Need a new Ensign staff

[NormanS]

Which you should not do at sea. It's in harbour (or at anchor) that you do that.

Who's going to know, if It's dark? I can't see any point in wearing / flying flags / ensigns at night, and nor can the RN.

 

[BelleSerene]

Who's going to know, if It's dark? I can't see any point in wearing / flying flags / ensigns at night, and nor can the RN.

Hi Norman - I don't believe that's correct. I'm pretty sure naval ships at sea keep their ensign up 24 hours a day; it's only when alongside or moored that they take them in between sunset and 0800/0900. I can't find a definitive reference online either way although I find references that that's the case with the Royal Aussie Navy which takes its traditions from ours.

Can anyone Naval or ex-naval confirm either way?

Of course, if you don't want to fly the ensign within British waters, our country has a possibly unique tolerance to that and that's fine.

 

[NormanS]

When I said "Nor can the RN", I was, of course referring to the RN sunset ceremony, when ensigns are dropped at sunset, or 2100, whichever is earlier. I believe this practice was instigated by an economically minded Admiral. I have no idea whether our few RN ships wear their flags at night when at sea, but I do not.

I'm showing my age here, but I remember as a small boy, reading an article in a yachting mag, penned by "The Walrus", who complained about the poor adherence to etiquette, shown by some who were tardy in lowering their colours at sunset, and "some cads and bounders, who left their's up all night!"

 

[DanTribe]

The Walrus was, I think, Group Captain Teddy Haylock.
I remember him giving a welcome speech at a Cadet Class nationals when he said " I trust that all competitors will behave with a modicum of decorum".
Some chance, with a few hundred kids competing even if we had known what he meant.

 

[mainsail1]

When at sea RN ships fly the white ensign all day and all night.

 

[Walrus Jr.]

The Walrus was, I think, Group Captain Teddy Haylock.
I remember him giving a welcome speech at a Cadet Class nationals when he said " I trust that all competitors will behave with a modicum of decorum".
Some chance, with a few hundred kids competing even if we had known what he meant.

"The Walrus" you speak of was certainly Group Captain Teddy Haylock! I am his great grandson, my mum has told me a lot about him, just googled him and it's very interesting to read this conversation about him! My mum's very proud of him! His wife is still alive and my mum regularly visits her!

 

[johnwest]

When Samuel Peyps was made secretary of the Navy, he was horrified by the bills submitted by ships captains for bunting. On making enquiries he was told ships wore their ensigns and flags at all times. He decided that all ships should not do this during the hours of darkness. Therefore halving the consumption and cost of the bunting.

j

 

[STATUE]

Well its always the same, you can always get the flag, but staff are so difficult to come by !

After a tussle in the lock at Shotley Marina (grrr - some people really need to proceed with more care) I need a new flagstaff. The original was around 750mm and made of teak. I can find some teak replacements, but they all have a domed top and the old one was just a straight (well, slightly tapered) staff. Much more elegant I feel. Does anyone know where I can get one?

 

[nigelmercier]

"The Walrus" you speak of was certainly Group Captain Teddy Haylock! I am his great grandson, my mum has told me a lot about him, just googled him and it's very interesting to read this conversation about him! My mum's very proud of him! His wife is still alive and my mum regularly visits her!

Welcome to the forum. I have recently been campaigning for some sort of warning to be displayed when posting in an old thread; as you can see from the other replies since, your reply has been ignored. Don't take this personally, it's just that when a "new" thread appears, most people will only read the original and a few replies.

I suggest you repost the quoted text and your reply in a new thread.