Why arrows on convicts clothes?

[Jill Lyons]

I have been researching records of convicts in Australia and would like to
know why the arrow design was chosen and how it originated.

Could you please reply to my email adress ***@optusnet.com.au

Many thanks for information.

Jill
Sydney

[BD]

Hi Group

I saw a vignette on this very topic recently on Foxtel. I can't remember
what museum but it was showcasing a convict uniform from early colonial days
that was discovered between the ceiling and upper floor of an old house in
Sydney. The presenter pointed out that there is no evidence to show that
convicts wore clothing covered in arrows. The only arrow on the uniform was
a small black one signifying that the garment was 'government issue'.
Similar arrows were printed, painted or inscribed on many government issue
items.

The item went on to say that the stereotypical convict, wearing a uniform
covered in arrows, results from licence exercised by cartoonists and
illustrators of the day. No doubt the 'government issue' arrow contributed
to how convicts were portrayed.

J





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Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
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[Thompson]

Interest person will look a this web address.
http://www.abc.net.au/tv/rewind/txt/s1179349.htm

I just put "convict arrows clothing", into google. And there you are.

The site will give you a good account of why there is an arrow.

The defence department still tag clothing with an arrow.

DT.

[Peter]

If anyone interested in OZ history is not watching the excellent ABC's
"Rewind" on Sunday nights, they should receive 6 lashes at the flogging
tree.
I always believed the arrow was a CSIRO invention...the arrow would point to
the direction that the convict escaped in. "Rewind" set me right on this.

Post by Thompson
Interest person will look a this web address.
http://www.abc.net.au/tv/rewind/txt/s1179349.htm
I just put "convict arrows clothing", into google. And there you are.
The site will give you a good account of why there is an arrow.
The defence department still tag clothing with an arrow.
DT.

[P Mayberry]

Hello Peter,

Your posting mentioned the following ...

If anyone interested in OZ history is not watching the excellent ABC's
"Rewind" on Sunday nights, they should receive 6 lashes at the flogging
tree.
******

Well Judge Peter, what sentence do you impose on the "Rewind" 's presenter,
Warren Brown for his extraordinary & erroneous statements?

WARREN BROWN: In the first seven years of settlement, about 150,000 convicts
were transported, and they all knew what this arrow meant - 'Government
Owned'. And what we've just seen is the only intact, surviving example of
the most common piece of clothing issued to them. And that's what makes this
shirt one of our great archaeological finds and a real national treasure.

Refer to http://www.abc.net.au/tv/rewind/txt/s1179349.htm

As a side line ...up until 1993 in New South Wales, there was a requirement
that all Crown Lands surveys were to have a broad arrow cut into the
boundary corner survey pegs.

I always thought that the 'broad arrow' was the "Crown" 's symbol and not a
Government symbol.
Currently the "Crown" of Australia is Queen Elizabeth II.

Smiling,
Pierré Mayberry
Tuggeranong ACT

[Mike Burke]

Post by P Mayberry
Hello Peter,
Your posting mentioned the following ...
If anyone interested in OZ history is not watching the excellent ABC's
"Rewind" on Sunday nights, they should receive 6 lashes at the flogging
tree.
******
Well Judge Peter, what sentence do you impose on the "Rewind" 's presenter,
Warren Brown for his extraordinary & erroneous statements?
WARREN BROWN: In the first seven years of settlement, about 150,000 convicts
were transported, and they all knew what this arrow meant - 'Government
Owned'. And what we've just seen is the only intact, surviving example of
the most common piece of clothing issued to them. And that's what makes this
shirt one of our great archaeological finds and a real national treasure.
Refer to http://www.abc.net.au/tv/rewind/txt/s1179349.htm
As a side line ...up until 1993 in New South Wales, there was a requirement
that all Crown Lands surveys were to have a broad arrow cut into the
boundary corner survey pegs.
I always thought that the 'broad arrow' was the "Crown" 's symbol and not a
Government symbol.
Currently the "Crown" of Australia is Queen Elizabeth II.
Smiling,
Pierré Mayberry
Tuggeranong ACT

Google is your friend. Type "broad arrow" into your Google search and
you'll be amazed at the number of references that come up describing
the meaning of the broad arrow in virtually all British Commonwealth
countries.

