NationMaster - Encyclopedia: British ensigns

This article concerns the ensigns flown by vessels and aircraft of the United Kingdom and its overseas territories, and by certain nations of the Commonwealth. Image File history File links RN-White-Ensign. ... Image File history File links RN-White-Ensign. ... The White Ensign. ... Image File history File links Government_Ensign_of_the_United_Kingdom. ... Image File history File links Government_Ensign_of_the_United_Kingdom. ... The modern Blue Ensign of the United Kingdom The British Blue Ensign (1707â€“1801) English Blue Ensign as it appeared in the seventeenth century. ... Image File history File links Civil_Ensign_of_the_United_Kingdom. ... Image File history File links Civil_Ensign_of_the_United_Kingdom. ... The Red Ensign, as currently used by the United Kingdoms Merchant Navy The Red Ensign is a flag that originated in the early 1600s as an ensign flown by the Royal Navy. ... Image File history File links Ensignstamp. ... Image File history File links Ensignstamp. ... A selection of Hong Kong postal stamps A postage stamp is evidence of pre-paying a fee for postal services. ... 2001: A Space Odyssey. ... The Commonwealth of Nations, usually known as The Commonwealth, is an association of 53 independent sovereign states, almost all of which are former territories of the British Empire. ...

In British maritime law and custom, the ensign proper to a British ship is one of several flags with a red, white or blue field, with the Union Flag in the canton (the upper corner next the staff), known as the red, white and blue ensigns respectively. It has been suggested that naval ensign be merged into this article or section. ... Italian ship-rigged vessel Amerigo Vespucci in New York Harbor, 1976 A ship is a large, sea-going watercraft, sometimes with multiple decks. ... The tricolour flag of France A flag is a piece of coloured cloth flown from a pole or mast, usually for purposes of signalling or identification. ... Flag Ratio: 1:2 The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland uses as its national flag the Royal Banner commonly known as the Union Flag or Union Jack. ... The design and description of flags typically uses specialised flag terminology with precise and technical meanings (a form of jargon). ...

Outside the nautical sphere, there are some flags which are modelled on the red, white, and blue ensigns, but which use more unusual colours, e.g. the sky blue of the Royal Air Force ensign. The Royal Air Force (often abbreviated to RAF) is the air force branch of the British Armed Forces. ...

Today's white ensign incorporates the cross of St George (St George's Ensign); defaced white ensigns include that of the British Antarctic Territory and that formerly used by the Royal Yacht Club (now the Royal Yacht Squadron).

The Union Flag (also known as the Union Jack) should only be flown as a jack by Royal Navy ships when moored, at anchor, while underway and dressed with masthead ensigns or if the Monarch or an Admiral of the Fleet is on board. The Union Flag may also signal that a court martial is in progress. Flags are particularly important at sea, where they can mean the difference between life and death, and consequently where the rules and regulations for the flying of flags are strictly enforced. ... The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the senior service of the British armed services being the oldest of its three branches. ... This article describes the British monarchy from the perspective of the United Kingdom. ... Admiral of the Fleet is a supreme naval position that has existed in historical navies and still exists in several modern-day navies. ... A court-martial (plural courts-martial) is a military court that determines punishments for members of the military subject to military law. ...

Interestingly, use of the Union Flag as an ensign on a civilian craft remains illegal to this day ever since Charles I ordered it be restricted to His Majesty's ships "upon pain of Our high displeasure" in the 17th century, mainly due to its unauthorised use by merchant mariners to avoid paying harbour duties by passing themselves off as Royal vessels. The name Charles I is used to refer to numerous persons in history: Kings: Charles I of England, Scotland, and Ireland Charles I of France (also known as Charles the Bald) Charles I of Spain (also known as Charles V of the German Empire) Charles I of Romania Charles I...

Modern usage

British ensigns currently in use can be classified into five categories, in descending order of exclusiveness:

The traditional order of seniority was red, white and blue, with the red as the senior ensign.

