Overzealous patriots attempting to display English pride have accidentally pledged allegiance to Denmark after spectacularly botching the colours of the St George’s Cross on a Walsall roundabout.
The embarrassing mix-up occurred as masked men wearing St George’s face coverings were filmed painting roundabouts and zebra crossings across the West Midlands town over the weekend. But in their patriotic fervour, at least one individual managed to invert the colours completely, creating a white cross on a red background, the unmistakable design of Denmark’s Dannebrog flag.
Social media users were quick to mock the mistake, with one posting: “The Vikings are coming!” alongside a clown emoji. Another observed sarcastically: “So proud can’t even show their face. Britain at its finest.”
Midnight Vandals Strike Across Walsall
The incidents unfolded on Saturday evening around 7pm when two men were caught on camera painting a mini-roundabout on Bentley Road North in the Bentley area of Walsall. Both wore face masks decorated with the St George’s Cross whilst daubing red paint onto the road surface as traffic passed.
The pair are believed to be responsible for multiple acts of vandalism across the town, including painting St George’s crosses on a zebra crossing in nearby Willenhall. Video footage shared widely on social media showed them wielding paint rollers and pots of red paint whilst running through the streets.
Despite their attempts at anonymity, one patriot’s geographical knowledge proved lacking when they created what is unmistakably Denmark’s national flag. The Dannebrog, as it’s known in Denmark, features a white Nordic cross on a red field, making it the exact opposite of England’s red cross on white.
“It’s taxpayers’ money which will be used to clear this up. What is the point, absolute idiots,” one resident commented on social media. Others were more supportive, with one declaring: “Give them a medal!”
Operation Raise the Colours Spreads Nationwide
The Walsall incidents form part of a broader movement dubbed “Operation Raise the Colours” which has seen St George’s and Union flags appearing on lampposts, roundabouts, and public spaces across England in recent weeks. The campaign, organised through social media platforms including Facebook and Telegram, has spread from Birmingham to cities including Manchester, Newcastle, Bradford, and Norwich.
The movement’s organisers, who describe themselves as “proud English men,” claim to be showing pride in British history and achievements. However, investigations have revealed concerning links to far-right extremists. Andrew Currien, also known as Andy Saxon, a key figure behind the campaign, was previously jailed for his involvement in a racist death and has served as security for far-right groups.
Over £10,000 has reportedly been raised through crowdfunding to purchase flags and materials. The campaign has received support from controversial figures including Britain First, which claims to have donated 75 per cent of its flag stock to the movement.
Councils Launch Criminal Investigations
West Midlands Police confirmed they are investigating the roundabout paintings as criminal damage. Similar incidents in Worcestershire prompted Inspector Richard Field of Bromsgrove Police to warn: “Painting roundabouts is not only dangerous to drivers and pedestrians, but it also amounts to criminal damage. We are working closely with partners to tackle this issue and investigate where appropriate.”
Walsall Council leader, Councillor Mike Bird, condemned the dangerous practice whilst stopping short of criticising patriotic sentiment itself. “I think it is very, very dangerous to stand in the middle of the road, painting onto a roundabout which is a circular area for traffic,” he said. “Sadly, they are putting their lives in danger and no doubt putting motorists’ lives in danger.”
The council confirmed that taxpayers’ funds would need to be used to repaint the roundabouts back to regulation white. “If there’s a painting on a roundabout, obviously we have a duty of care to make sure those are identified as roundabouts,” Councillor Bird explained.
Political Divide Deepens
The flag campaign has exposed deep political divisions across the country. Birmingham City Council sparked controversy by ordering the removal of flags from lampposts, citing safety concerns and describing them as “unauthorised items” that could potentially harm pedestrians and motorists. Tower Hamlets Council in East London took similar action.
These removals prompted accusations of double standards, with critics pointing out that Palestinian flags in some areas had been allowed to remain. Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick seized on the issue, posting on social media: “Raise The Colours! While Britain-hating councils take down our own flags, we raise them up. We must be one country, under the Union Flag.”
Richard Parker, Labour mayor for the West Midlands, struck a more measured tone: “I am very supportive of anyone who wants to display their patriotism and passion for this country, while also being clear that we need to do that safely.”
Safety Warnings Issued
Under the Highways Act 1980, attaching items to highway structures or painting road markings without permission is illegal. Authorities have warned that those responsible could face criminal charges and be ordered to pay for removal costs.
The phenomenon has spread beyond the Midlands, with similar incidents reported across the country. In Kent, St George’s crosses were spray-painted onto roads and roundabouts overnight, whilst flags appeared on motorway bridges and flyovers. West Sussex County Council warned that unauthorised road paintings were “unsafe” and would require public funds to remove.
Councillor Bird acknowledged the sentiment behind the displays whilst urging people to find legal ways to express patriotism. “I think there is a lot of that, I think there is a spin-off from VJ Day where people had a feeling of a feel-good factor from flags and enjoyment around the country,” he said, suggesting people hang flags from windows instead.
The Danish Connection
The accidental creation of Denmark’s flag adds an ironic twist to the nationalist campaign. The Dannebrog, meaning “Danish cloth,” is considered the world’s oldest continuously used national flag, dating back to at least 1625. According to legend, it fell from heaven in 1219 during the Battle of Lindanise as a sign of divine support for Danish crusaders.
The mix-up highlights the amateur nature of many participating in the movement. As one social media user noted: “It’s a shame most of them don’t know what the St George’s flag looks like. I’ve seen various versions painted on roundabouts, the Swiss version, the Danish version, the fuck knows what version. Perhaps it’s actually a warning that the Vikings are coming again?”
The incident serves as a reminder that patriotic gestures require at least basic knowledge of national symbols. Creating Denmark’s flag whilst attempting to display English pride represents a particularly embarrassing own goal for the movement’s participants.
As investigations continue and councils work to remove the unauthorised paintings, the debate over national identity, legitimate protest, and vandalism shows no signs of abating. What remains clear is that those wishing to display national pride might benefit from a basic lesson in vexillology before reaching for the paint pots.
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