^{This page is part of © FOTW Flags Of The World website}

Unofficial Civil Flag until 1943 (Malta)

2:3 image by António Martins-Tuválkin, 8 November 2016

Description

See also:

Historical Flags (Malta)
Malta

Description

According to Barraclough and Crampton 1981 [bcr81], p. 129:

White and red have always been used as the colours of Malta (...) This island had already transformed its blue ensign badge into a flag for local use in 1947, and this flag, without the blue background to the George Cross, continued in use on independence.

Santiago Dotor, 2 February 2000

The pre-George Cross [1943] flag of Malta [was simply white-red].
Ivan Sache, 28 February 2000

Even though the correct flag shows the George Cross, there was a time when some individuals used to fly the version without it. This was the Malta flag for centuries and the augmentation of our national flag with the unique distinction of the George Cross, by the British Government, while Malta was still a colony, although an honour, was viewed by some as an alien addition to Malta's ancient flag. I believe, it is quite possible that individuals still feel that way, and one still finds the white-red flag flown on some private houses. Also one should not exclude the economic reason for flying this cheap flag.
Adrian Strickland [str], 3 December 2000