Since the reorganisation of the Royal Navy in 1864, use of the White Ensign (a red St George's Cross on a white field with the Union Flag in the canton) has been restricted to ships, boats, submarines and on-shore establishments of the Royal Navy . The Royal Yacht Squadron also fly the white ensign by special dispensation. 1864 (MDCCCLXIV) was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a leap year starting on Sunday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ... The White Ensign. ... St Georges cross The St Georges Cross, a red cross on a white background, is the national flag of England and was adopted for the uniform of English soldiers during the military expeditions by European powers to recapture the Holy Land from Muslims (Crusades of the eleventh, twelfth... The canton of a flag is the top inner quarter of a flag. ... The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the senior service of the British armed services being the oldest of its three branches. ... The Royal Yacht Squadron is considered by many people to be the world’s most prestigious yacht club located on the coast at Cowes Castle on the Isle of Wight in the United Kingdom. ...

The Blue Ensign (dark blue field with the Union Flag in the canton) undefaced is worn masters of vessels in possession of a warrant issued by the Director of Naval Reserves, and by the members of certain yacht clubs. Such warrants are issued to officers in the active or retired lists of the Royal Naval Reserve and the maritime reserve forces of other Commonwealth Realms and territories. The master must be of the rank of lieutenant RN or above, and fishing vessels must be crewed by at least four other Royal Naval reservists or pensioners. The modern Blue Ensign of the United Kingdom The British Blue Ensign (1707â€“1801) English Blue Ensign as it appeared in the seventeenth century. ... The Royal Naval Reserve (RNR) is the volunteer reserve force of the Royal Navy in the United Kingdom. ... The Commonwealth Realms, shown in pink A Commonwealth Realm is any one of the 16 sovereign states of the Commonwealth of Nations that recognise Queen Elizabeth II as their Queen and head of state. ... A Lieutenant is a military, paramilitary or police officer. ...

British government departments use a variety of blue ensigns defaced in the fly with the department badge, and colonial governments use blue ensigns defaced with the colonial badge. Other defaced ensigns were used by vessels of the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board, the Humber Conservancy, Custom House, the Board of Trade, Lloyds of London, the Post Office, cable laying ships, and other departments including War Office Ordnance. The flag of Australia and those of its states as well as the flag of New Zealand are defaced blue ensigns. Several yacht clubs are also entitled to fly blue ensigns defaced by their club badge. Defacement is a vexillology term referring to the practise of adding badges, devices or other symbols to an existing flag. ... The design and description of flags typically uses specialised flag terminology with precise and technical meanings (a form of jargon). ... A United Kingdom overseas territory (formerly known as a dependent territory or earlier as a crown colony) is a territory that is under the sovereignty and formal control of the United Kingdom but is not part of the United Kingdom proper (Great Britain and Northern Ireland). ... The Mersey Docks and Harbour Company is the sucessor to the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board. ... The Board of Trade is a committee of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom, originating as a committee of inquiry in the 17th century and evolving gradually into a government department with a diverse range of functions. ... Lloyds of London is a British insurance market. ... The British General Post Office (GPO) was officially established in 1660 by Charles II and it eventually grew to combine the functions of both the state postal system and telecommunications carrier. ... A cable is two or more wires or optical fibers bound together, typically in a common protective jacket or sheath. ... Old War Office Building, Whitehall, London - the former location of the War Office The War Office was a former department of the British Government, responsible for the administration of the British Army between the 17th century and 1963, when its functions were transferred to the Ministry of Defence. ... Ordnance is a general term for a quantity of military equipment, usually specifying the ammunition for artillery, bombs, or other large weapons. ... Flag ratio: 1:2 The Australian Flag at full mast. ... The Australian States and Territories make up the Commonwealth of Australia under a federal system of government. ... Flag ratio: 1:2 The current Flag of New Zealand is a defaced blue ensign with the Union Flag in the canton, and four red stars with white borders to the right. ...

