The flag of the British South Africa Company (with red ring)

The Flag of the British South Africa Company was the flag used by the British South Africa
Company (BSAC) and Rhodesia under company rule. It was adopted in 1892 and was used until 1923
when the south of Rhodesia voted to become Southern Rhodesia and the north was surrendered to
the Colonial Office to become Northern Rhodesia. The flag remained as the Company's commercial
flag until 1965. The flag consisted of a British Union Flag with the Company's logo of a lion and tusk
on a white circle in the centre with "B.S.A.C." underneath it.

The British South Africa Company headed by Cecil Rhodes received a royal charter from Queen
Victoria to create a new British colony in Africa. The Pioneer Column of the BSAC set out and
founded Salisbury in 1890. The BSAC flag they had ordered to be made did not reach South Africa
from England in time before the column set off. As a result, the Union Flag was raised instead,
although it had been suggested that they use a white flag with the letters "BSACo" on it. The BSAC
flag eventually arrived in the newly-established Rhodesia in 1892 and was first raised over Fort
Salisbury. In 1893, it was raised over Bulawayo, following the Company's conquest of
the Matabeleland.

In 1922, Rhodesian voters voted in the Southern Rhodesian government referendum,

1922 for responsible government independent of the BSAC ahead of joining the Union of South
Africa. Remaining under BSAC control was considered but was eventually not included in the final
ballot. As such, the BSAC flag was lowered on 29th September 1923 by the British South Africa
Police when the colony's new status as Southern Rhodesia came into being with the Union Flag
becoming the only official flag. However, it is speculated that it was retained by the Governor of
Southern Rhodesia as the governor's flag until around 1931.[1] The same happened in what would
become Northern Rhodesia where the BSAC surrendered its role in the colony to the Colonial
Office via an order in council from His Majesty's Privy Council.[6] Despite the flag losing its status as
a colonial flag, the BSAC flag continued to be used by the British South Africa Company as their
private company flag and they would fly it over their offices in London and in the Rhodesias.[1] This
situation continued until 1965 when the British South Africa Company merged with the Anglo-
American Corporation.