The Union Flag
Pontius, are you sure that the Jack flown on the City of Ottawa is not the Union Jack with a white border. I cant remember what that particular flag is called. Pilot Jack? - Gannet Fan
And if defaced with a white disc in the centre marked "QHM" with a St Edward's Crown above QHM, then it's a Queen's Harbourmaster's flag, as in QHM Portsmouth. Plymouth, and Clyde.
Jack
PS BZ Gannet Fan!
And if defaced with a white disc in the centre marked "QHM" with a St Edward's Crown above QHM, then it's a Queen's Harbourmaster's flag, as in QHM Portsmouth. Plymouth, and Clyde.
Jack
PS BZ Gannet Fan!
Perhaps someone could clarify my understanding that individuals should not fly the Union flag on land, only government organisations should be flying it.
Individuals and non-goverment organisations should be flying their national flags.
Is this so?
MM
Individuals and non-goverment organisations should be flying their national flags.
Is this so?
MM
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
from wikipedia
The Union Flag can be flown by any individual or organisation in England, Scotland or Wales on any day of their choice. Legal regulations restrict the use of the Union Flag on Government buildings in Northern Ireland. Long-standing restrictions on Government use of the flag elsewhere were abolished in July 2007.[3][4]
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The Union Flag is flown from the Jack Staff of HM Ships when at anchor or alongside. The Jack Staff is the small flag pole at the bow of a ship as can be seen here:
This gave rise to the term that the flag was the Union Jack. It does not have a white border.
This gave rise to the term that the flag was the Union Jack. It does not have a white border.
Cunning Artificer
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On a British warship the Union flag is only flown as a Jack from the Jackstaff while the ship is not under way or from the masthead as the rank flag of an Admiral of the Fleet to indicate that he is aboard the vessel, whether under way or not.
As I said earlier, the national flag of the United Kingdom may not legally be flown from a civilian vessel as it indicates that the ship is a warship in the service of the crown or that it is the flagship of an Admiral of the Fleet. That is why a ship under pilotage flies the pilot flag - a union flag with a thick white border. The flag flown at the stern of a ship is the ensign and it takes superiority over all other flags flown on the ship no matter that they may be flown from a higher position. The Union Flag is never flown as an ensign.
As I said earlier, the national flag of the United Kingdom may not legally be flown from a civilian vessel as it indicates that the ship is a warship in the service of the crown or that it is the flagship of an Admiral of the Fleet. That is why a ship under pilotage flies the pilot flag - a union flag with a thick white border. The flag flown at the stern of a ship is the ensign and it takes superiority over all other flags flown on the ship no matter that they may be flown from a higher position. The Union Flag is never flown as an ensign.
Just a numbered other
I too am dismayed by the number of british people who don't know, or seem to care which is the right way up for our national flag.
I had a strange conversation some years back with a receptionist at a hotel in Wilmington North Carolina, whose establishment had raised the union flag to welcome one of HM's war canoes due later that day.
I marched up to the front desk and told herthat the flag was upside down, and the arriving ship's company would be quite insulted to see it, so asked if the error could be rectified.
She answered that it was impossible to hang the union flag upside down!
Quick word with her boss averted a major international incident.
I suppose they can be escused. After all it was the same year that the US Marines marched on to the pitch at the 'World Series' with the Canadian Flag upside down!
I had a strange conversation some years back with a receptionist at a hotel in Wilmington North Carolina, whose establishment had raised the union flag to welcome one of HM's war canoes due later that day.
I marched up to the front desk and told herthat the flag was upside down, and the arriving ship's company would be quite insulted to see it, so asked if the error could be rectified.
She answered that it was impossible to hang the union flag upside down!
Quick word with her boss averted a major international incident.
I suppose they can be escused. After all it was the same year that the US Marines marched on to the pitch at the 'World Series' with the Canadian Flag upside down!
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Nut Loose! I am surprised at you.
On my aeroplanes we had the flag on both sides and EACH side has the wide band at the top. Your way would be flying backwards! Think of it this way. When you paint the flag think of the nose being the staff with the wide band at the top - walk to the other side of the staff and it will still be wide white band at the top - you are thinking TWO flags when there is only one. Or another way - left or right on the staff they are the same.
You were having a larf - right!