The Red Ensign (red field with the Union Flag in the canton) defaced by a badge is flown by Trinity House and various organisations and yacht clubs. Merchant ships and private vessels registered in British colonies and dependencies, and in several Commonwealth realms, fly the Red Ensign defaced by the badge of their territory. The Red Ensign, as currently used by the United Kingdoms Merchant Navy The Red Ensign is a flag that originated in the early 1600s as an ensign flown by the Royal Navy. ... The Corporation of Trinity House - came into being in 1514 by Royal Charter granted by Henry VIII. Flag of Trinity House Trinity House has three main functions: The care of all lighthouses in England, Wales, the Channel Islands and Gibraltar. ...

The Red Ensign undefaced is for the use of all other British merchant navy ships and private craft. The Red Ensign is the correct flag to be worn as courtesy flag by foreign private vessels in United Kingdom waters. Merchant vessels from British overseas territories and Crown dependencies are entitled to red ensigns defaced with the badge of their territory. In most seafaring countries, the merchant marine (or merchant navy) is a fleet of ships used for commerce that sometimes complements the navy. ... The Red Ensign, as currently used by the United Kingdoms Merchant Navy The Red Ensign is a flag that originated in the early 1600s as an ensign flown by the Royal Navy. ... A courtesy flag (or courtesy ensign) is flown by a ship in foreign waters as a token of respect. ... Location of the British overseas territories (British Antarctic Territory and Sovereign Base Areas of Cyprus not shown) The British overseas territories are 14 territories throughout the world that are under the sovereignty of the United Kingdom (UK). ... Crown dependencies are possessions of the British Crown, as opposed to overseas territories or colonies. ...

Other ensigns

The flag of the British East India Company, like the Cambridge or Grand Union Flag of the American colonies, had a red and white striped field. There were similar red-and-white and green-and-white striped ensigns in the English Navy in the 16th century. Similarly in flag plates from the 17th and 18th centuries there are representations of the Guinea Jack of the Royal Africa Company in various forms; the jack consisted of a St George's Cross within a double border of red and white chequers. The flag of Hawaii is a British ensign with a background of white, red and blue stripes. Image File history File links British-Civil-Aircraft-Ensign. ... Image File history File links British-Civil-Aircraft-Ensign. ... Image File history File links Ensign_of_the_Royal_Air_Force. ... Image File history File links Ensign_of_the_Royal_Air_Force. ... Royal Air Force Ensign The Royal Air Force Ensign is the official flag which used to represent the Royal Air Force. ... The British East India Company, sometimes referred to as John Company, was a joint-stock company which was granted an English Royal Charter by Elizabeth I on December 31, 1600, with the intent to favour trade privileges in India. ... Grand Union flag North Carolina Currency, 1776 Painting of flag of East India Company, 1732 The Grand Union Flag, also known as the Congress flag, the First Navy Ensign, The Cambridge Flag, and The Continental Colors is the first true Flag of the United States. ... (15th century - 16th century - 17th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 16th century was that century which lasted from 1501 to 1600. ... Ka Hae Hawaiâ€˜i, or the Flag of Hawaiâ€˜i Ka Hae Hawaiâ€˜i, or the flag of Hawaii, is the official standard symbolizing Hawaii as a kingdom, protectorate, republic, territory and state. ...

There exist also a Royal Air Force (RAF) ensign and a civil air ensign, both of which have a sky blue field, with the Union Flag in the canton. The RAF Ensign is defaced with the red-white-blue RAF roundel, while the field of the civil air ensign is charged with a large dark blue cross fimbriated white. The flag of Tuvalu and that of Fiji are also defaced sky blue ensigns. The Royal Air Force (often abbreviated to RAF) is the air force branch of the British Armed Forces. ... Royal Air Force Ensign The Royal Air Force Ensign is the official flag which used to represent the Royal Air Force. ... The RAF roundel A roundel is a distinctive mostly round logo or marking, most commonly painted today on military aircraft to indicate which air force or navy they belong to. ... Flag ratio: 1:2 The current Flag of Tuvalu was instated when the country became independent in 1978, after the separation from the Gilberts in 1976. ...

