House flag, British Tanker Co. Ltd

The house flag of the British Tanker Co. Ltd, London. On a white background, there is a red cross with a green diamond in the centre bearing a gold lion passant gardant. This design was in use from 1927 to 1955 and the central lion symbolized the Company's Iranian interests. The flag is made of a wool and synthetic fibre bunting. It has a cotton hoist and is machine sewn. The flag's design is painted. A rope and two Inglefield clips is attached.

British Petroleum was formed as the Anglo-Persian Oil Company in 1909 to exploit oil deposits in Persia. The British Tanker Co. Ltd started in 1915 to handle sea transport and achieve a contained, integrated oil company. The parent group, British Petroleum, was re-named the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company in 1935. In 1951 the company's Iranian assets were nationalized, a crisis partly resolved by negotiation in 1954 when the company was re-named British Petroleum. During the 1970s BP extended its oil interests to the North Sea and Alaska and now is a very large multinational group.

Object Details

ID: AAA0176
Collection: Textiles; Flags
Type: House flag
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Unknown
Date made: circa 1951
People: British Tanker Co. Ltd; Pope, Charles Meredyth
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, Pope Collection. We regret that Museum enquiries have not been able to identify the copyright owner of the flag's emblem and would welcome any information that would help us update our records. Please contact the Picture Library.
Measurements: flag: 838.2 x 1219.2 mm