“EUREKA - THE ATTACK ON THE STOCKADE AND THE EVENTS LEADING TO IT" by Peter Butters Part 12:The Southern Cross Flag Les Blake, in 'Peter Lalor' says, 'Reputedly the Canadian Ross designed the flag as a light buff cross on a blue ground; at each end of the cross and in its centre was an eight pointed star of the same colour. A tentmaker supplied the alpaca material (a wool and cotton mixture) to two wives of diggers who stitched the flag together.' ' There is no flag in old Europe half so beautiful as the 'SOUTHERN CROSS ' of the Ballaarat miners. ........' wrote Carboni. The first recorded hoisting of the Southern Cross flag was at Barker & Hunt's Store on Specimen Hill where the Eureka flag was raised on 29 November 1854, which was the Thursday before the attack. '... from Barker & Hunt's store on Specimen Hill Lalor noticed that the redcoats, with muskets and bayonets, had taken up a position behind some logs on Bakery Hill. One of the diggers hauled the Southern Cross flag up on the store's flagpole but it was taken down again as the crowd hurried on to the Gravel Pits workings.' " The 'Ballarat Times' reports that during the whole of the morning several men were busily employed in erecting a suitable stage and planting the flagstaff. 'This is a splendid pole of about 81 feet and straight as an arrow. This work being completed about 11 o'clock, the Southern Cross was hoisted, and its maiden appearance was a fascinating object to behold. There is no flag in Europe, or in the civilised world, half so beautiful, and Bakery Hill, as being the first place where the Australian ensign was first hoisted, will be recorded in the deathless and indelible pages of history. The flag is silk, blue ground with a large silver cross, no device or arms, but exceedingly chaste and natural." Captain Ross, a digger who was wounded and died as a result of the attack was identified with the flag. 'the Southern Cross was unfurled and Captain Ross, the young Canadian who had requested two diggers' wives to make it for the Wednesday meeting, carried the flag at the head of the column' and 'up went the Southern Cross, beneath which stood its 'bridegroom' Captain Ross, with his division about him and sword in hand, Lalor, rifle in his left hand mounted the stump again'. The demise of Ross was described, he 'had taken up his position at the foot of the Southern Cross flagpole as its 'bridegroom' but wounded mortally, he was past thought or vision when a constable named John King hauled the flag down.' He was attended by Dr. Kenworthy after he was shot at the Stockade, and taken to the Star hotel, where he died. Ross, a Canadian, the reputed designer of the flag was shot in the groin in the attack. He was described as bold, brave and trusty, about 28 years old, of middle height, and one of the best loved of those who fell. 'Lieutenant Ross with the Southern Cross now fastened to a short pole went in front of Lalor as standard bearer when the column of men two abreast, began the short march to Eureka Hill.' Reports note that at the time of the attack on the stockade, 'Trooper King from Mayo, Ireland, tore down the Southern Cross flag amid raucous laughter and cheers from the redcoats now in possession of the enclosure.' In the aftermath, the Southern Cross flew from another flagpole with less glory. 'Mr Blanchard, who was at the time a compositor on the 'Ballarat Times', informs the author (Withers) that after the fight on the Sunday, the soldiers had the diggers' flag hoisted on a pole at the Soldiers' Hill camp, and were dancing round it as if wild with joy and grog.' It was ' now a sadly tattered flag from which souvenir hunters had cut and torn pieces, John King had given the flag to another man, Inspector Peter Henry Smith. In a 'twist' to the tale John McNeil, a sergeant in the military and a participant in the attack stated he tore up the Southern Cross Flag used by the insurgents. It was given to him by a soldier in the Barracks at Spencer Street a few days after the event. However John Wilson, a Government Official in sympathy with the miners claimed to be the designer of the Eureka Flag. He said the flagpole, 60 feet high was taken from Beales Swamp.