There are two "yellow" ensigns in use in the South Pacific, both featuring the Southern Cross. The personal flag of the Governor of Victoria, Australia, has been the flag of Victoria with a yellow instead of a dark blue background. The flag of Niue, a self-governing dependency of New Zealand, is also a yellow ensign. More unusually, it is the Union Flag canton rather than the fly which is defaced with a modified Southern Cross. South Pacific is a musical play with music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II that opened on Broadway on April 7, 1949, and ran for more than five years. ... Southern Cross is the English name of Crux Australis, a constellation visible in the Southern Hemisphere. ... List of Governors of Victoria See Governors of the Australian states for a description and history of the office of Governor. ... Flag Ratio: 1:2 The current state flag of Victoria was officially adopted in 1953. ... Flag ratio: 1:2 The flag of Niue was adopted in 1975. ...

There is some evidence of the existence of a Green Ensign in British Ireland, defaced with a gold Irish harp in the fly. It is not clear to what extent this unofficial ensign was ever in use by Irish merchant ships at the time. The Green Ensign is an historic flag flown by some Irish merchant vessels from the 17th Century to the early 20th Century. ...

The flag of the British Antarctic Territory has a white field defaced with the Territory's badge, while the British Indian Ocean Territory flag has a white and blue wavy-striped field, also defaced. Flag of the British Antarctic Territory The British Antarctic Territory is the British claim to land and islands in Antarctica, and is the oldest territorial claim on the continent. ...

History

Prior to 1864, red, white, and blue were the colours of the three squadrons of the Royal Navy, which were created as a result of the reorganisation of the navy in 1652 by Admiral Robert Blake. Each squadron flew one of the three ensigns. Image File history File links Charles_De_Gaulle-tribord-et-HMS-Endurance. ... Image File history File links Charles_De_Gaulle-tribord-et-HMS-Endurance. ... Motto : Fortitudine Vinvimus (By Endurance We Conquer) see: HMS Endurance ... Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor), born on 21 April 1926, is Queen of sixteen independent nations known as the Commonwealth Realms. ... // Events April 6 - Dutch sailor Jan van Riebeeck establishes a resupply camp for the Dutch East India Company at the Cape of Good Hope, and founded Cape Town. ... Robert Blake, General at Sea, 1599–1657 by Henry Perronet Briggs, painted 1829. ...

The red squadron tended to patrol the Caribbean and north Atlantic, the white the coasts of Britain, France and the Mediterranean, while the blue patrolled the south Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans. The flags of the various former British colonies often have grounds of the same colour as their protective squadron. Hence Bermuda has a red ground and Australia and New Zealand blue. The flag of the United States also follows this pattern. Early flags of the American Revolution were modified Red Ensigns. The Grand Union Flag, added six white stripes to the Red Ensign and this flag was used during the fight for independence until the Union Flag in the corner was replaced by the current stars in 1777. Map of Central America and the Caribbean The Caribbean (pronounced or ) Sea is a tropical sea in the Western Hemisphere, part of the Atlantic Ocean, southeast of the Gulf of Mexico. ... The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest ocean, covering approximately one-fifth of the earths surface. ... The Mediterranean Sea is an intercontinental sea positioned between Europe to the north, Africa to the south and Asia to the east, covering an approximate area of 2. ... The Pacific Ocean (from the Latin name Mare Pacificum, peaceful sea, bestowed upon it by the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan) is the worlds largest body of water. ... Flag ratio: 10:19 Flag ratio is not set, but is often 4:5 bearing a gold fringe around three edges when displayed indoors or on parade. ... The American Revolution was a revolution that ended two centuries of rule in Thirteen Colonies of North America by the British Empire and created the modern United States of America. ... Grand Union flag North Carolina Currency, 1776 Painting of flag of East India Company, 1732 The Grand Union Flag, also known as the Congress flag, the First Navy Ensign, The Cambridge Flag, and The Continental Colors is the first true Flag of the United States. ... 1777 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ...

