Samoa Flag - Independent State of

In August 1914, New Zealand invaded the German colony of Samoa in the name of the Allied Forces. Upon the war’s conclusion, Samoa was designated a protectorate of New Zealand by the Allies The League of Nations endorsed this decsion upon which the islands were renamed Western Samoa. This protectorate would remain in force until 1997 when the islands would become full members of the Commonwealth of Nations and regain their former name, Samoa.

In May 1921, the Dominion Government wrote to the British Admiralty, requesting warrants for defaced Red and Blue Ensigns for Western Samoa. Their proposal was to incorporate three palm trees encircled, and emblazoned on the fly. Controversy quickly arose as to whether either a Mandated Territory or its Administrator were entitled to fly either defaced ensigns or a defaced Union Flag since neither the protectorate nor its Governor were British. It was noted that if defacement for Western Samoa was not authorised, Western Samoa would default to New Zealand’s flag, which itself was a defaced Red Ensign. London’s response indicated they were prepared to issue a warrant for a defaced Red Ensign if the Secretary of State for the Colonies considered it more appropriate than an undefaced Red Ensign. Approval was granted on July 30, 1922, with the warrant for the Samoan Ensigns being issued January 16, 1925.

On September 9, 1948, the Colonial Office of the Admiralty approved the replacement of the Union Flag with a blue canton featuring four stars similar to those found on New Zealand’s flag and the removing any defacements. A fifth star was added in 1949 to more accurately reflect the Southern star a major constellation in the hemisphere. The Independent State of Samoa, would retain this flag to this day.