Mike

[Peter]

Dear Learned Prosecutor Mayberry,
Although being cognisant of the not insignificant body of excellent
research you have devoted to the subject at hand, I must however and without
hesitation direct you to my preferred reference and impeccable authority on
this subject at
http://www.rosetta.primary.tased.edu.au/oldsite/convicts/default.htm
I particularly refer you to the comments of Jonathon concerning "servants of
the government".
Notwithstanding, and to placate my learned friend, I hereby sentence Mr.
Brown to 6 lashes just in case the suggestion of the arrow being a "Crown"
symbol does indeed carry some merit. I will
also overlook on this one occasion Mr.Mayberry's outburst, which on a
gloomier day, could be considered as contemptuous of this court.

All rise for Judge Peter.

Post by P Mayberry
Hello Peter,
Your posting mentioned the following ...
If anyone interested in OZ history is not watching the excellent ABC's
"Rewind" on Sunday nights, they should receive 6 lashes at the flogging
tree.
******
Well Judge Peter, what sentence do you impose on the "Rewind" 's presenter,
Warren Brown for his extraordinary & erroneous statements?
WARREN BROWN: In the first seven years of settlement, about 150,000 convicts
were transported, and they all knew what this arrow meant - 'Government
Owned'. And what we've just seen is the only intact, surviving example of
the most common piece of clothing issued to them. And that's what makes this
shirt one of our great archaeological finds and a real national treasure.
Refer to http://www.abc.net.au/tv/rewind/txt/s1179349.htm
As a side line ...up until 1993 in New South Wales, there was a requirement
that all Crown Lands surveys were to have a broad arrow cut into the
boundary corner survey pegs.
I always thought that the 'broad arrow' was the "Crown" 's symbol and not a
Government symbol.
Currently the "Crown" of Australia is Queen Elizabeth II.
Smiling,
Pierré Mayberry
Tuggeranong ACT

[P Mayberry]

Hello Peter,

Thank goodness, we are now going to embark on a discussion about parts of
the early convict system of NSW.

If I receive a few lashes along the way then so be it.
There's no gain without pain.

Again, you might review Warren's first part of his statement ...

In the first seven years of settlement, about 150,000 convicts were
transported and they all knew what this arrow meant - 'Government
Owned'. And what we've just seen is the only intact, surviving example of
the most common piece of clothing issued to them.
**************

Unfortunately there weren't 150,000 convicts transported in the first seven
years of settlement.

According to Charles Bateson's book titled "The Convict Ships 1788-1868" ,
there were only 1330 convicts transported between 1788-1800.
See Appendix VII (a) of this book.

His other extraordinary & erroneous statement was ...
and they all knew what this arrow meant - 'Government Owned'.
*********

I've viewed every convicts' details that are shown in the NSW State Records
convict shipping Indents from 1791-1826.

Not all convicts who arrived in the Colony of NSW were 100% fit & well, both
physically & mentally.

Some convicts went straight from ship to hospital where they eventually
died. Some Irish convicts were described as lunatics or incapable.
Others were described in less appropriate terms.

Where the sick convicts that died in hospital ever issued with their
'shirts'?

As a penal Colony, who issued the orders for each convict to receive the
shirt? Was it under the Governor's orders?

I doubt that Warren or anyone for that matter, has any documentary evidence
which shows that all convicts 'knew what this arrow meant - Government
Owned'.
-----------------

On the matter of the broad arrow which I deliberately regarded as a side
issue in my posting, I was sent the following by a learned friend ...

From http://home.freeuk.net/sidsoft/directory.html

"The broad arrow design - best known on prisoners uniforms - which is used
to identify property of the government is based on the Sidney family coat
of arms. Henry Sidney, Earl of Romney, was Master of Ordnance to William
and Mary and was asked to mark all government property to reduce theft. He
chose to use his family emblem which is a broad arrow, or Pheon, and this
is still in use today by the UK government 300 years later. "
*************

As mentioned above William and Mary were William III & Mary II who both
reigned from the death of James II in 1688. They reigned until Mary's
death in 1694. William continued to reign until 1702. Following William's
death, Queen Anne then reigned until 1714 when the House of Hanover ascended
the throne.

I assume that either William III or his wife, Mary II asked Henry Sidney as
their Master of Ordnance to mark all government property to reduce theft.
(I'm not sure whether Henry Sidney as Master of Ordnance was under the
authority of a Minister of the Crown or Government.)

