Last modified: 2024-09-14 by rob raeside
Keywords: vexillological terms |
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Realm Banner, Germany 1924 – 1933 (fotw); Flag of the
League of Active Democrats, Germany (fotw)
Reconstruction of the Flag of Surgut, Russia (fotw);
Reconstruction of the 1812 Flag of Cartagena, Colombia (fotw);
Reconstruction of the Flag of the Communist Party of Spain c1980 (fotw)
Please note that the alternative term given in the heading above (rectangular) excludes a square – that is a figure with proportions of 1:1 – whose four sides are of equal – see ‘proportions’.
Gonfalon/Ceremonial Flag of Buje, Croatia (fotw)
Flag of Espite, Portugal (fotw);
Flag of Albernoa, Portugal (fotw);
Flag of Cabeça Gorda, Portugal (fotw & ICH)
Putative Banner of the Order (fotw)
Please note that this cross is not “voided” in that the entre has been removed, but is correctly described in heraldic terms as “a cross pattée Gules surmounted by a cross-couped Argent”.
Civil Ensign, UK (fotw)
Red Ensign, England c1625–1707,
England (fotw); Red Ensign 1707 – 1801, UK (fotw);
Civil Ensign of
India (fotw)
Notes
a) Red ensigns were introduced into the English Royal Navy c1625,
they were
adopted (unofficially) by the merchant service shortly thereafter, and any such use
was made both official and compulsory in 1674.
b) With regard to 1), while most Warranted organizations
fly the blue, the red ensign is flown defaced by a few yacht
clubs, as a civil ensign by some dependent territories etc., and by some non-governmental bodies (see also ‘defaced’,
‘yacht ensign’ under ‘ensign’ and
‘warrant’).
c) Regarding 2), before 1864 an Admiral’s seniority was outwardly displayed by the
colour of his command flag and by the ensigns flown by any ships under his command - the junior colour
being blue, the next white and the senior red - however, in 1864 this colour system was abolished, and
thereafter all flag officers flew a white command flag from the appropriate masthead where applicable,
and all Royal Naval ships the white ensign (see also ‘distinction of colour’
and ‘flag of command 1)’).
d) Furthermore, and also before 1864 a red ensign was also worn by naval
vessels under the direct command of the Admiralty, rather than under that
of a local flag officer ( see also ‘admiralty flag
1)’, ‘common pendant’ and ‘flag officer 2)’) .
e) In addition, the ensigns worn within a fleet could be arbitrarily changed (if the tactical
situation required it) by order of the Flag Officer in overall command of that fleet irrespective of
the grade held by any of his subordinate admirals.
f) It should be further noted that the rank of admiral of the red squadron was introduced
(following the Battle of Trafalgar) in 1805, prior to this there was no grade between admiral of the white
and admiral of the fleet (who flew, and still flies, the union jack) – see ‘union jack 2)’).
Royal Dart Yacht Club, UK (fotw); Civil Ensign of
Gibraltar (fotw)
Notes
Danger/Revolutionary Flag (fotw);
National Flag of The Soviet Union 1924 – 1991 (fotw);
Flag Bravo (fotw)
a) With regard to 2), the first recorded use of such a flag (with political motives)
was when it was flown by some ships during the mutiny at the Nore in the Royal Navy of 1797
(see ‘flag of defiance’ and its following note) and
thereafter during several revolutionary situations until becoming firmly associated with Socialism
during the Paris Commune of 1871. This red flag was the direct ancestor of the later Soviet and
other Communist flags - see 'red flag 4)' above.
b) Regarding 3) the International Code of Signals stipulates flag bravo –
a plain red swallow tail – should be flown when loading, discharging or
carrying a dangerous cargo.
Flag of Wölflinswil,
Courtemaîche and Russikon,
Switzerland (fotw)
Regimental Colour, The South Gloucestershire Regiment, UK c1900 (fotw);
Regimental Colour, 10th Infantry Regiment, Prussia c1750 (fotw)
Regimental Colours of the Bermuda Regiment (fotw);
Stable Belt/Regimental Colours of The Light Dragoons, UK
Regimental/Camp Flags of The (2nd Battalion)
Royal Irish Regiment
and The Royal Gurkha Rifles, UK (Wikipedia & Graham Bartram)
Flag of the Belgorod Region, Russia (fotw);
Arms and Flag of Zagłębie Dąbrowskie Region, Poland (fotw)
Flag of Ferizli, Turkey (fotw);
Flag of Bartın, Turkey (fotw);
Flag of Karabük, Turkey (fotw)
Flag of Ziemia Dobrzynska, Poland (fotw);
Flag of Region Normandie, France (fotw);
Flag of Hannover Region, Germany (fotw)
Registration Flag of Puerto Libertad, Mexico c1858 – 1888 (fotw);
A Sector of the Arrondissement of Brest, France (fotw); La Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
c1870 (fotw)
Please note, it has been suggested that this type of flag/pennant may have had wider European usage than is indicated above, however, no further information can be confirmed at the present time.
Flag of Savoy, France (fotw)
Realm Banner / Reichsbanner, Germany 1924 – 1933 (fotw)
Reichskriegsflaggen/War Flags of Germany
1935 – 1938 and 1938 – 1945 (fotw)
Rejected design for the National Flag of Canada, 1964 (fotw)
Flag of the Anglican Communion (fotw); “Standard” Buddhist Flag (fotw);
Flag in the Papal Colours (fotw)
Notes
a) A Roman Catholic church may sometimes fly either the flag of the Vatican City State
or a bicolour in the Papal colours of white and gold, whilst an Islamic mosque usually displays one or more crescent vexilloids and a Jewish synagogue
either the Menorah or the Magen David
(see also ‘crescent’,
‘Magen David’,
‘Menorah’ and
‘vexilloid’).
b)
Religious flags in the US
are often displayed within the church building as well as outside, whereas in the UK Christian churches,
with the exception of those religious banners carried in procession (and laid up military colours), usually
(but not invariably) fly such flags outdoors.
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