Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995), Tuesday 5 June 1934, page 3


HISTORIC RELICS

UNIQUE AFRICAN FUG

Returned By The King

King George has returned to the people of South Africa two interesting relics of their earlier history-a flag and a silk banner which have hung in Windsor Castle for come years.

The flag is that of the extinct Stel

Island Republic, and the silken banner, is one worked by the women of Pretoria for the late General Louis Botha in the course of the Boer War period.

Mr. Te Water, High Commissioner of the Union of South Africa, announced recently that, when earlier in the year, he was received by the King, these relics had been committed by His Majesty to his safe keeping. They were later despatched to the South African Prime Minister, General Hertzog.

A telegram was subsequently received from General Hertzog, requesting Mr. to Water to- convey to the King, the sincere gratitude and appreciation of the Government and people of the Union for His Majesty's gracious action '.

The telegram continues: "We do not know which to appreciate more, the kindly forethought in preserving these relics safely for such a long time or the generous action in restoring them to us; and I am convinced that this proof of His Majesty's consideration for the people or the Union will, touch their very hearts."

The banner presented by the women of Pretoria to General Botha was captured on the occupation of Pretoria by the British forces in 1900, and was afterwards preserved at Windsor Castle, ft combines the flags of the Republics of the Transvaal and the Orange Free State.

" It is a fact of peculiar interest to South Africa, but little known to the outside world, that the Stellaland flag, the only one made by the citizens of this short-lived Republic, was forwarded to the Colonial Office by Sir Charles Warren in 1885, and subsequently presented to Queen Victoria.

Sir Charles Warren commanded the

expedition despatched in 1884 to pacify Southern Bechuanaland. The flag was delivered to him with a resolution from the Bestauur of Stellaland requesting that the standard may be presented to Her Ma jesty the Queen," and praying,

that "she may be pleased to keep the Stellalanders under her protection."

The Stellaland Republic was formed in 1882 by Boer adventurers. They at first supported the chief, David Masson, against his rival, Mangaroon, who relied on the British. In 1884, the Bechuanaland expedition took place, and the next year Stella and was annexed and incorporated in Beohu

Ireland. A

particularly interesting point about the flag" is its designer's use of the tribal' insignia of the Bechuanas ' tribes. It is described as: Of green

bunting, with shield in four compart-ments, with gold coloured border; top left compartment, white ground with hand holding bird by the leg; top right, green ground with five-pointed star; bottom left, blue ground with scales; bottom right, red ground with two fishes pierced by a sword. Sur-mounted by a five-pointed star with rays, and with a ribbon under Inscribed "Gewapend en Regtvaarig."

The bird held by the leg is a keyhair or masseuse, a South African bustard-the badge of David Massouw. The fish are the cognisance of Mankoreans, his enemy, of the 'tailspin tribe, and the sword represents its destruction.