Following the regal request, protocol would dictate that Henry Sidney, Earl
of Romney would seek approval from the Monarch for his proposed mark.
It would indeed then become an approved Crown symbol.

I'm happy with it being a symbol shown on Government issue.
I don't regard it as a Government symbol on Government issue.
(How many lashes will this statement bring to bear on my back?)

As another side issue, I'm just wondering if Ministers of the Australian &
State Governments are also Ministers of the Crown. They may indeed be.

I'm familiar with the term, Crown Road but can't recall the term, Government
Road. (Similarly for the term, Crown Portion)

All boundary corners of a Crown Road are marked with a "broad arrow and a
R".

There is a road named Broad Arrow Road in Narwee, a south-western suburb of
Sydney.

Regards,
Peter Mayberry
Tuggeranong ACT

[P Mayberry]

My Lord,

Thank goodness that you don't act like a certain Judge Judy.

Back in the penal times of NSW, was not the British Government also known as
His Majesty's Government?

It would seem that we are talking at cross purposes.

The convict shirt was indeed His Majesty's Government issue.

The main point of my initial posting was to thrash with the lash, poor
ignorant Warren.

Although, one might expect better Quality Assurance from the producers of
the ABCTV's Rewind convict segment.

May be the producers should feel the cuts from the 'cat of nine tails'
instead of Warren.

I wonder what 'Media Watch' would make of this issue.

Still smiling,
Pierré Mayberry
Tuggeranong ACT

[Peter]

My Dear 'Crown' Prosecutor,
You walk on very thin ice my learned friend....one could almost surmise that
you are 'taking the mickey' at His Lordship's expense. As for Warren, why
let a trifling few thousand here or there get in the way of a good story!
Seriously though, I've read your most recent posts on the subject and find
the info fascinating. I have always held that the arrow denoted "Government
owned", and was not strictly limited to convict accessories.
A couple of years ago, when clearing bush at the back of my weekender in Mt
Victoria, I found three worn and burnt bricks each with an arrow marking,
together with a set of very rusty, long iron thongs also inscribed at the
handle base with the symbol. There must have been a kiln of sort at or near,
but why the bricks were being made here is unclear as there is no sign of
buildings or structures utilising them in the area today. Convict cut
sandstone of course is quite common, particulary at the old passes down the
mountain and the water wells.
I wonder if the kiln was dismantled and moved along together with the gang.
Incidently, there was a flogging tree evidently situated not 50 yards from
my place on Mt York Rd., and it was only taken down recently, like 1970. I
joked with my brother and niece that I always thought the screams I heard at
night were from the semis' air brakes as they drove down the Pass, until my
niece mentioned that she hears footsteps walking about the cottage at
night...now I'm really spooked!!
Regards,
Judge Peter.
PS Thanks for your site which I enjoy visiting from time to time, even
though it does'nt mention any of my gggf's. One was English and I'm
convinced that he got an easier time of it than my dear Irish.

Post by P Mayberry
My Lord,
Thank goodness that you don't act like a certain Judge Judy.
Back in the penal times of NSW, was not the British Government also known as
His Majesty's Government?
It would seem that we are talking at cross purposes.
The convict shirt was indeed His Majesty's Government issue.
The main point of my initial posting was to thrash with the lash, poor
ignorant Warren.
Although, one might expect better Quality Assurance from the producers of
the ABCTV's Rewind convict segment.
May be the producers should feel the cuts from the 'cat of nine tails'
instead of Warren.
I wonder what 'Media Watch' would make of this issue.
Still smiling,
Pierré Mayberry
Tuggeranong ACT

[P Mayberry]

My learned Judge Peter,

Again I call on you to exercise your 'Solomon-like' powers to settle the
Rightful Sidney who provided the inspiration for the "Broad Arrow" symbol
for use on Government property.

The following URL at http://home.freeuk.net/sidsoft/directory.html shows

"The broad arrow design - best known on prisoners uniforms - which is used
to identify property of the government is based on the Sidney family coat
of arms. Henry Sidney, Earl of Romney, was Master of Ordnance to William
and Mary and was asked to mark all government property to reduce theft. He
chose to use his family emblem which is a broad arrow, or Pheon, and this
is still in use today by the UK government 300 years later. "

Whereas, Stuart Cresswell ascertains in his posting that ...

The arrow symbol comes from the badge or coat of arms of Sir Philip
Sidney who was one of Queen Elizabeth's right hand men.

