BRITISH NATIONAL SYMBOLS
green, but our swords are red with the blood of the enemy ". A banner refers to a cloth stretched
between two anchor points bearing a slogan or a flag with heraldic arms, or a flag carried by a
military unit. (Brown, 1994)
It is thus evident from the first cloth flags in the Arab, Asian and Christian worlds that the
practise of flagging one's community, beliefs and purposes has been in use for a very long time,
regardless of material substance.
Vexillology has also been looked upon as a branch of heraldry and many national flags, their
colours and designs, have been influenced by preceding coats of arms which were originally used
to identify soldiers on the battlefield.
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The first badge used during the Crusades was the Cross, which could be worn as a garment on the
chest or back of the warrior
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