FLAG LORE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 135, 9 June 1932, Page 9

FLAG LORE.

HINTS ON ETIQUETTE. SOME COMMON BREACHES. ENSIGNS AFLOAT AND ASHORE. Flags have a strong attraction for most people, and the custom of flying some sort of banner or distinguishing emblem is known equally among the most primitive and the most civilised peoples. The origin of the custom is very nearly us old as the human race. Probably the first flag was some sort of emblem round which the men of the same tribe could rally in battle. Custom has much to do with what one may call " flag etiquette." Sad mistakes are made—usually ashore—by people who fly flags, the main idea with some people apparently being to make the bravest show without any regard for etiquette. Yachtsmen arc frequently guilty of breaches of flag etiquette, and some of the anomalies are quite ludicrous. The Union Flag. Every British subject may properly fl\- the Union Flag (commonly called the Union .lack) ashore, but not afloat. Warships fly it from a jackstaff at the bow, and it is one of the three llags flown on a. warship when His Majesty the King goes aboard. The Admiral of the Fleet may fly it from the masthead, but if anyone else flies it afloat lie is liable to a fine of .£SOO. In New Zealand waters the Union Jack flown at the main is the signal for "Police wanted," and in ignorance of this regulation a pleasure craft has been known to receive a visit from the water police —much to the surprise of the owner. The only form in which merchant ships use the Union Jack is when it is surrounded with a. white border, and then ir, is known as the Pilot Flag. Ordinary sailing yachts fly the Red Ensign (the customary flag flown by British merchant vessels) at the peak when under way, or from a jackstaff at the stern when at anchor.

Some pleasure craft appear to lie under tlie impress-ion that they may fly

the New Zealand Red Ensign—the Red Ensign with the Southern Cross in the fly—but this is an error; only merchant vessels registered in the Dominion are permitted to fly this flag. Blue Ensign. The Blue Ensign may only be flown i under warrant from the Admiralty. I The Royal Now Zealand Yacht Squadron members, for instance, have the right to fly it afloat, in conjunction with the squadron burgee. It should be noted that a new yacht, or where a yacht changes owners, should fly the Red Ensign until a warrant has been obtained from the Admiralty 'to fly the Blue Ensign. Some members of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron may belong to another club, and if so they should be careful not to fly the Blue Ensign when flying the burgee of theclub that is not entitled to fly the Blue Ensign. The Blue Ensign should never be flown without the ' burgee of the "Royals." A further point to be noted is that the warrant should always be carried on a yacht flying the Blue Ensign, as a warship lias the right to demand the production of such warrant. White Ensign. The White Ensign is flown at sea only by ships of the Royal Navy, the only other craft having the right being those belonging to members of the Royal Yacht Squadron, who in 1829 were granted the privilege just in the same way as the "Royals" in New Zealand, and certain other yacht squadrons in the Old Country have, the right to fiv the Blue Ensign. The White Ensign and file Blue Ensign may be flown ashore, and the Now Zealand Blue Ensign may be similarly flown.

The New Zealand Blue Ensign has the Southern Cross in the fly, similar to the New Zealand Red'- Ensign, but afloat it is reserved for vessels belonging to the New Zealand Government. For instance, it may be seen on the Government lighthouse motor vessel Matai, and it will also be observed flying from the jack-staff on the bow on the sloops Laburnum and Veronica, which belong to the New Zealand squadron of the Royal Navy. The Diomedc, which though stationed in New Zealand waters, flies the Union Jack at the bow, as she belongs to the Royal Navy.

The finest flag in the Kni|>iie. ;in .' probably in the world,' is the Royal Standard, which one has seen flown l>y

quite unauthorised persons. The most exclusive flag in the Empire, it is the personal flag of His Majesty the King, and is flown only when he is present. At one time it was hoisted on warships on His Majesty's birthday, and also from Government buildings ashore on the same occasion, but both practice* have been forbidden. Yacht Flags. Some yachtsmen have rather loose ideas about flags, and anyone well up in flag etiquette is bound to get a surprise from time to time. A common mistake among yachtsmen belonging to more than 0110 club used to be the flying of two club flags at tlie one time. The correct procedure is to fly the burgee of your club at the masthead and the ensign at the peak, when under way, or from a. staff at the stern when at anchor. Launches, of course, fly the ensign from a staff at the stern. To salute, a yacht will dip the clisign once. Club olliccrs are saluted individually. but if the squadron officers be met in consort the senior ofliccr is saluted. In the same way when coining to an anchorage where more than one officer is present the senior officer is saluted, and he alone will answer the compliment. Juniors always salute first. War. ships should always be saluted when met by yachts. Flags are hoisted at S a.m., and hauled down iit sunset; the time being taken from the senior officer present if in company with other craft. The only exception to the sunset rule is in the ease the commodore or officer in comma ml who flies his distinguishing pennant day and night, the idea being that yachlarriving outside the hours of S ;i.m. ! sunset may recognise the flagship <-o long as there is sufficient daylight. " Breaking Out." Amateurs are often much taken with the trick of making up colours ami breaking them out when the signal is given for hoisting colours. The |'j" first rolled lip into a small spa" •' I held by making a slip knot wi end of the halyard. The is then hoisted to the ' ollt l y 'the signal is given it - ~n ot , ami i" j merely pulling '"it the * , ls t ] lo ugh 4,10 t,,k cus on, may be fol "-; by magic. Mi's/ „j ,lag. Mit • »'—■ * u,ei,te,l; it is hauled up loose.