On my aeroplanes we had the flag on both sides and EACH side has the wide band at the top. Your way would be flying backwards! Think of it this way. When you paint the flag think of the nose being the staff with the wide band at the top - walk to the other side of the staff and it will still be wide white band at the top - you are thinking TWO flags when there is only one. Or another way - left or right on the staff they are the same.
You were having a larf - right!
they are not the same because the wide band is only on one side of the flag when it is on the top,so it flips horizontal on the stb side..
This one is actually the wrong way round the thick white bar should be fwd on the Stb side of the aircraft....
http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviatio.../7/1483737.jpg
Last edited by NutLoose; 27th May 2010 at 15:37.
It was carried at the Winter Olympics with the flag upside down.I e-mailed the British Olympic Committee, but had no reply. Hope they get it right in London in 2012.
Not specific to the Union Flag, but as I'm sure many on this thread already know, it is generally considered to be disrespecting a national flag to
a) Wear it as an item of clothing
b) Deface it in any way (including writing on it).
Odd then, that we regularly see soccer fans from Ireland and the UK, who I suspect would declare themselves as proud of their nationality and flag, with their national flag draped around themselves or defaced with club or pub names scrawled across them.
(that said, many flags being sold as Irish Tricolours seen about the place are in fact the wrong shape.)
JAS
a) Wear it as an item of clothing
b) Deface it in any way (including writing on it).
Odd then, that we regularly see soccer fans from Ireland and the UK, who I suspect would declare themselves as proud of their nationality and flag, with their national flag draped around themselves or defaced with club or pub names scrawled across them.
(that said, many flags being sold as Irish Tricolours seen about the place are in fact the wrong shape.)
JAS
It annoys me as well.
Yes, I saw that as well. 
Did you see Michael Palin's tour of Eastern Europe on the television? I think it was Latvia where they were preparing for a Royal visit, and yes, it was upside down.
I was walking around the camp in Banja Luka in 1996, and there it was, on some squaddie's portakabin, upside down. Words were had on that occasion.
It was carried at the Winter Olympics with the flag upside down
Did you see Michael Palin's tour of Eastern Europe on the television? I think it was Latvia where they were preparing for a Royal visit, and yes, it was upside down. I was walking around the camp in Banja Luka in 1996, and there it was, on some squaddie's portakabin, upside down.
Words were had on that occasion.
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A seldom seen version, not since the 17th c. anyways...
The "Scotch Union Flag"; used in the Kingdom of Scotland pre.1707 Union.
The "Scotch Union Flag"; used in the Kingdom of Scotland pre.1707 Union.
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If you ask those with the Union flag "upside-down", you might be surprised at the number who know d&mn well how it should go, and who flew it wrong-way-up intentionally! They are protesting what they see as a government that is leading the country in the wrong direction (i.e. "the nation is in distress").
Here in the US, for the past 8 or so years, there has been an outbreak of such protests... first Democrats flying the "Star-spangled Banner" upside-down in protest over Bush-43's winning of the presidency (and his subsequent policies), and now Republicans doing so in protest of Obama's Presidency (and Democratic control of Congress).
Here in the US, for the past 8 or so years, there has been an outbreak of such protests... first Democrats flying the "Star-spangled Banner" upside-down in protest over Bush-43's winning of the presidency (and his subsequent policies), and now Republicans doing so in protest of Obama's Presidency (and Democratic control of Congress).
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While on the subject, why do some football supporters insist on using the White Ensign. Ignorant pillocks
I once asked an owner of a 110' yacht registered in Italy why the yacht was wearing an undefaced blue ensign. Answer, because it is very preeety! I asked to see his warrant; great puzzlement, it was changed!
I once asked an owner of a 110' yacht registered in Italy why the yacht was wearing an undefaced blue ensign. Answer, because it is very preeety! I asked to see his warrant; great puzzlement, it was changed!
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Not quite: there is a catch. They are only allowed to fly the St Georges Cross when in company. Otherwise they fly the St Georges Cross defaced with the arms of Dunkirk. (And only if the owner is aboard!)
Yes, Him
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Just thinking, all this Mornington Crescent-type bollocks probably keeps a retired Admiral and a couple of Commanders in weird titles, costumes and sherbets...
... and a retired General and a couple of Colonels in the same manner for regulating said weird costumes and titles.
What do retired Airships do?
... and a retired General and a couple of Colonels in the same manner for regulating said weird costumes and titles.
What do retired Airships do?