Flags on Titanic

[kosta kokkinozis]

Most interesting. I think the big Cunarders also few blue ensigns because they were registered auxiliaries as well. I think there were a few RNR and formerly RNVR people in the RFA before we became sponsored reservists ourselves. I had considered joining the RNR to fill my copious amounts of leave. Not allowed to now. Yes the river police and MoD police launches have blue ensigns. Do you have any recollection of Merchant captains flying Blue ensigns for being ex RN or having a portion of ex RN men in their ship's company? I think this has been discontinued but did used to happen.

 

[Jim Currie]

Oh yes Kosta.

I was in several ships's that did this. The most common ships in the MN to do it were what we called the 'BUll...t companies:

Mostly passenger companies Anchor Line, White Star, Cunard, P&O, Blue Funnel, Canadian Pacific, B&I etc. The tramp companies didn't have any time for that nonsense -to much work!
There was a time in the early 1950s when MN officers did courses with the RNVR, RNR and RN. Then they used to run ABC Warfare Courses at RNR centres and we could get time off for taking them.. bit of a giggle really!

Jim.

 

[kosta kokkinozis]

I did used to fly a blue ensign from my narrowboat as a naughty being different thing. I am at least partially entitled being serving RFA of course haha! I saw an ex RN officer had one on his boat in an issue of 'Waterways World' a few years back. I've even seen a white ensign being worn by a narrowboat which is a big naughty. I've got a Lancashire county one now. And A Falklands one for occasional use as I'm a regular visitor there.

 

[Jim Currie]

In my final working years, I was HM in charge of a little port which had a Marina section. Quite often we would get the lads in with massive plastic gin palaces and bottomless wallets. Many of them sported a Blue Ensign - I referred to them as 'plonkers'! Money will buy anything and lots and lots of plonk!

 

[monica e. hall]

I had no idea that flying a flag could be either so physically problematical, as Jim tells us, or that failure to have read and digested the Currie Book of Flag Etiquette would reveal you to be a "plonker". Thank goodness standards are being maintained

 

[Jim Currie]

Hello Monica!

Oh that I did actually have a book published about anything!

Actually there was such a book. In fact flag etiquette was very much a serious thing in the old days. There were in fact fixed fines for violating certain aspects of it. I quote from 'Business for Shipmasters'

Fines:

NOT EXCEEDING £50

Not showing a pilot flag [ code flag 'H'] when carrying a licensed pilot.

NOT EXCEEDING £100.

A British ship wearing colours other than the Red Ensign, unless she hold a warrant so to do.

Failing to show colours entering or leaving port or if requested to do so by one of H,M. ships. (Fishing vessels are exempted if lettered and numbered).

So you see my dear, I didn't make it up!

The 'plonker' bit comes with the feeling of superiority (warranted or otherwise) that seafarers felt for those 'putting on the style'.

Forgive me for I occasionally rave - it's my time of life!

Jim

 

[Martin Cooper]

"I've got a Lancashire county one now"

Good on you Kosta, show the Red Rose proudly, like all good Lancastrians.

 

[kosta kokkinozis]

I shall have my vessel wear it upon my return from sea in June. That is when I get the staff put up. She's having a great load of hull work done on her now preparatory to inspections and surveys.

 

[Robert T. Paige]

Re: Flags on the Titanic.

It's probably so bad it's not worth mentioning but there is that scene in the 1953 "Titanic":

Captain Smith receives a parcel from "Henry Evans" ...."Henry Evans...I thought he was dead" ...Containing the flag "From the old Star of Madagascar where I first served as apprentice."
"She's not top issue nowadays, but up she goes."
and the new flag is hauled down and the old one up on the mainmast. Pure fluff of course but just one more incident in the movie which one person has called "The worst Titanic movie ever made." As another person remarked, "They just put it in because they thought they could get away with it and nobody would notice it."

 

[l sexton]

Does anyone know where I can get a replica of the White Star flag flown on the Titanic

 

[Jason D. Tiller]

eBay is your best bet.