Chapter XXV: The Union Jack as a Single Flag

This Union Jack, so spread abroad, is in its single form a declaration and an evidence of British nationality, and is raised every day from sunrise to sunset over every one of the garrisons of the British peoples which surround the world. It is the flag which is raised and saluted whenever formal possession of any new territory is taken in the name of the Sovereign of Great Britain, and was thus raised at Khartoum, Bloemfontein, and Pretoria, to signify the success of the British arms and the accession of British rule, just as its predecessors had been in Newfoundland, on the shores of America, and all other colonies and conquests around the seas when each was first occupied.

Some considerable discussions have taken place as to whether it should be called the "Union Jack" or the "Union Flag."

This latter is the name usually given in the Official Regulations respecting the official use of a three-crossed flag of this description. There is in the navy the rank of "Admiral of the Fleet," corresponding to the rank of Field Marshal in the army. The Admiralty Regulations state that the proper flag of an Admiral of the Fleet is the "Union Flag," to be worn at the top masthead, and an Admiralty memorandum further states: "A Jack is a flag to be flown only on the 'Jack' staff, _i.e._, a staff on the bowsprit or forepart of the ship."

The difference in name of the same flag when carried on a ship would appear to indicate a difference in size appropriate to the different positions.

In the order in Council[172] directing what flags are to be used by diplomatic and consular officers, it is stated: "The flag to be used by Her Majesty's consular officers ashore to distinguish their residences is the Union flag."

[172] Order in Council, 7th August, 1869.

There is, however, another official name of this flag given in official instructions which must be noticed.

The Military Regulations (1899) order to be displayed afloat, by generals and other military officers commanding stations, as their distinguishing flags, "the Union, bearing in the centre as a distinguishing mark the Royal Initials, surrounded by a garland on a blue shield and surmounted by a crown." For Commissioners and Consuls-general, "the Union, with the Royal Arms in the centre, on a white shield, surrounded by a green garland."

This same name "Union" is also given in directions respecting this flag when included as a part of a larger flag.

The Admiralty Instructions directing what Ensign is to be worn by all ships of the Royal Navy in commission state that they shall "bear a White Ensign with the Red St. George's cross, and the Union in the upper canton."

The Foreign Office Regulations direct that "consular officers when embarked in boats or other vessels shall use the Blue Ensign with the Royal Arms in the centre of the fly of the flag, that is, in the centre of that between the Union and the end of the flag."

Many other instances could be quoted, but these are typical and sufficient.

Three names are used--the "Union," "Union Flag," and "Union Jack," all describing the same flag.

It is interesting to note the transition of the names. Under Charles I., in 1634, it was described as "the Union Flagge"; under Charles II., in 1663, "His Majesty's Jack, commonly called the Union Jack." The usage of the name Jack had thus early and largely spread, and it is further shown by a letter written by Burchett, the Secretary of the Admiralty, in 1695, regarding the flag carried by the Earl of Pembroke in the expedition against Cadiz, in which he says: "There was some doubt as to whether his Lordship should have borne at the maintop masthead the Royal Standard of England or the Union, or, more properly speaking in maritime phrase, the Jack flag commonly worn by those who have under the Lord High Admiral been appointed Admirals of the Fleet."[173]

[173] Admiral Eardley Wilmot: "Our Flags."

It is not surprising, therefore, that under Queen Anne, in 1707, it is again described as "Our Jack, commonly called the Union Jack."

This name of the flag had, in fact, become so general that it had affectionately passed onward to give its name to the gallant sailors who bore it, as is instanced in nautical ballads:

"There's a sweet little cherub that sits up aloft,
To keep watch for the life of poor Jack."[174]

[174] Dibdin, 1755.

Used thus for centuries by sailors in song and on shore, although the name given in the proclamation of George III., 1801, was the "Union Flagge," the ancient and loving name of Union Jack has always prevailed among its upholders.

In the issue of official instructions there is propriety and, perhaps, necessity for using the different names, but they all contain the dominant name of "_Union_," and describe the same flag in its single form--the two-crossed or, in its succession, three-crossed Jack of united nationality.

There is another and distinctive use of the Union Jack. Surrounded by a white border of one-fifth of its width, it becomes a "Pilot Jack," and in this form becomes the official signal for a pilot, and is so used on all British ships, merchantmen as well as men-of-war, in all parts of the world. This white-bordered Jack is only appropriately to be used for this special signal service.

The restrictions given in the early proclamations as to the flying of the Union Jack at sea, and the official instructions as to its use as a special distinction on shore, particularly for military garrisons and official residences, have given rise to questionings as to the right of its being used by all British private citizens on land. Their authority to use it afloat has been clearly defined, but not so clearly that of their right on shore, although such has been the usage and practice of centuries.

