HT archives: British flag at Lucknow Residency lowered on August 14, 1947

The Hindustan Times on August 15, 1947 reported about the British flag being lowered at the Lucknow Residency, marking a symbolic end of the empire in India.

The front page of Hindustan Times on August 15, 1947 reported about a range of events--from governors being sworn in to ‘homage to Mahatma Gandhi’. Here is a verbatim version of the story about the British flag being lowered at the Lucknow Residency, the site of British victory during the Sepoy Mutiny in 1857.

The Lucknow Residency where the siege took place in 1857. (Mohi-ud-Din Mirza)

LUCKNOW RESIDENCY FLAG LOWERED

LUCKNOW. Aug. 14- The only Flag in the British Empire which has never been lowered since 1857 the Union Jack fluttering on Lucknow Residency was hauled down last night, about 24 hours before the transfer of power from British to Indian hands.

The hauling-down ceremony was kept a guarded secret by the military authorities.

The Union Jack on Government House Lucknow, was lowered this afternoon with the departure from the city of Sir Francis Wylie, the last British Governor of the U.P.

The Indian national flag will be hoisted on Government House by Mrs. Sarojini Naidu tomorrow morning—A.P.I