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Dictionary of Vexillology: F (Flag of a Department – Flag on a Flag)

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FLAG OF A (or THE) DEPARTMENT
FLAG OF A DEPENDENT OR OVERSEAS TERRITORY (or OVERSEAS DEPARTMENT)
FLAG OF AN ETHNIC GROUP (or FLAG OF AN ETHNIC MINORITY)
FLAG OF A SEPARATIST (or NATIONALIST) MOVEMENT
FLAG OF BRITAIN
FLAG OF CELEBRATION
FLAG OF CEREMONY
FLAG OF COMMAND
FLAG OF CONVENIENCE
FLAG OF DEFIANCE
FLAG (or FLAGS) OF DISTRESS
FLAG OF HONOUR (or HONOR)
FLAG(S) OF OFFICE
FLAG OF PRETENCE
FLAG OF PROTECTION
FLAG OF ST GEORGE
FLAG/ENSIGN OF THE AIR FORCE/AIRFORCE
FLAG OF THE ARMY
FLAG OF THE MARINE CORPS
FLAG OF THE NAVY
FLAG OF THE STATE OF
FLAG OF TOLERANCE
FLAG OF TRUCE
FLAG OF WAR
FLAG OFFICER
FLAG OFFICER'S BROAD PENNANT
FLAG-ON-A-FLAG (FLAG-ON-FLAG or FOF)

FLAG OF A (or THE) DEPARTMENT

See departmental flag 1) and departmental flag 2).

Flag of Loiret, France; Department of State, US

FLAG OF A DEPENDENT OR OVERSEAS TERRITORY (or OVERSEAS DEPARTMENT)

See ‘colonial flags/ensigns’ and its following note.

Flag of St Maarten; Flag of TAAF; Flag of Saba

FLAG OF AN ETHNIC GROUP (or FLAG OF AN ETHNIC MINORITY)

1) See ‘tribal flag’.

Flag of the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs, Canada

FLAG OF A SEPARATIST (or NATIONALIST) MOVEMENT

A flag representing those whose declared aim is to achieve independence from some central authority (see also ‘tribal flag’ and its following note).

Flag of the Free Aceh Movement, Indonesia; Flag of the Alsace-Lorraine Separatist movement, France; Unofficial Flag of the Breton Democratic Union, France

FLAG OF BRITAIN

1) See ‘British flag’.
2) See ‘Union flag’.

Union Flag 1606–1801, England/UK; Union Flag, UK

FLAG OF CELEBRATION

See ‘celebratory flag’.

Flag of the Mardi Gras Celebrations, Mobile, US

FLAG OF CEREMONY

See ‘indoor flag’.

Flag of Ceremony/Indoor Flag of the Secretary of Agriculture, US

Please note that this term is a direct translation of the Spanish "Bandera de Ceremonia" and should not be confused with a ceremonial ensign/or flag as listed separately herein.

FLAG OF COMMAND

1) In naval usage, the rank flag of an officer entitled to fly a flag or broad pennant when that officer is appointed to command naval forces – a command flag (see also ‘balls of difference’, ‘broad pennant’, ‘command pennant’, ‘flag disc’, ‘flag officer 1)’, ‘flag officer 2)’, ‘flagship’, ‘rank plate’, ‘wear’ and ‘yellow admiral’).

2) An alternative term for a rank flag (see also ‘distinguishing flag 3)’, ‘individual flag’, ‘personal flag 4)’, and ‘rank flag)’.

Flags of an Admiral , Vice Admiral and Rear Admiral , USN

Notes
1) Although these terms are sometimes considered interchangeable, the Editors have drawn a general distinction between the command flags used by senior naval officers, the rank flags employed by officers from the other armed services, the distinguishing flags of civilians and with personal flags.
2) A further distinction has been drawn between the flag of command which replaces the masthead pennant, and command pennants which do not.

