STORY OF THE UINION JACK.

Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 80, 1 October 1887, Page 2 (Supplement)

STORY OF THE UINION JACK.

Banner of St. George writes :— "We are all familiar with the white, blue, and red ensigns, and with the Union Jack which occupies the upper quarter nearest the flagstaff. Tho white ensign has the red cross of St. George in addition to the Union Jack. Without tho Jack this white ensign with a red cross represents our old national flag as it existed from the time of Eichard I. until the doath of Elizabeth. This red cross flag, the banner of St. George, appears to have been chosen by the Soldier King in honour of the saint who was tho patron of soldiers. It remained for more than 400 years the flag under which the English warriors fought on land and sea. When Jainos VI. of Scotland succeedod Elizabeth, tho Scotch liaa~a national flag. That also was a cross but it was shaped differently from that of St. George, and was known as tho Cross of St. Andrew. The I ground of the Scotch flag was blue, and its cross was white. To mark the union of the two .kingdoms under one sovereign, the national banner underwent a change although Scot- ! land still retained its Parliament. In the new flag the two banners of England and Scotland were united. There appeared in it tho oblique white cross of St. Andrew on a blue ground and the red cross of St." George on a white margin, worked in the blue field. The king was accustomed to sign his name in the* French form of James 'Jacques.' or, as we -improperly pronounce it Jack. For local purposes the Scotch still continue to use the white St. Andrew's cross on the blue field, and tho English red cross on the white field. When the Scotch and English Legislatures wore united, the distinctive flags ceased to be used and the united flags as arranged in 1606 became the single ensign for the United Kingdom. It was the Sovereign that made the union and established the national flag, and an establishment of distinct legislature would not again alter the flag. Ireland would take presumably for its local ensign the Red Cross of St. Patrick. This Irish banner ought to have appeared in the union flag of 1606, but it did not. Ireland had no distinct recognition in the Union flag until 1801, when the Irish and British Legislatures were united. At that date the Union Jack underwent a further change, and tho red diagonal cross of St. Patrick on a white field was introduced. Since that date the Union Jack has shown the red cross and the white margin, recalling the banner of St. George ; the white diagonal and the blue field of St. Andrew's banner; and the the diagonal cross of St. Patrick, showing over the white diagonal cross of the Scottish banner. The blue ground of the Jack is, therefore, due to Scotland, and the red and white as crosses and margins to England and to Ireland.