I remain,
Your obedient servant,
Peter Mayberry
Tuggeranong ACT

Post by Peter
Dear Learned Prosecutor Mayberry,
Although being cognisant of the not insignificant body of excellent
research you have devoted to the subject at hand, I must however and without
hesitation direct you to my preferred reference and impeccable authority on
this subject at
http://www.rosetta.primary.tased.edu.au/oldsite/convicts/default.htm
I particularly refer you to the comments of Jonathon concerning "servants of
the government".
Notwithstanding, and to placate my learned friend, I hereby sentence Mr.
Brown to 6 lashes just in case the suggestion of the arrow being a "Crown"
symbol does indeed carry some merit. I will
also overlook on this one occasion Mr.Mayberry's outburst, which on a
gloomier day, could be considered as contemptuous of this court.
All rise for Judge Peter.

Post by P Mayberry
Hello Peter,
Your posting mentioned the following ...
If anyone interested in OZ history is not watching the excellent ABC's
"Rewind" on Sunday nights, they should receive 6 lashes at the flogging
tree.
******
Well Judge Peter, what sentence do you impose on the "Rewind" 's

presenter,

Post by P Mayberry
Warren Brown for his extraordinary & erroneous statements?
WARREN BROWN: In the first seven years of settlement, about 150,000

convicts

Post by P Mayberry
were transported, and they all knew what this arrow meant - 'Government
Owned'. And what we've just seen is the only intact, surviving example of
the most common piece of clothing issued to them. And that's what makes

this

Post by P Mayberry
shirt one of our great archaeological finds and a real national treasure.
Refer to http://www.abc.net.au/tv/rewind/txt/s1179349.htm
As a side line ...up until 1993 in New South Wales, there was a

requirement

Post by P Mayberry
that all Crown Lands surveys were to have a broad arrow cut into the
boundary corner survey pegs.
I always thought that the 'broad arrow' was the "Crown" 's symbol and not

a

Post by P Mayberry
Government symbol.
Currently the "Crown" of Australia is Queen Elizabeth II.
Smiling,
Pierré Mayberry
Tuggeranong ACT

[Stuart Cresswell]

Post by P Mayberry
"The broad arrow design - best known on prisoners uniforms - which is used
to identify property of the government is based on the Sidney family coat
of arms. Henry Sidney, Earl of Romney, was Master of Ordnance to William
and Mary and was asked to mark all government property to reduce theft. He
chose to use his family emblem which is a broad arrow, or Pheon, and this
is still in use today by the UK government 300 years later. "
Whereas, Stuart Cresswell ascertains in his posting that ...
The arrow symbol comes from the badge or coat of arms of Sir Philip
Sidney who was one of Queen Elizabeth's right hand men.

I was relying on my human memory.

I got the right family and the source of his idea even if the given
name, century and sovereign was wrong!

Stuart

[P Mayberry]

Hello Judge Peter,

I submit the following articles for your pending deliberation:

http://www.invincible1758.co.uk/broad_arrow_page.htm

'THE BROAD ARROW MARK'
The 'Broad Arrow', the Government property mark, originates from 1330,
viz:
An illustration of a document dated 1330 issued by Richard de la Pole,
the Kings Butler, for the purpose of wine and bearing his seal. This shows
that in order to make sure that ownership could be readily established as
Kings property, he marked each item with an arrow from his own coat of
Arms.
The date on this document was 1330! This pre-dated all of the speculative
advice given by many historians.
********

http://riv.co.nz/rnza/hist/arrow.htm

The symbol, or 'mark', was used to denote Crown property as early as the
reign of King Richard II (1367-1400), but to Gunners it has added
significance. On ordnance not only does it denote Government ownership but
it indicates the piece has been successfully test-fired, ie it has passed
proof, or has been proved.
**********

http://www.coastguides.com/sidebars/masts.html

By about 1650, the colonists in America had established a flourishing trade
in masts, lumber, and other naval stores to Europe and the Caribbean. They
were not pleased when the British Admiralty awoke to the fact that its
supply of mast trees in North America was in danger. In 1685, a Surveyor of
Pines and Timber was appointed to survey the Maine woods "within 10 miles
of any navigable waterway" and mark all suitable trees with "the king's
broad
arrow," the symbol used since early times to designate Royal Navy property.
Any "trees of the diameter of twenty-four inches and upwards at twelve
inches from the ground" with a yard of height for each inch of diameter at
the butt was blazed with the broad arrow. Woe to anyone who damaged or
stole the king's property. The fine was £100! The Broad Arrow Policy was
observed
with all the enthusiasm that greeted Prohibition more than two centuries
later, and the same native ingenuity was applied to circumvent it.
************