FLAG OF CONVENIENCE

The flag flown by a vessel registered in one country, but whose owners are not nationals of that country, and usually for reasons of economy or the evasion of more stringent regulations elsewhere.

National Flags/Civil Ensigns of Panama and Liberia (often flown as a flag of convenience)

FLAG OF DEFIANCE

A plain red flag widely used in European waters prior to the invention of flag signal codes to signify an intention to give battle – colours of defiance or the bloody flag (see also ‘baucans’).

Please note that although in widespread use prior to this date, the flag of defiance did not appear in English naval Instructions until 1647 (and was dropped in 1799) – see ‘red flag 2)’ and its following note.

FLAG (or FLAGS) OF DISTRESS

1) Flag V (Victor) in the International Code of Signal Flags flown at sea as a request for assistance.

2) Flags N (November) and C (Charlie) hoisted as a group at sea to indicate that a vessel is in distress (see also ‘signal hoist’).

3) In US usage, an orange flag bearing a black square and disk in the centre prescribed by the US Coast Guard for use by small boats and pleasure craft in the territorial and inland waters of the USA.

Signal Flag Victor; Signal Flags November–Charlie; Coast Guard Signal US (official website)

Notes
a) While some may still acknowledge an upside-down ensign as a signal of distress, it is no longer recognized under international rules; and that the waft, also previously used, is now entirely obsolete (see also ‘International Code of Signal Flags’, ‘signal flag’ and ‘waft’).
b) According to the US Coast Guard regulations the orange flag should be either square with vertically arranged symbols, or rectangular with the square and disc horizontal, and that a very similar signal is recommended in the ICS for identification from the air (see also ‘International Code of Signals’).

FLAG OF HONOUR (or HONOR)

In now obsolete Austria-Hungarian maritime usage, one of two flags presented to merchant captains for meritorious service in peace (white field) or war (red field), and flown from the mainmast between 1850 and 1918 – an honour flag but see note below (also ‘main’).

Austro-Hungary 1850–1918

Please note that the term honour flag has been used for two other designs issued by different authorities under differing circumstances, and it is therefore suggested that this form of the term should be applied only to those flags – see ‘honour flag 1)’ and ‘honour flag 2)’.

FLAG(S) OF OFFICE

That flag (or those flags) which relate to an executive/administrative office (or offices) held under a usually (but not invariably) republican form of government "office flags" see ‘departmental flag 2)’, ‘distinguishing flag 1)’ and ‘presidential standard’.

High Officials, Taiwan; Minister of Defence, Russia; Vice-President, US

FLAG OF PRETENCE (or PRETENSE)

1) A newly introduced and heraldically derived term for any flag that displays a symbol or symbolism which assumes the possession of territory or status to which it has no current entitlement, or lays claim to that territory or status – a pretentious flag – see ‘escutcheon of pretence 1)’ (also ‘false flag 1)’, ‘fictional flag’, ‘fictitious flag’ and ‘replica flag’).

2) See ‘anticipatory flag’ and note b) below.

National Flag of Comoros; Naval Ensign of Bolivia; 51 Star Flag of The United States

Notes
a) The 51 star flag of the United states displays one more star than there are states in the Union, whilst the national flag of Comoros or the naval ensign of Bolivia for example (and illustrated above), show one more star than they have provinces under their current control.
b) An “anticipatory flag”, on the other hand, such as a 39 star flag of the United States, displays a symbol of granted statehood but in advance of its official appearance on the flag.

FLAG OF PROTECTION

1) See 'safe conduct flag 1)'.

2) In largely (but by no means exclusively) UK usage now obsolete, a term sometimes employed to describe the flag of a powerful state that has extended its military and/or naval protection over another.

Flag of the Red Cross; Naval Ensign, UK

Please note regarding 2) that the “protectorate” in question retained control over its internal affairs, but that their foreign policy was entirely handled by the relevant protecting power.

FLAG OF ST GEORGE

See ‘St George’s Cross 2)’.

