Correct Half Mast Etiquette

[Slowboat35]

Just now this is a topical point, and one that is sadly all too often misunderstood and mis-applied.
A flag flown incorrectly at 'Half mast' is not only painful to the eye but disrespectful to the person being recognised, and I'm sure none of us would want that.

British flag protocol is that a flag should be flown no less than two-thirds of the way up the flagpole, with at least the height of the flag between the top of the flag and the top of the pole.
This last part may not apply to very short flagpoles, but flying the flag halfway up a conventionally sized flagpole is definately completely wrong.

 

[VicS]

Just now this is a topical point, and one that is sadly all too often misunderstood and mis-applied.
A flag flown incorrectly at 'Half mast' is not only painful to the eye but disrespectful to the person being recognised, and I'm sure none of us would want that.

British flag protocol is that a flag should be flown no less than two-thirds of the way up the flagpole, with at least the height of the flag between the top of the flag and the top of the pole.
This last part may not apply to very short flagpoles, but flying the flag halfway up a conventionally sized flagpole is definately completely wrong.

The etiquette for hoisting a flag to half-mast is generally not known either. If not already flying it should be hoisted fully , then after brief pause, lowered to the "dipped" position.
When lowering a flag from half mast it should be fully raised and then lowered after a short pause

 

[Slowboat35]

Absolutely correct, but I think the most important bit is where it ends up for days at a time in between!

 

[JumbleDuck]

Just now this is a topical point, and one that is sadly all too often misunderstood and mis-applied.
A flag flown incorrectly at 'Half mast' is not only painful to the eye but disrespectful to the person being recognised, and I'm sure none of us would want that.

"Disrespectful"? In what way, precisely? Just when I thought flag etiquette couldn't get weirder.

 

[pvb]

It seems that most yachts might escape the obligation to do the half-mast display.

 

[lustyd]

"Disrespectful"? In what way, precisely? Just when I thought flag etiquette couldn't get weirder.

Flaggies will always surprise you with how much weirder they can get. Always.

 

[Slowboat35]

"Disrespectful"? In what way, precisely? Just when I thought flag etiquette couldn't get weirder.

Fortunately most people in this country understand good taste, respect and above all, manners.

For shame.

 

[fredrussell]

I honestly couldn’t give a monkey’s if well-intentioned people get there attempt at making a respectful gesture slightly wrong.

 

[oldmanofthehills]

W hen a member of my yacht club died at sea, the club flag was flown half mast and alerted us to the loss of a member. I cant remember and I expect no one cared how high it was. We asked, then greived

I hear an elderly playboy has died at 99. Sad for his family if hardly unexpected, but hardly a much of a matter for any other citizen, and I doubt from what I heard he could care about exact height anyway if you do chose to fly such

 

[JumbleDuck]

Fortunately most people in this country understand good taste, respect and above all, manners.

For shame.

Did you really just write "For shame"? Wow. Purest distilled essence of Daily Mail. I can almost hear the "Harumph".

Go on. explain why a flag a few feet out of position is (a) bad taste (b) disrespectful and (c) bad manners.

 

[JumbleDuck]

I hear an elderly playboy has died at 99. Sad for his family if hardly unexpected, but hardly a much of a matter for any other citizen, and I doubt from what I heard he could care about exact height anyway if you do chose to fly such

He was known to reflect ruefully on his lack of freedom. As a result of GVIR kicking the bucket at a mere 56, Phil and Liz had to give up the twenty years of relative freedom they might reasonably have expected. For him that meant giving up a promising naval career and spending the rest of his life surrounded by the sort of people who think that the height of a half-mast flag matters. Poor sod.

 

[superheat6k]

Some do like to goad or generate an argument don't they, and some really can pick there days to do this.

 

[billyfish]

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[oldmanofthehills]

He was known to reflect ruefully on his lack of freedom. As a result of GVIR kicking the bucket at a mere 56, Phil and Liz had to give up the twenty years of relative freedom they might reasonably have expected. For him that meant giving up a promising naval career and spending the rest of his life surrounded by the sort of people who think that the height of a half-mast flag matters. Poor sod.

He chose his lack of freedom but many of us are less lucky. Most men and womens passings are attended with sadness, and no doubt Buckhouse flags must be rearranged for his departure, but I see little reason to lower the flags of Wessex.

 

[[3889]]

Some do like to goad or generate an argument don't they, and some really can pick there days to do this.

Yep. And for me the day is when moral fascists attempt to bully everyone into groupthink.

 

[oldmanofthehills]

Yep. And for me the day is when moral fascists attempt to bully everyone into groupthink.

Its all right for you, your lot dumped the monarchy in 1776

 

[roblpm]

Did you really just write "For shame"? Wow. Purest distilled essence of Daily Mail. I can almost hear the "Harumph".

Go on. explain why a flag a few feet out of position is (a) bad taste (b) disrespectful and (c) bad manners.

I think you are on dangerous ground here. It's a really depressing aspect of the UK that a lot of people are more concerned with this sort of thing than the plight of the poor, education for all, a decent economy etc. I was talking to someone from South America and she said "you love your traditions". I pointed out that I don't................

 

[John the kiwi]

Fortunately most people in this country understand good taste, respect and above all, manners.

For shame.

Crikey, a vexatious vexillologist at work.

I think Prince Phillip was widely and rightly respected for playing a difficult role so well for so long.
I think he would be (secretly) more gratified at the number of people wishing to pay genuine respects than bothered by exactly how far up the mast the flag was.

 

[Kukri]

It is possible that lack of care for the plight of the poor, education for all, a decent economy etc. and lack of care for the correct way to hoist a flag to half mast may be symptoms of the same thing.

 

[Tanqueray]

To me, flags, ensigns, uniforms (of whatever description) are all of a similar vein. They allow people to demonstrate respect, allegiance, loyalty, whatever ...........
Sometimes that loyalty can be to a bad cause (let's not get all Godwin here) - but more often it is a simple way of showing loyalty to a cause that is important to the beholder - and that is the problem, the importance to the beholder is not often appreciated by those outside.
But should that matter?
Clansmen have particular tartans - they mean little to those outside the clan but may mean everything to those who have a clan history. I respect that fact.
Ask any soldier what the regimental 'colours' mean to him. I've never been a soldier but I can still appreciate the importance.
What does the Silver Fern mean to an All Black player when he grips it during the Hakka? Probably a similar sentiment to just before the Gallipoli landings I'm guessing.
I do not wear a kilt but I respect those who choose to do so *
My military kit (and especially the cap badge) meant a lot to me.
I think that the trousers of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police look a tad silly - but I still respect the importance to the force.
Can we not just show a bit of respect and understanding that these things might not be important to us - but they are most certainly important to those connected to the history of the flag, tartan, fern, whatever.

* No kilt, but we do have a family tartan.