Black saltire

[bubba]

I think it's a variation associated with at least one of the Scottish Independence groups, maybe Siol nan Gaidheal? As I recall it's a black Saltire on blue. Mike1 should be able to tell us more about it.

[Riverkilt]

Was thinking a pirate flag....the bones are crossed in sort of a saltire....

Me too, I wanna know more.

Ron

[Riverkilt]

Googling found these folks

http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/host.html

who sponsor a description of the Black Saltire at

http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/gb%7Dsc.html

Makes sense that the Black Saltire may be a flag that they offer.

Ron

[McClef]

I have never heard of the organisation that uses this flag.

They appear to have aims which go beyond the mainstream Independence movements like the SNP.

And I have never seen a black Saltire flown anywhere in Scotland.

I suspect that their numbers are rather small.

And their website kept on crashing my firefox!

[Graham]

Sorry, I should have made myself clearer, yes it's a black and white saltire, black to symbolise mourning at the loss of Scotlands' independence.

I wanted to purchase the flag itself.

[Mike1]

Graham, the bratach dubh, or black banner is a symbol used by Siol nan Gaidheal, a Scottish-based, ultra-nationalist organization.


An image of myself and Joe Mackenzie of Clann an Drumma, holding up one of the Siol bratach dubhs.

The black symbolizes the mourning for Scotland's loss of independence. The cross is the Cross of St. Andrew, Scotland's patron saint. The Celtic circle symbolizes the the history of the Scottish community, with the many strands making up the one whole. The Gàidhlig 'A' is for Alba, the ancient name of Scotland.

These banners are made by a Siol member for other Siol members and are not for sale. When I took demit from the organization, I passed along my banner to another member of the U.S. Chapter.

McClef, if you were to travel to the majority of the commemorations held in Scotland each year, you would see this banner being displayed.


Robert 'Rob Roy' MacGregor commemoration, December 2004


Battle of Falkirk commemoration, January 2005



Battle of Bannockburn commemoration, June 2005


Glencoe commemorative rally, February 2005


Rob Roy commemoration, December 2005. I'm holding the blue variant that I carried in the Wallace Homecoming, as we moved the Spirit of Wallace coffin to St. Kentigern's Kirk, in Lanark, a few months earlier -


(Yes, yes, the 'A' is backwards)

The Siol banners are being displayed, you just have to know where to look.

And you never know when you might see one displayed at Westminster.



Or even inside -


This plaque marks where William Wallace stood as he was sentenced to death.