BLUE AND WHITE ENSIGNS

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 78, 1 April 1936, Page 6

BLUE AND WHITE ENSIGNS

In view of the iriciuiries received from time to time regarding the use of the White. Ensigns on shore, the Admiralty has issued the following memorandum in current Fleet Orders: ■—■The White and Blue Ensigns of H.M. Fleet are purely maritime flags, and in general their use on shore is incorrect. , There has,, however, been a customary extension of the use of the White Ensign from the harbour ship used as a fleet establishment to barracks and other'buildings on shore serving the same purpose. ■ There has also been a. parallel':extension of the use of special • ensigns: from yachts, Customs vessels,and the like td> their headquarters '- oh. the > coast—the clubhouse or Customs office; It is common also for the White arid Blue Ensigns to be used on cenotaphs' and other memorials to naval . personnel.; With these exceptions, the use of these ensigns on shore is improper. Special ensigns worn by. yachts, are. worn under the authority of an Admiralty warrant issued to the yacht, not to the yacht-owner.' They, are the national colours of the yacht, not the personal flag of the owner, and the ' owner has no shadow of right to. fly. the yacht's flag elsewhere than on board the yacht. Similarly, the White Ensign is nothing else but the national colours of a ship of war in commission, and no past service in the Navy or other connection with the Navy can make it correct for anyone to hoist it on private buildings on shore.