In addition to the Admiral of the Fleet (who was Admiral of the Red), each squadron also had its own admirals, vice admirals and rear admirals, e.g. Lord Nelson was Vice Admiral of the White at time of death. Admiral of the Fleet is a supreme naval position that has existed in historical navies and still exists in several modern-day navies. ... Lord Nelson Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson (September 29, 1758 – October 21, 1805) was a British admiral who won fame as a leading naval commander. ...

Canadian ensigns

In 1868, the British Admiralty made the Canadian Blue Ensign the proper flag for ships of the Canadian government, and in 1892, the Admiralty approved the use of the Canadian Red Ensign by Canadian merchant ships. 1868 (MDCCCLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a leap year starting on Friday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ... Old Admiralty House, Whitehall, London, Thomas Ripley, architect, 1723-26, was not admired by his contemporaries and earned him some scathing couplets from Alexander Pope The Admiralty was historically the authority in the United Kingdom responsible for the command of the Royal Navy. ... The modern Blue Ensign of the United Kingdom The British Blue Ensign (1707â€“1801) English Blue Ensign as it appeared in the seventeenth century. ... 1892 (MDCCCXCII) was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ...

From about 1870, Canada unofficially used a Red Ensign with the arms of its provinces on one shield as its national flag (the Canadian Red Ensign). In 1924, an order-in-council made the flag official (for certain purposes) and replaced the provincial arms with the royal arms of Canada. The red ensign was replaced by the current red and white maple-leaf flag in 1965. In that same year, the provinces of Ontario and Manitoba adopted red ensigns defaced by their provincial arms as their provincial flags. (see Flag of Ontario and Flag of Manitoba) 1870 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... The Red Ensign, as currently used by the United Kingdoms Merchant Navy The Red Ensign is a flag that originated in the early 1600s as an ensign flown by the Royal Navy. ... The Canadian Red Ensign, this design was used from 1957 until 1965. ... 1924 (MCMXXIV) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... An Order-in-Council is an executive order issued in Commonwealth Realms operating under the Westminster system. ... Canadas coat of arms was proclaimed by King George V on November 21, 1921, as the Arms or Ensigns Armorial of the Dominion of Canada. ... Flag Ratio: 1:2 (1965â€“Present) The National Flag of Canada, popularly known as the Maple Leaf and lUnifoliÃ© (French for the one-leaved), is a base red flag with a white square in its centre featuring a stylized, 11-pointed, red maple leaf. ... 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1965 calendar). ... Welcome! Hello, Ontario, and welcome to Wikipedia! Thank you for your contributions. ... Motto: Gloriosus et Liber (Latin: Glorious and free) Official languages English (French is an official language of the Manitoban legislature and courts) Capital Winnipeg Largest city Winnipeg Lieutenant-Governor John Harvard Premier Gary Doer (NDP) Parliamentary representation - House seat - Senate seats 14 6 Area Total â€¢ Land â€¢ Water (% of total) Ranked... Ontarios official flag since 1965 The current Flag of Ontario was proclaimed the official flag of the Canadian province of Ontario by the Flag Act on May 21, 1965. ... Manitobas official flag since 1965 The Flag of Manitoba is a variation of the Red Ensign which bears the shield of the provincial coat of arms. ...

Sources

Contents

Modern usage

Other ensigns

History

Canadian ensigns

Sources

See also

External links

Contents

Modern usage GA_googleFillSlot("encyclopedia_square");

Other ensigns

History

Canadian ensigns

Sources

See also

External links

Modern usage