ALFRED HOLT & CO.

Reed assigns both versions to Ocean Steamship Co. The livery was shared by Ocean Steam Ship, China Mutual and Alfred Holt. Sources vary in the size of the flag’s diamond, sometimes extending it throughout the flag. The lettering changed in the 1960s, essentially losing the horizontal extension towards the hoist at the top. Some later depictions could fit either form; an old form published in 1988 referred to the early 1900s.

The flag and traditional funnel remained in use for Blue Funnel ships after the Holts-to-Ocean change. A flag seen at Lyttelton in April 1977 was dark blue, but its letter shape was not recorded. Early LJC illustrations put the “A” crossbar low and resemble the later lettering, probably because of printing requirements. Other depictions show a pale-blue flag, a dark-blue funnel, or blue letters. Pre-war sources also assign the livery to the Dutch Ocean company; the variations are not silently reconciled.