flown on Government buildings and by all residents of Samoa on public or other buildings on occasions such as the King's Birthday or other commemorative anniversaries. 2. The Union Flag (Union Jack) with the Samoan badge in the centre encircled by a wreath, to be exclusively flown by His Excellency the Administrator at sea within Samoan waters and on Malaga (travelling parties). 3. The Red Ensign, with the Samoan badge in the Fly, to be flown on board vessels belonging to any of the inhabitants of Western Samoa (3).

However, it appears the use of the Blue Ensign with the Samoa badge persisted. In 1925, at a reception given by Sir Maui and Lady Pomare in honour of a group of Samoan Faipule, or law-making chiefs, visiting New Zealand, it was reported that “An object of much interest was the Samoan flag, which hung on the lawn. It resembles our own [New Zealand flag], but instead of the Southern Cross, it has a circle containing three graceful coconut palms (4).

Design

The three coconut palm trees that appear on the badge of the flag, may be a reference to the presence of the New Zealand Samoa Expeditionary Force (NZEF) in Samoa during the First World War (1914-1918). The same motif appears on NZEF cap badges and insignia. Three coconut palm trees were also a feature of an earlier proposed German flag and coat of arms for Samoa (5).

The hand painted details of the three coconut palm trees on this example of the flag, share remarkably similar details to the trees painted on a Blue Ensign in the Auckland Museum. It is possible they were produced by the same maker that a label on the Auckland Museum flag identifies as “E. LE ROY / MAKER / AUCKLAND” (Emelius Le Roy, Auckland) (6).

Acquisition history

This flag was owned by Mr D A J Rutherford who spent 18 years in Samoa. Mr Rutherford or Latafoti, as he was also known, was appointed superintendent of schools. Previously he had been headmaster of Highcliff School near Dunedin, before taking up his position as headmaster of Leififi School, the first government school in Sāmoa established for local European children and children of expatriates. In 1936, he departed Samoa for New Zealand.

In June 1937, under the auspices of the Institute of Pacific Relations, Mr Rutherford gave a lecture illustrated by lantern slides and a moving picture film. At the beginning of his lecture Mr Rutherford exhibited a German flag “which had been taken down in the educational buildings in Samoa after the war together with the present Samoan flag with its three coconut palms in the corner [possibly this one], the latter being little-known in New Zealand (7).”

References

(1) Prothero, David (16 January 2003) Samoa – Historical Flags https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/ws_hist.html  (Accessed 8 October 2021)

(2) POST AND TELEGRAPH DEPARTMENT (REPORT OF THE) FOR THE YEAR 1921-22., Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1922 Session I, F-01

(3) Brown,G. P.(1925). Flags. The Samoa Times. May 22 Samoanische Zeitung, Volume 25, Issue 21, 22 May 1925, Page 4 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/SAMZ19250522.2.18

(4) Samoan Faipule.Samoanische Zeitung, Volume 25, Issue 5, 30 January 1925, Page 8 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/SAMZ19250130.2.36

(5) Canterbury Museum. A Sergeant in Samoa  https://worldwarone.canterburymuseum.com/themes/the-war-away/a-sergeant-in-samoa/

(6) Auckland Museum flag, ensign, 1986.262, F161 http://api.aucklandmuseum.com/id/humanhistory/object/695090

(7) Life in Samoa. Otago Daily Times, Issue 23222, 21 June 1937, Page 3 https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ODT19370621.2.11