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Green-white-green Tricolour on Guernsey

Bailiwick of Guernsey

image by Mark Passmore, 18 July 2010

Description of the flag

See also:

Description of the flag

I have a new image of a flag used in Guernsey between 1890 and 1940. This was never an official government flag, but was adopted for use with Guernsey sporting events, and even today, there are many local residents who fly this flag as the true Guernsey colours. It represents the Guernsey colour which has always been green, and has the shield of Guernsey's independence central.
Mark Passmore, 18 July 2010

This flag may have existed between 1890 and 1940, though I've never heard of it. It's true that the Guernsey sporting colour is green, and the design of the flag is handsome. I do doubt the claim that "even today, there are many local residents who fly this flag." I've never seen it when I have visited. Mark might possibly mean that this flag is sometimes waved at sporting events, in which case I wouldn't know. However, I would have thought that the modern Guernsey flag is thoroughly acceptable in all circumstances - and its use in the regular International Island Games has seen it well established in a sporting context.
André Coutanche, 25 July 2010

This flag [was - page no longer available] for sale at http://guernseygift.com/osc/index.php?cPath=21, described as a "Guernsey sports flag."
Valentin Poposki, 7 November 2010

The description there seems to claim that such a flag (green-white-green vertical triband with coat of arms and a leaf) is suitable as courtesy flag on ships/boats. I somehow doubt that this is indeed a proper one to be used, even if it may be tolerated.
Željko Heimer, 7 November 2010

The flag is sold as "Guernsey Flag Handwaver sport version" with the description:
"Sports Flag of Guernsey in the Channel Islands. Size is approx 300mm x 200mm. Suitable as a Hand Waving Flag, presentation desk flag or commemorative flag. Printed Polyester, colour fast and fade resistant, supplied on a small pole. Some Guernsey residents call this design the true Guernsey Flag, as it reprresents [sic] the colours that their island sports teams play in and also incoroprates [sic] the Guernsey Crest."

This is where the truth of the matter lies. I grew up in Guernsey, and go back [often]. Many people have expressed dissatisfaction with the official Guernsey flag, as it does not include the 'Guernsey crest' or the sporting colours of green and white; so this is obviously a way for such people to demonstrate their opposition to the official Guernsey flag. The flag is much more recent than the sporting colours.
Richard Mallett, 8 November 2010

This flag was designed a few years ago by a Guernsey resident who was dissatisfied with the official Guernsey flag. It is occasionally seen, being flown by some people who presumably do not understand or appreciate the historical symbolism and design qualities of the official flag. As Richard Mallett says, some feel that the official flag should include Guernsey's sporting colours of green and white, but these have no historical significance. It may be used for sports occasions.
David Le Conte, 15 October 2013