http://www.metla.fi/archive/forest/1995/06/msg00003.html

I am looking for a sketch, diagram, artist's rendition, detailed
description, or even a photograph of the blazemark placed on fine trees in
eastern North America in the 1700s, marking them as potential mast trees for
the British Navy. This mark has been called "The King's Broad Arrow" and I
understand it was a standard symbol of British ownership in those days.
***********

http://ppcl.chungnam.ac.kr/my/references/phrase/data/179.html

Broad Arrow on Government stores. It was the cognisance of Henry,
Viscount Sydney, Earl of Romney, master-general of the ordnance.
(1693-1702.)
It seems like a symbol of the Trinity, and Wharton says, "It was
used by the Celts to signify holiness and royalty."
**********

http://www.hrp.org.uk/webcode/content.asp?ID=214

The Broad Arrow Tower
This tower takes its name from the broad arrow that was stamped on goods to
show their royal ownership. In later years the tower became a prison and
contains many inscriptions made by prisoners who were held here in the 16th
and 17th centuries, including one attributed to Giovanni Battista
Castiglione, the Italian tutor of Princess Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth
I), who was held here during the Protestant uprisings in the reign of her
sister, Queen Mary I.
**************

http://www.geocities.com/Paris/LeftBank/6559/scc8.html
BROAD ARROW BRICKS 1822-1830s

The result of the Bigge Commission which investigated quality; convicts
making better bricks in their own time than during government time. Theft
had been a problem, so it was recommended to mark Government property with
the broad arrow--this was extended to bricks. The Sydney bricks tended to
have wide arrows, Parramatta had small narrow ones.
*************

Regards,
Peter Mayberry
Tuggeranong ACT

[johnf]

Dear knowledgeable Peters,

On the subject of convicts. I was given a book as a present called
"Australian Ripping Yarns" by Paul Taylor.
I found it extremely interesting reading, especially seeing it covered 'the
real stories' of convict behaviour & treatment, citing actual names;
bushrangers; what actually happened to Dutch sailors stranded on the W.A.
coast pre-white settlement and so on, up to and including (in)famous people
into the 20th Century.
The book is very convincing, but I cannot make up my mind whether it is
fact, fiction, or a mixture of both.

Have either of you (or anyone else) read this book?

--

johnf

Post by P Mayberry
Hello Judge Peter,
http://www.invincible1758.co.uk/broad_arrow_page.htm
'THE BROAD ARROW MARK'
The 'Broad Arrow', the Government property mark, originates from 1330,
An illustration of a document dated 1330 issued by Richard de la Pole,
the Kings Butler, for the purpose of wine and bearing his seal. This
shows that in order to make sure that ownership could be readily
established as Kings property, he marked each item with an arrow from
his own coat of Arms.
The date on this document was 1330! This pre-dated all of the
speculative advice given by many historians.
********
http://riv.co.nz/rnza/hist/arrow.htm
The symbol, or 'mark', was used to denote Crown property as early as the
reign of King Richard II (1367-1400), but to Gunners it has added
significance. On ordnance not only does it denote Government ownership
but it indicates the piece has been successfully test-fired, ie it has
passed proof, or has been proved.
**********
http://www.coastguides.com/sidebars/masts.html
By about 1650, the colonists in America had established a flourishing
trade in masts, lumber, and other naval stores to Europe and the
Caribbean. They were not pleased when the British Admiralty awoke to
the fact that its supply of mast trees in North America was in danger.
In 1685, a Surveyor of Pines and Timber was appointed to survey the
Maine woods "within 10 miles of any navigable waterway" and mark all
suitable trees with "the king's broad
arrow," the symbol used since early times to designate Royal Navy
property. Any "trees of the diameter of twenty-four inches and upwards
at twelve inches from the ground" with a yard of height for each inch
of diameter at the butt was blazed with the broad arrow. Woe to anyone
who damaged or stole the king's property. The fine was £100! The Broad
Arrow Policy was observed
with all the enthusiasm that greeted Prohibition more than two centuries
later, and the same native ingenuity was applied to circumvent it.
************
http://www.metla.fi/archive/forest/1995/06/msg00003.html
I am looking for a sketch, diagram, artist's rendition, detailed
description, or even a photograph of the blazemark placed on fine trees
in eastern North America in the 1700s, marking them as potential mast
trees for the British Navy. This mark has been called "The King's
Broad Arrow" and I understand it was a standard symbol of British
ownership in those days. ***********
http://ppcl.chungnam.ac.kr/my/references/phrase/data/179.html
Broad Arrow on Government stores. It was the cognisance of Henry,
Viscount Sydney, Earl of Romney, master-general of the ordnance.
(1693-1702.)
It seems like a symbol of the Trinity, and Wharton says, "It was
used by the Celts to signify holiness and royalty."
**********
http://www.hrp.org.uk/webcode/content.asp?ID=214
The Broad Arrow Tower
This tower takes its name from the broad arrow that was stamped on
goods to show their royal ownership. In later years the tower became a
prison and contains many inscriptions made by prisoners who were held
here in the 16th and 17th centuries, including one attributed to
Giovanni Battista Castiglione, the Italian tutor of Princess Elizabeth
(later Queen Elizabeth I), who was held here during the Protestant
uprisings in the reign of her sister, Queen Mary I.
**************
http://www.geocities.com/Paris/LeftBank/6559/scc8.html
BROAD ARROW BRICKS 1822-1830s
The result of the Bigge Commission which investigated quality; convicts
making better bricks in their own time than during government time.
Theft had been a problem, so it was recommended to mark Government
property with the broad arrow--this was extended to bricks. The Sydney
bricks tended to have wide arrows, Parramatta had small narrow ones.
*************
Regards,
Peter Mayberry
Tuggeranong ACT

