The flag of the British Indian Ocean Territory is a British Ensign with the Union Jack in the canton. It is a variant of a Blue Ensign but instead of the blue background it is one of wavy horizontal blue and white lines (six blue). The fly of the ensign is defaced with a palm tree overlaid with St Edwards Crown.[1] I can find no construction references for this flag however the standard for British Ensigns is 1:2[2](One reference lists as 2:3).[3]

The colours of the flag are those of the Union Flag and all UK derivatives of Pantone Red 186 and Blue 280.[4] For the other colours on the flag again I am unable to find reference.

The origin of the wavy lines is unknown, and their existence is a break from the traditional practice of flags of British colonies or former colonies.[5] However they look to be taken from the coat of arms of the territory which depict a shield bearing the Union Flag in the top quarter, a palm tree and St. Edward’s Crown in the middle half, with three white wavy lines representing the ocean in the bottom quarter.[6] This is from where the palm tree and crown are also taken. In fact the crest of the arms consists of a crown and a castle bearing the territory’s flag. It is possible that the flag is a unofficial local creation that was later adopted, especially as it is for use on land only.[8]

The status of the flag is also debated. It is one view that the flag, which was granted by Queen Elizabeth II on the 25th anniversary of the territory in 1990[7],is that of the Commissioner and has only semi-official status.[8] However, in a research paper for The Flag Institute called “Involvement of the College of Arms in the Adoption of Defacement of the Union Flag and of British Ensigns” the Ensign is listed just as British Indian Ocean Territory not as that of the Commissioner as in other listings.[9]

There is also debate as to whether the flag is actually used in the territory itself given that it is impossible for civilians to visit the territory. Lt. Col. Paul James who served on the island of Diego Garcia, the largest and only inhabited island states:
“Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean. Although British territory, it’s used as a base for both British and American forces, and both British and American flags are flown as the “national” flag(s).”[10]
However, a video was released by the Naval Support Facility on Diego Garcia. It shows a scene where the flag is being flown.[11]

[1] Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coat_of_arms_of_British_Indian_Ocean_Territory[2] Graham Bartram, Flags of All Nations, H.M. Stationery Office, Greenwich, UK, 2000.
[3] Pascal Vagnat, Flags of the World, http://flagspot.net/flags/io.html quoting source William Crampton, The World of Flags, Studio Editions Ltd, London, UK, 1990.
[4] Graham Bartram, Flags of the World, http://flagspot.net/flags/io.html quoting source Graham Bartram, British Flags & Emblems, The Flag Institute, Tuckwell Press, UK, 2004.
[5] Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_British_Indian_Ocean_Territory
[6] Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coat_of_arms_of_British_Indian_Ocean_Territory[7] Official BIOT Emblems. Cable and Wireless Diego Garcia, http://www.cwphonecards.io/Phonecards/Series5.html (no longer available) form Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_British_Indian_Ocean_Territory
[8] Roy Stilling, Flags of the World, http://flagspot.net/flags/io.html
[9] Nick Weekes, Involvement of the College of Arms in the Adoption of Defacement of the Union Flag and of British Ensigns, The Flag Institute, http://www.flaginstitute.org/pdfs/research_note_3.pdf
[10] Lt Col Paul James, PRMC Forum http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/prmc/showthread.php?t=14912
[11] Command Video. Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia, http://www.dg.navy.mil/web/2006/downloads/Command_video/Command%20Video%20New%20Version.wmv (no longer available) from Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_British_Indian_Ocean_Territory
[fig1] Flag of British Indian Ocean Territory, Martin Grieve, Flags of the World – http://www.flagchart.net/flags/io.html
[fig2] Coat of Arms of British Indian Ocean Territory – Demidow, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:British_Indian_Ocean_Territory_coat_of_arms.svg Using source, http://www.atlasgeo.net/htmla/OceanIndien1.htm

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