Talk:Union Flag

Rose was wrong!
Rose was wrong when she chastised Eddie for getting the name of the flag 'wrong'.

It is a myth that the flag is only known as the Union Jack when flown at sea. This myth has to do with the jackstaff on ships. However, the British flag was known as the Union Jack many decades before the 'invention' of the jackstaff.

On top of that, Rose refers to the Union Jack in at least one other episode.

I will add this info more eloquently to the article later, unless somebody else does it first.


 * Make sure you put it in a "Behind the scenes" section if you use non-DWU content.-- 11:44, October 5, 2014 (UTC)

Rose was wrong about when the name "Union Jack" is appropriate. A jack is a small flag (small compared with the ensign) that's normally worn (not "flown") by a ship in harbour. Royal Naval regulations state that the jack is run up when the first line is ashore. It's worn at sea only when the ship is "dressed overall" -- displaying a very large number of flags on a line running from the stem, across the masthead(s) to the stern -- on ceremonial occasions.

The jack does (as 24.88.64.22 says) pre-date the jackstaff. It was originally worn on the bowsprit & the jackstaff was invented to carry the jack when naval ships no longer needed a bowsprit, as a result of the change from sail to steam. The jackstaff is named from the flag, not vice versa.

The name "jack" for that type of flag is supposed to be derived from Jaques, which is how James VI (of Scotland) & I (of England) signed his name on the order authorising the flag's use. (Note: I can't attest that this really is the origin of the term.)

Rose was, however, right when she told Eddie what he was putting up should be called the "Union Flag".

If anyone really wants to delve into the technicalities of the subject & to hunt down authoritative references, I wish them luck! :) --89.243.199.173talk to me 22:48, June 18, 2017 (UTC)

P.S. Just to complicate matters, a Union Flag worn at the mainmast indicates that the ship is the flagship of an Admiral of the Fleet (equivalent to US 5-star rank). --89.243.199.173talk to me 22:57, June 18, 2017 (UTC)