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Flag

2005.14.1

Name
Flag
History Category
Significant Dates
1917
Description
Flag
Printed stars and stripes on cotton, stripes are sewn, stars are printed. Hoist end has length of cotton halyard and wood toggle. Inscription in hand writing under stars: "This Flag was the first flown in London to celebrate America declaring War on Germany April 6th 1917 Mrs. James Anderson J.H. Turner Agent General for B.C."
Provenance
Donor's parents Wally and Olive Griffiths of Rossland had the Captain as a tenant in an apartment in Rossland (confirmed in 1932 Wrigley's BC directory). Interview with donor: "The captain rented and fell on hard times." The donor was 12 - 16 (b.1920) and collected rents for his father. The Captain would tell him stories of the war. The donor interceded with his father to let the Captain stay when he could not make his rent. The Captain gave the lad the flag as a gift, saying he had little of value. By 1936 the Captain is not in the directory for Rossland. In World War II the donor and his father joined up (111th Field battery, RCA Nelson, Sept 21, 1939 and served overseas. Donor's father was badly injured in the Blitz and repatriated. Donor served six years. The family kept the flag until its donation in 2005. Husband of Mrs. Turner was Captain Jimmy Turner, registrar of soldiers votes for the BC election. James Herbert Turner was Premier of BC (1895-1898) and appointed Agent-General in 1901. He was in office during the time the flag was signed.
Quantity
1
Dimension
Width: 130.0cm | Length: 214.0cm
Catalogue Number
2005.14.1
Discipline