Fort Vancouver Historic Structures Report

Flags

It was not the general custom at Hudson's Bay Company posts to display flags every day of the week. Describing the routine of life at Fort Garry during the 1840's Robert M. Ballantyne, a company clerk who later turned to the writing of fiction, noted that the flagstaff "was used on particular occasions, such as the arrival or departure of a brigade of boats." [10] Another employee, writing of conditions at Fort Qu'Appelle during the 1860's, recorded that the firm's flag was hoisted on Sundays and holidays and on the arrival or departure of important visitors and brigades. [11]

No particular attempt has been made during this study to examine the history or design of the flags employed by the Hudson's Bay Company. Pictures of Fort Vancouver dating back to 1841, however, make it perfectly clear that by that date the post was displaying the Company flag which from at least 1818 until 1970 symbolized the firm at the far-flung posts scattered across the northern part of North America: the British red ensign with the letters "H.B.C." in white on the fly. [12]

During the present century, at least, it has been Company practice to join the letters "H" and "B" on the flag so that the firm's initials formed the symbol "HB C." In fact, one visitor to Fort Simpson on the Northwest Coast in 1868 sketched the flag flying there with the first two letters joined in this manner. [13] Undoubtedly the practice had an even earlier origin. [14]

However, there are several drawings of Fort Vancouver between 1841 and 1847 which distinctly show the flag, and all of them clearly indicate that the letters were separate. For examples, see plates IV, IX, and XII. Further confirmation of this practice is given by a sketch of Fort Ellice made by Lieutenant Warre while he was traveling toward Oregon in June, 1845. This very clear picture shows the flag at that post with the letters unjoined. [15]

The inventories and indents of Fort Vancouver throw some light upon the flags used there, but it is difficult to interpret all of the information in the cryptic entries. For instance, the "Columbia District" headquartered at Fort Vancouver ordered the following flags from London in its requisition for Outfit 1835 (to be shipped in 1833):

In the Fort Vancouver Depot inventory for 1844, under the heading "Naval Stores," are listed the following:

A better idea of the range of flag sizes employed at Hudson's Bay Company posts in general may be obtained from the York Factory scheme indents for 1832. This list contains orders for flags under the following descriptions:

There seems to have been another type of Company flag used at Fort Vancouver perhaps as early as 1849 or even before that date. The Fort Vancouver Historical Society of Vancouver, Washington, has in its possession a very large and obviously old flag which is said to have once flown over the Hudson's Bay Company's western headquarters. It is white, and on it in colors are painted the arms of the firm. [19]

It was given to Mr. Glen N. Rank, a leader in what first was known as the Fort Vancouver Restoration and Historical Society, in 1920 by Mr. C. H. French, then District Manager of the Hudson's Bay Company at Victoria, B. C. In transmitting this banner, Mr. French termed it a "house flag" and supplied the following information relating to it:

When I discovered it twenty years ago it was carefully stored away and labelled "Very old house flag used by Sir James Douglas." On further investigation old employees of the Company told me that it was brought from Vancouver, Washington, by Sir James Douglas when he moved here in 1849.

This constitutes the only available history on the flag. . . [20]

According to information supplied by the Hudson's Bay Company, this type of banner, though sometimes called a "house flag," was more frequently designated the "Governor's flag." It apparently was also flown on occasion by chief factors and by such persons as the Company's Deputy-Governor when he visited Rupert's Land. One account published in 1882 mentions that "a great white flag with the arms and motto (pro pelle cutem) of the Hudson's Bay Company" was flown from a York boat arriving at Norway House carrying the factor in charge of the district. [21] The similarity of this flag to the one now owned by the Fort Vancouver Historical Society is obvious. What appears to be a similar flag was flying at Norway House when that post was photographed in 1890. [22]

The "Governor's flag" was displayed at sea as well as at the Company's posts and on inland waters. One drawing shows that the coat-of-arms banner was flown on the firm's ships at least as early as 1767 or 1769. [23]

It is not known when the house flag ceased to be used at sea. On land, however, it still proudly flies, as is shown by the following extract from a letter written by the Company's librarian:

In this century the coat-of-arms was flown in Canada when the Governor was in residence; i.e., when the Governor visited Hudson's Bay House, Winnipeg, the flag was raised. This procedure was discontinued in 1951.

Since the transfer of the Company's Head Office from London, England, to Winnipeg, Canada, the coat of-arms flag has been flying from its Canadian headquarters at Hudson's Bay House, and the large Western Department Stores, in conjunction with the flag of Canada. [24]

Recommendations

It is suggested that an archeological search be conducted at the flagpole location described above for the remains of this feature. Such a search could be expected to reveal the exact site of the flagpole and information as to the diameter and bracing of the staff.