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Oxford University - Boat Club flags, 1930 (England)

Last modified: 2020-08-22 by rob raeside
Keywords: oxford university | boat clubs |
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Background

Some background can be found at Oxford University boating flags.

I have three old postcards which have the flags of the Oxford University colleges pictured. They may be of the college boat clubs rather than the colleges themselves:

Card 1: Jesus, Wadham, Pembroke, Worcester, St. Edmund Hall, Hertford, Keble, St. Catherine's
Card 2: University, Marton, Balliol, Exeter, Oriel, Queen's
Card 3: New, Lincoln, Madgalen, Brasenose, Corpus Christi, Christ Church, Trinity, St. John's

Peter Andrew Henry, 11 July 2006

The University of Oxford has 38 Colleges and six Permanent Private Halls (PPHs) for a total of 46 higher education institutions. Not all of them have individual Boat/Rowing Clubs though. The main source, the list of "Oars, Flags and Arms" of Oxford Universtiy Colleges displays the following 22 (out of a total of 35) Boat Clubs (below on this page).
Esteban Rivera, 4 February 2019

The set of three postcards, linked above, display selected Oxford College boat clubs flags, blades (of the oars) and the coat of arms of the attendant college. There are two editions of this set. The images of some College boat clubs flags are different. All flags are displayed in ratio 1:2.
Both editions can be found here:
https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-three-postcards-showing-the-oars-flags-and-arms-of-oxford-university-79810690.html
and here:
http://www.rowing-memorabilia.de/index.php/2-uncategorised/4135-pc-gbr-oxford-university-colleges-oar-blade-colours-flags-and-arms-3-consecutive-cards
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 14 February 2019


Balliol College

[Flag of Balliol College Boat Club 1930] image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 9 March 2019

The flag is quartered of red and blue, parted by a white cross, like the flag of the Dominican Republic. The centre is charged with two shields, one in bend, one in bend sinister (despite of the shields of 1848 with another ratio).
(Please note: in the source it can only be seen that the shields are different, I divided the college arms and put each half on one of the shields.)
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 14 February 2019


Brasenose College

[Flag of Brasenose College Boat Club 1930] image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 14 February 2019

The flag is yellow, parted by a black cross, the horizontal crossbar bears the yellow initials “BNC”.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 14 February 2019


Christ Church College

[Flag of Christ Church College Boat Club 1930] image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 14 February 2019

The flag is navy blue, parted by a white cross, like the flag of Greece.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 14 February 2019


Corpus Christi College

[Flag of Corpus Christi College Boat Club 1930] image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 8 March 2019

Corpus Christi Boat Club (1930)
It is a blue flag with ratio 1:2, displaying a red pelican couchant.

Colin Dobson suggested (above) “(..)There is (probably) an error where the Corpus boat flag is shown as a crimson pelican on a blue background, when in fact, it is a yellow or gold pelican on a blue background,(…), 11 July 2006”
Colin Dobson is right, but he has seen the modern boat club flag.

https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-three-postcards-showing-the-oars-flags-and-arms-of-oxford-university-79810690.html and http://www.rowing-memorabilia.de/index.php/2-uncategorised/4135-pc-gbr-oxford-university-colleges-oar-blade-colours-flags-and-arms-3-consecutive-cards both display a red pelican on a blue field. The colours are the perfect match for the blades within the same sources. The pelican in both looks more than a swan, and as the image is tiny, I can’t guarantee the existence of the fledglings, which is the usual depiction of that pelican in heraldry. The ratio is 1:2.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 14 February 2019


Exeter College

[Flag of Exeter College Boat Club 1930] image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 14 February 2019

The flag is red, parted by a white cross, like the flag of the Order of Malta.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 14 February 2019


Hertford College

[Flag of Hertford College Boat Club 1930] image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 14 February 2019

The flag is a horizontal 5-stripes flag with alternating white and red stripes.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 14 February 2019


Jesus College

[Flag of Jesus College Boat Club 1930] image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 8 March 2019

Jesus Boat Club (1930)
It is a white flag with ratio 1:2, displaying the college arms in its centre with an additional green rococo ornament on top of the shield.

((Please note:
https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-three-postcards-showing-the-oars-flags-and-arms-of-oxford-university-79810690.html displays the flag in counterchanged colours, i.e. green with white shield, displaying green stags, which is probably an error. Little paper flags of the other version are still in use today as souvenirs on rowing events).
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 8 March 2019


Keble College

[Flag of Keble College Boat Club 1930] image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 14 February 2019

The flag is red-white-blue vertical tricolour with thinner white stripe. In centre of a white stripe is the college’s coat of arms.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 14 February 2019


Lincoln College

[Flag of Lincoln College Boat Club 1930] image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 14 February 2019

The flag is blue, charged with a yellow mitre.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 14 February 2019


Magdalen College

[Flag of Magdalen College Boat Club 1930] image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 8 March 2019

Magdalen Boat Club (1930)
It is a white flag with ratio 1:2, displaying three white lilies, intertwined by green stems.
(Please note:
http://www.rowing-memorabilia.de/index.php/2-uncategorised/4135-pc-gbr-oxford-university-colleges-oar-blade-colours-flags-and-arms-3-consecutive-cards displays the same flag with white stems.)
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 8 March 2019


Merton College

[Flag of Merton College Boat Club 1930] image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 14 February 2019

The flag is white, charged with a red Greek cross, like the flag of the Red Cross Organisation.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 14 February 2019


Oriel College

[Flag of Oriel College Boat Club 1930] image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 14 February 2019

It is a horizontal 5-stripes flag with alternating navy-blue and white stripes.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 14 February 2019


Pembroke College

[Flag of Pembroke College Boat Club 1930] image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 14 February 2019

It is white flag with red stripes at hoist and fly end, in centre charged with a Tudor rose.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 14 February 2019


Queen’s College

[Flag of Queen’s College Boat Club 1930] image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 14 February 2019

The flag is blue with a white shield in centre displaying the college arms.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 14 February 2019


St. Catherine’s College

[Flag of St. John’s College Boat Club 1930] image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 14 February 2019

The flag is red, parted by a white bend, charged with three red bladed wheels.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 14 February 2019


St. Edmund Hall College

[Flag of St. Edmund Hall College Boat Club 1930] image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 14 February 2019

It is a horizontal 5-stripes flag with alternating red and yellow stripes.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 14 February 2019


St. John’s College

[Flag of St. John’s College Boat Club 1930] image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 14 February 2019

The flag is white, parted by a navy blue cross, in centre superimposed by a Paschal Lamb, the attribute of the college patron St. John the Baptist.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 14 February 2019


Trinity College

[Flag of Trinity College Boat Club 1930] image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 9 March 2019

Trinity Boat Club (1930)
It is a white flag with ratio 1:2, displaying two blue griffins’ heads addorsed, connected by a wreath of the same.
(Please note: https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-three-postcards-showing-the-oars-flags-and-arms-of-oxford-university-79810690.html displays the white flag with griffin’s heads in colours of the 1848.)
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 9 March 2019


University College

[Flag of University College Boat Club 1930] image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 14 February 2019

The flag is blue, charged with a yellow cross patonce.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 14 February 2019


Wadham College

[Flag of Wadham College Boat Club 1930] image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 14 February 2019

[Flag of Wadham College Boat Club 1930] image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 14 February 2019

The flag is white, charged with a blue cross patty in one link, but blue, charged with a white cross patty in the other.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 14 February 2019


Worcester College

[Flag of Worcester College Boat Club 1930] image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 14 February 2019

The flag is black, charged with a pink cross patty.
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 14 February 2019