Command Flag of a Full Admiral, UK

FLAG/ENSIGN OF THE AIR FORCE/AIRFORCE

See ‘branch of service flag’ (also ‘armed services flag’).

Flag of the Air Force, Singapore; Flag of the Air Force, Peru; Ensign of the Air Force, Ghana

FLAG OF THE ARMY

See ‘branch of service flag’ (also ‘armed services flag’).

Flag of the Army, South Africa; Flag of the Army, UK; Flag of the Army, Georgia

FLAG OF THE MARINE CORPS

See ‘branch of service flag’ (also ‘armed services flag’ and ‘battle colour’).

Flag of the Marine Corps, US; Flag of the Marine Corps, Brazil; Flag of the Marine Corps, South Korea

FLAG OF THE NAVY

See ‘branch of service flag’ (also ‘armed services flag’ and ‘naval ensign’ under ‘ensign’).

Flag of the Navy, US; Flag of the Navy, Colombia; Flag of the Navy, Peru

FLAG OF THE STATE OF

The phrase to be used when describing the sub-national flags of those countries whose internal divisions are called states – see ‘seal of the state of’ (also ‘anti-heraldry’, ‘military crest’, ‘seal’, ‘state arms 3)’ under ‘arms’, ‘state colours 3)’, ‘state ensign 2)’, ‘state service flag 1)’ and ‘sub-national flag’).

Flag of the State of Tachira, Venezuela; Flags of the States of Maryland and Arkansas, US

FLAG OF TOLERANCE

One of six different flags introduced by UNESCO in 1995 and designed to be symbolic of the spirit of tolerance.

Flag Representing the Balance of Life

FLAG OF TRUCE

A plain white flag displayed as a sign of surrender, or as a wish for the temporary cessation of hostilities – a parley flag (see also ‘cartel flag’).

FLAG OF WAR

A direct translation of the Spanish term bandera de Guerra – but see ‘war ensign/flag 2)’.

Flag of War / War Flag of Peru

FLAG OFFICER

1) Generally a naval officer entitled to fly a flag of command, which replaces the masthead pennant when that officer is aboard ship (see also ‘command pennant’, ‘distinction of colour’, ‘flag captain’, ‘flag of command 1)’, ‘flagship’ and ‘masthead pennant 1)’).

2) Specifically in the British Royal Navy and some others, as above but an officer over the rank of commodore who is entitled to fly a flag – see note below (also ‘balls of difference’, ‘flag 3)’, ‘broad pennant’, ‘flag of command 1)’, ‘red ensign 2)’ and and ‘yellow admiral’.

3) In US usage as 1), but the term may also include general officers of the army, air force and marine corps (see also ‘rank flag 1)’).

Rank Flags of an Admiral, Vice Admiral and Rear Admiral, France

Please note with regard to 2) that in Royal Navy usage all admirals were formerly considered to be flag officers, but that the term is now restricted to those of that rank who are entitled to fly a flag of command aboard ship.

FLAG OFFICER’S BROAD PENNANT

See ‘broad pennant 3)’ and ‘officer's pennant’.

Yacht Club Vice-Commodore’s Broad Pennant, Finland

FLAG-ON-A-FLAG (FLAG-ON-FLAG or FOF)

The terms used when one or more of the main charges on a flag (usually but not invariably part of a coat of arms or emblem) include the depiction of another flag or flags forming an integral part of the design – a flag-on-flag or FOF – but see note below (also ‘coat of arms 1)’ and ‘emblem’).

National Flag and Arms Ecuador; Naval Ensign, Colombia

Notes
a) Three further examples would be the pre-1994 National Flag of South Africa, the National Flag of Haiti and the National Arms on the War Flag of Peru.
b) This category does not include those flags or ensigns whose canton consists of another flag (such as the British or Indian red ensigns) and for which the term canton flags should be used (see ‘canton flag’).

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