The proclamation of Queen Anne declared the flag which conjoyning the crosses of St. George and St. Andrew, had been approved to be "used in all flags and ensigns both at sea and land," and then proceeded to state restrictions only as to their particular using as insignia at sea, where as signs of authority and signals on ships such restrictions were unquestionably necessary.

No restrictions were placed upon their use on land, and thus all citizens of the United Kingdom were given authority to use on land "Our Jack, commonly called the Union Jack," the loyal usage which had grown up under its predecessors being confirmed. This right was not in any way changed at the time of the creation of the present Union Jack, which, in 1801, succeeded it, and so to the first century of loyal and common usage have been further added two centuries of loyal right.

In more recent times additional interesting evidence and authority have been given, both as to the name of this flag and its use by private citizens. In reply to an enquiry in 1902 by the Vicar of Folkestone, England, as to the propriety of the display of the Royal Standard upon his church at the time of the coronation of His Majesty Edward VII., Lord Knollys, Private Secretary to the King, in reply, informed him that the Standard should not so be used, but "you can always fly the Union Jack."[175] The name and the propriety of the use of the Jack by private citizens in the United Kingdom was graciously confirmed.

[175] Lord Knollys, 4th June, 1902. Appendix B.

As there had been considerable discussion as to what flags were proper to be used on land in Canada, the writer addressed Lord Knollys, quoting the previous letter, and stating the particular attention given to the flying of flags in this and the outer realms of the Empire, and received in reply, that "the Union Jack, being the national flag, may be flown by British subjects, private or official, on land."[176]

[176] Lord Knollys, 29th December, 1907. Appendix B.

The Colonial Secretary of the Imperial Cabinet, in reply to a question in the House of Commons (1908), said that the Union Jack could be flown by every citizen of the Empire, as well as on Government offices and public buildings; that the Union Jack should be regarded as the national flag, and undoubtedly might be hoisted on land by all His Majesty's subjects.

Authority has also been since given by the "Home Office" in England, stating "that the Union Jack is to be regarded as the national flag, and may be used generally by British subjects on land".[177]

[177] Letter Under-Secretary of State, Home Office, Whitehall, June 19, 1908.

The three crosses of the three nations whose successive unions it first typified, have since expanded far beyond the United Kingdom of the parent isles.

The sons of the Kingdoms have in centuries of prowess carried it far afield, and bringing distant continents beneath its realm, have built up the Dominions beyond the seas in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, India, South Africa, and the myriad islands of the oceans, so that it has become the Union Jack of the British Empire.

A British subject, wherever he may be on British soil, may, therefore, always use the Union Jack.

It has already been noted that when flags are to be employed for official purposes it is desirable that definite regulations shall be issued for their use. In Canada we raise the Union Jack on our Parliament and Legislative Buildings, as indicating the presence of Government under the British Constitution; by Parliaments derived from and following the precedents of the original Union Parliaments, and on our law courts, as sign of the administration of British law.

To emphasize and inculcate the world-wide duties that this flag proclaims, the Union Jack is raised over the Public Schools, so that the newcomers to our lands from other lands and other nationalities may know that they and their children have come to enjoy with us allegiance to King and country, the securities of British protection of person and property, and the rights and privileges of British citizenship, which loyal allegiance to it conveys.

Public education in Canada is under the charge of each of the Provincial Governments, and in Manitoba, Ontario, British Columbia and the Maritime Provinces the single Union Jack is the flag which has been instructed to be officially raised daily over the Public Schools.

Whatever flags may be used for other purposes and on other occasions, it is manifest that to be raised over schools this widely-spread national Union Jack is the most fitting; telling the children, as it does, the duties and relations they bear to the other members of their Empire, and leading them to study, not only the history of the continent in which they live, but to go far back into the centuries and learn the growth of the glorious liberties which this flag has brought them, and the unity which its colours proclaim.

The patriotic celebration of "Empire Bay," which first was originated in the schools in Canada,[178] has extended through the schools of the Empire. On this day, as well as on other notable days, appropriate addresses are given, this Union Jack, the national flag, is reverently raised and saluted, and the National Anthem and patriotic songs sung by the scholars. It has been recorded that in the Public Schools in Canada, Australasia, New Zealand and Great Britain over 8,000,000 children united in this celebration in 1908, and it is still fast extending.

[178] Initiated by Mrs. Clementina Fessenden, of Hamilton, Canada, in 1898.

It is an inspiration for ourselves to have it thus brought to mind that our Union flag floats on every sea, and that on one-fifth of the earth's surface it is hailed as their union emblem by four hundred millions of fellow-patriots, in every clime, of many languages, and all religious faiths, each dearly loving their own native land and devoted to its welfare, but united in loyal brotherhood with their fellow, yet far-distant, Britons under One King, One Flag, One Empire.