[johnf]

How do you explain this one from the National Library?
http://nla.gov.au/nla.pic-an6393471-1

--

johnf

Post by BD
Hi Group
I saw a vignette on this very topic recently on Foxtel. I can't remember
what museum but it was showcasing a convict uniform from early colonial
days that was discovered between the ceiling and upper floor of an old
house in Sydney. The presenter pointed out that there is no evidence to
show that convicts wore clothing covered in arrows. The only arrow on
the uniform was a small black one signifying that the garment was
'government issue'. Similar arrows were printed, painted or inscribed
on many government issue items.
The item went on to say that the stereotypical convict, wearing a
uniform covered in arrows, results from licence exercised by
cartoonists and illustrators of the day. No doubt the 'government
issue' arrow contributed to how convicts were portrayed.
J
---
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[Thompson]

Road worker?

School crossing monitor?

DT

Post by johnf
How do you explain this one from the National Library?
http://nla.gov.au/nla.pic-an6393471-1
--
johnf

Post by BD
Hi Group
I saw a vignette on this very topic recently on Foxtel. I can't remember
what museum but it was showcasing a convict uniform from early colonial
days that was discovered between the ceiling and upper floor of an old
house in Sydney. The presenter pointed out that there is no evidence to
show that convicts wore clothing covered in arrows. The only arrow on
the uniform was a small black one signifying that the garment was
'government issue'. Similar arrows were printed, painted or inscribed
on many government issue items.
The item went on to say that the stereotypical convict, wearing a
uniform covered in arrows, results from licence exercised by
cartoonists and illustrators of the day. No doubt the 'government
issue' arrow contributed to how convicts were portrayed.
J
---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.740 / Virus Database: 494 - Release Date: 16/08/2004

[Stuart Cresswell]

Post by Jill Lyons
I have been researching records of convicts in Australia and would like to
know why the arrow design was chosen and how it originated.

As others have said it was to indicate that the clothing was government issue.

The arrow symbol comes from the badge or coat of arms of Sir Philip
Sidney who was one of Queen Elizabeth's right hand men

Stuart

[Jill Lyons]

Thank you, Stuart, for your comment on the origin of the "Broad Arrow" on
convicts' clothes. Can you give your reference confirming its origin from
Sir Philip Sidney's coat-of-arms? Many thanks.

Jill

Post by Stuart Cresswell

Post by Jill Lyons
I have been researching records of convicts in Australia and would like to
know why the arrow design was chosen and how it originated.

As others have said it was to indicate that the clothing was government issue.
The arrow symbol comes from the badge or coat of arms of Sir Philip
Sidney who was one of Queen Elizabeth's right hand men
Stuart