Coat of arms of the Falkland Islands

The coat of arms of the Falkland Islands was granted to the Falkland Islands on 29 September 1948. It consists of a shield containing a ram on tussock grass in the field with a sailing ship underneath and the motto of the Falklands (Desire the Right) below.

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
UseOn the flag and ensign of the Falkland Islands; on the Governor's standard; on the national currency; on government buildings

The ship represents the Desire, the vessel in which the English sea-captain John Davis is reputed to have discovered the Falkland Islands in 1592;[3] the motto, Desire the Right, also refers to the ship's name. The ram represents sheep farming, which until recently was the principal economic activity of the islands, and the tussock grass shows the most notable native vegetation.[4]

History
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).[5]
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.[6] Currently used by the Falkland Islands Defence Force as a badge.

See also

References
  1. "Falkland Islands - Description of the badge". CRW Flags. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
  2. "The Falkland Islands Government". Retrieved 13 October 2019.
  3. Mathieson, Ian (2003). "Falkland Islands/Islas Malvinas". Americas Review 2003-2004. Kogan Page. pp. 316–21. ISBN 9780749440640. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
  4. Wagstaff, William (2001). Falkland Islands. Bradt Travel Guides. p. 18. ISBN 9781841620374. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
  5. Prothero, David (9 January 2000). "Falkland Islands - 19th Century flag". CRW Flags. Retrieved 6 March 2014.
  6. Prothero, David (3 May 2005). "Falkland Islands (1937-1948)". CRW Flags. Retrieved 6 March 2014.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.