Coat of arms of the Falkland Islands

The coat of arms of the Falkland Islands is the heraldic device consisting of a shield charged with a ram on tussock grass in a blue field at the top and a sailing ship on white and blue wavy lines underneath. Adopted in 1948, it has been the coat of arms of the Falkland Islands since 29 September of that year, except for the two-month occupation of the territory during the Falklands War in 1982. The escutcheon is featured on the flag of the territory. The ram represents the territory's past primary industry of sheep farming, while the ship symbolises the Desire which reportedly first sighted the islands at the end of the 16th century. The grass indicates the vegetation of the Falklands.

Coat of arms of the
Falkland Islands
Adopted29 September 1948
BlazonPer fess azure and barry wavy argent and azure, in chief a ram proper upon a grassy mount issuant from the division vert, and in base a galley proper, its mainsail charged with five estoiles[1][2]
MottoDesire the Right

History

The Falkland Islands were reportedly first spotted by the English navigator John Davis on 14 August 1592.[3][4] The earliest conclusive sighting of the islands was done by Sebald de Weert around eight years later.[3] This was followed by the first documented landing in 1690 by John Strong,[5] who named the sound dividing the two largest islands after Anthony Cary, 5th Viscount Falkland. The name was subsequently extended to the islands themselves.[3] Sovereignty over the Falklands changed hands between the British and the Spanish throughout the 18th century. The United Provinces of South America asserted its sovereignty over the islands in 1820, four years after the United Provinces declared its independence from Spain. However, the British sent a military force to the Falklands in early 1833 to expel Argentine officials there and proceeded to appoint the territory's first governor eight years later.[3][5]

The Falklands were placed on the United Nations list of non-self-governing territories in 1946.[6] Two years later, a Royal Warrant was issued on 29 September granting the territory its own coat of arms.[7] It was consequently employed on the Blue Ensign to create the flag of the territory that same year after authorisation was granted by the Admiralty.[8] These symbols were briefly displaced during the Argentine occupation of the islands from April 1982 until the end of the Falklands War a little over two months later.[9] The flag was redesigned in 1999, with the size of the coat of arms increased, and the white disc removed and replaced with a white outline.[10][11]

The Falkland Islands
Emblem Period of use Notes
1876–1925 In 1876 the islands were granted a seal consisting of an image of HMS Hebe (which brought many of the early British settlers to the islands, including Richard Moody, in the 1840s) in Falkland Sound, overlooked by a bullock (representing wild cattle which once roamed the islands).[12]
1925–1948 A new coat of arms for the islands was introduced on 16 October 1925, consisting of the Desire sinister and a sea lion dexter in a shield (per bend or and azure) with the motto of the islands DESIRE THE RIGHT on a plaited strap as a slogan.[13] Currently used by the Falkland Islands Defence Force as a badge.

Design

Symbolism

The colours and objects on the coat of arms carry cultural, political, and regional meanings. The ship from the Tudor period represents the Desire, the vessel in which John Davis is reputed to have sighted the Falkland Islands in 1592.[10][11] The ram epitomises sheep farming, which was historically the principal industry of the islands,[10][14] together with the production of wool.[15] The importance of these industries declined after the establishment of a 240 km (150 mi) fisheries zone around the territory,[15][16] which was announced in October 1986 and took effect in February of the following year.[17][18] The tussock grass that the ram is standing on evokes the native vegetation of the Falklands.[10] The motto on a ribbon scroll under the escutcheon, Desire the Right, alludes to the name of the aforementioned ship.[10][14]

Uses

Both the shield and motto from the arms are featured on the flag of the Falkland Islands,[19] and on the standard of the territory's governor.[20]

See also

References
  1. "Falkland Islands – Description of the badge". CRW Flags. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
  2. "The Falkland Islands Government". Archived from the original on 22 January 2018. Retrieved 13 October 2019.
  3. "Falkland Islands – History". Encyclopedia Britannica. Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc. 10 February 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  4. Williamson, James Alexander (1952). The Age of Drake (3 ed.). A & C Black. p. 343.
  5. "Falkland Islands profile". BBC News. BBC. 14 May 2018. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  6. "Non-Self-Governing Territories". United Nations. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  7. Barraclough, E.M.C.; Crampton, William G. (1978). Flags of the World (3 ed.). Frederick Warne & Co. p. 54. ISBN 9780723220152. A Coat of Arms was granted to the Falkland Islands on 29 September 1948. In chief of the shield is a ram on a green mound of tussac grass, and in base is a heraldic ship representing the Desire on a sea of blue and white wavy lines.
  8. "Chapter 91 – Standards, Flags and Colours" (PDF). Royal Navy. April 2017. p. 91B-2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 April 2021. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  9. Linklater, Magnus (1982). War in the Falklands: The Full Story. Harper & Row. p. 122. ISBN 9780060150822. In Government House the British flag had been folded away and the portrait of the Queen removed.
  10. Minahan, James B. (23 December 2009). The Complete Guide to National Symbols and Emblems. Vol. 1. ABC-CLIO. p. 247. ISBN 9780313344978.
  11. Parkinson, Justin (24 March 2016). "Which flags still include the union jack?". BBC News Magazine. BBC. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  12. Prothero, David (9 January 2000). "Falkland Islands - 19th Century flag". CRW Flags. Retrieved 6 March 2014.
  13. Prothero, David (3 May 2005). "Falkland Islands (1937-1948)". CRW Flags. Retrieved 6 March 2014.
  14. "Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) – Details". The World Factbook. CIA. 8 June 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  15. Wagstaff, Will (14 December 2018). Falkland Islands. Bradt Travel Guides. p. 16. ISBN 9781784776183.
  16. Leonard, John (February 1, 1987). "No Incidents Reported On First Day Of Falklands Fishing Zone Restrictions". Associated Press. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  17. "Around the World: 'No Fishing' Zone Imposed Off Falklands". The New York Times. Reuters. October 30, 1986. p. A7. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  18. Coone, Tim (February 3, 1987). "Tensions rise as Falklands fishing zone takes effect – Argentina, Britain try to avoid clash, but avoid concessions too". The Christian Science Monitor. Archived from the original on June 29, 2021. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  19. Kindersley Ltd., Dorling (6 January 2009). Complete Flags of the World. Penguin. p. 129. ISBN 9780756654863.
  20. "Falkland Islands". Flags of the World. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
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