News has come from the Clan Fraser Society of UK & Scotland of the discovery of part of a flag which was believed to be carried by the Frasers of Lovat at Culloden. In 1827 it was given by Fraser of Lovat to an Inverness antiquarian, Dr.MacIntosh, who apparently cut it in half and the left side was given to an ancestor of the present owner. What has happened to the right half is unknown.

This portion of the flag is 15.75” high by 10.63” wide (40 x 27cm).

However, the story handed down to the family does not appear to be correct.

Lord Lyons office confirmed the arms on the flag are those of the Lord Fraser of Lovat and used by them since the 1500s, also the decorative style wasn’t Scots but European and the Union Flag was pre-1801. Then the Royal Crown and crowned thistle were considered, along with Union Flag. This began to show this was a British army flag, owned by a Lord Lovat

Further research has shown it dates earlier than 1745 and appears to be Lord Lovat’s Camp Flag for a government regiment, possibly the Independent Highland Companies, known as the Black Watch. The material is silk, and it was probably made in France although the motto is in English.

Its good condition is probably due to the fact that it has been hidden in a drawer for probably over 150 years. Naturally the present custodians of this Fraser relic are hoping more information may come to light which would reveal a solution to the mystery surrounding it.


Thanks to Gordon Fraser, one of the CFSSUK members, for this computerised version of what the original flag probably looked like.