mobile View, to the German Version tap the flag
- possession of the United Kingdom
- consisting in the South-Shetland-Islands, South-Orkney-Islands and Grahamland
- common abbreviations: BAT / B.A.T.
• Explanation
• Flags
• Meaning/Origin of the Flag
• Coat of Arms
• Meaning/Origin of the Coat of Arms
• Map
• Numbers and Facts
• History
• Origin of the Country's Name
The British Antarctic Territory is only partially recognised internationally. The British possession of this territory dates back to the seizure of the South Shetland Islands in 1819, the South Orkney Islands in 1821 and the Grahamland Peninsula in 1832. The British possession of the Falkland Islands, the island of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands (South Antilles), which still exists today, allowed United Kingdom to claim an entire sector of Antarctica in 1908, between 20° and 80° W. Between 1940 and 1942, Chile and Argentina began to make claims to British territory, which were and are unfounded, not only because of the British possession of the South Antilles. The Antarctic Treaty of 1st of December in 1959 froze all claims, and possession below 60° S is no longer shown on maps. The British claims to ownership of the Antarctic sector are recognised by Australia, France, New Zealand and Norway, but not by the United Nations, Argentina, Chile, the USA, Russia and many other countries.
Source: Volker Preuß
National flag,
ratio = 1:2,
Source, by: Flags of all Nations
Governmental flag,
ratio = 1:2,
Source, by: Flags of all Nations
Flag of the Commissioner of the B.A.T.,
ratio = 1:2,
Source, by: Flags of all Nations
Today's British Antarctic Territory (BAT) was taken possession of by United
Kingdom in 1908. In principle, from this point onwards, individuals, citizens
and also the authorities would have to represent their status as citizens or
organs of the British nation, embodied in the United Kingdom, by using of the
Union Jack, then called the "Union Flag". This would make the Union Flag the
national and state flag on land. Contrary to this usual procedure, the national
flag of the BAT is a so-called "White Ensign", a white bunting with a flag
representation – the British Union Jack – in the upper corner, which indicates
the connections to United Kingdom. Presumably, this unusual specification exists
in order not to undermine the provisions of the Antarctic Treaty of 1959, as the
Antarctic Treaty froze all territorial claims, and possessions below 60° S
should no longer be shown on maps, for example.
United Kingdom
introduced a flag system in 1864 in which:
• war ships fly the "White Ensign"
(naval flag), a white flag often with an uninterrupted red St. George's-Cross
and with the Union Jack in the upper staff quadrant of the flag,
• merchant
ships fly a "Red Ensign" (also named "Civil Ensign" → civil flag, the real
merchant flag), a red flag with the Union Jack in the upper staff quadrant of
the flag, and
• governmental ships fly the "Blue Ensign" (flag for the use by
the gouvernment → the actual state flag), a blue flag with the Union Jack in the
upper staff quadrant of the flag.
From 1865, the ships of the colonial
governments were allowed to use a Blue Ensign with a badge at the flying end.
The respective governments were to provide appropriate badges.
The BAT
uses the coat of arms or shield of the coat of arms – awarded in 1952 – in its
flags. It shows Antarctic motifs, ice, sparse vegetation, a ship and, as shield
holders, a penguin and the British lion. The coat of arms motto is "Research and
Discovery". The government flag at sea, the "Blue Ensign", is flown by ships of
the National Environment and Research Council when they visit British Antarctica
on inspection cruises.
The flag of the Commissioner of the BAT is a
standard flag, of older design, for all Governors, Lieutenant-Governors,
Commissioners, High Commissioners and other officials holding a corresponding
office, provided that no newer design is used. Within the wreath is always
placed the appropriate badge or coat of arms.
Source: Die Welt der Flaggen,
Flaggen und Wappen,
Flaggen Wappen Hymnen
Coat of arms of the British Antarctic Territory,
Source: Corel Draw 4
The shield of the coat of arms is silver (white, it stands for the eternal ice) and shows in the upper part blue wavy lines (the Antarctic waters) and a red wedge, which is covered with a shining, golden torch (research, discovery). The coat of arms shows Antarctic motifs such as ice and sparse vegetation as a pedestal. A penguin and the British lion stand on the pedestal as supporters (shield holders). The coat of arms is crowned by a helmet and a grey mantling with a white torse, and on it, as crest, a sailing ship. The Motto is: "Research and Discovery".
Source: Corel Draw 4,
Volker Preuss
Source: Freeware, University of Texas Libraries,
modyfied by: Volker Preuss
Area (excluding the Antarctic Sector): 150.000 square miles, thereof South-Shetland-Islands 1.800 sq.mi., South-Orkney-Islands 240 sq.mi., Grahamland 147.880 sq.mi.
Area (including the Antarctic Sector): 660.000 square miles
Inhabitants: ca. 200 inhabitants and crews of scientific stations
Local administrative seat: Station Rothera
Seat of the Commissioner: Stanley (Falkland-Inseln)
Time Zone: on the South-Orkney-Islands: GMT – 3 hours, otherwise: GMT
Source: Wikipedia (D)
1819 · appropriation of the South Shetland Islands by the United Kingdom
1821 · appropriation of the South Orkney Islands by the United Kingdom
1832 · appropriation of the peninsula of Graham Land by the United Kingdom
1903–1904 · first British research station on the South Orkney Islands
1908 · the United Kingdom claims the Antarctic sector south of 50° S and between 20° W and 80° W, the South Shetland Islands and the South Orkney Islands become Dependencies of the British Falkland Islands
1940 · the South Shetland Islands are claimed by Chile
1942 · the South Shetland Islands are claimed by Argentina
1943–1945 · British research mission, establishment of scientific stations
1st of December 1959 · Antarctic Treaty between Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Chile, France, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa, Soviet Union, Britain and USA
3rd of March 1962 · separation of the South Shetland Islands and the South Orkney Islands from the Falkland Islands, creation of the British Antarctic Territory with South Shetland Islands, South Orkney Islands and Graham Land
Source: World Statesmen,
Wikipedia (D)
The South Shetland Islands and the South Orkney Islands were named as a counterpart to the Shetland Islands and Orkney Islands in the north, on the coast of Britain. Graham Land was discovered in 1832 and is named after the Admiral of the Royal Navy of those years: James Robert George Graham.
Source: Wikipedia (D),
Volker Preuss
