The house flag of Monroe Brothers, Liverpool. A white flag with a blue saltire and a red diamond in the centre bearing a white letter 'M'. The flag is made of a wool and synthetic fibre bunting. It has a cotton hoist and is machine sewn. A rope and toggle is attached.

Monroe Brothers was ship owning and ship management business based in Cardiff. It was founded in 1920 by Robert Monroe shortly after he was demobilised at the end of the First World War. He was joined by his two brothers in the early 1920’s. His business was initially profitable and he built up a fleet of 30 coasters.

The outbreak of the Second World War had an adverse effect on the fortunes of the company. Ships were lost from enemy action and also requisitioned by the Admiralty. Robert Monroe died of heart disease in 1942 and only the intervention of his wife prevented the company being requisitioned by the Royal Navy.

At the end of the war Robert Monroe’s eldest son Kenneth left the navy to join the company followed shortly after by his youngest son - another Robert. Coastal Shipping was in decline because of competition from road haulage and the company shifted emphasis to two ocean-going cargo vessels the ‘Helen Miller’ and the ‘Susan Miller’ and diversified into ship-broking. In 1988 the remaining ships were sold and the ship-broking business sold a few years later. (Research, I. Deusi)