RAF ensign

[Caraway]

I could have worn this ensign by merely joining our local club, which I was encouraged to do regularly. They were more racing than 'messing' so I wasn't tempted.

 

[europe172]

My aforementioned Father joined the RN in 1943 with the sole desire of becoming a pilot. When asked why not join the 'crabs', the reply was, "Have you seen their uniform? Awful". A question of style and looking smart that he had for the following 28 years!

He sounds like a great guy

 

[JNKScot]

Its a shame that those who protest cannot also be correct.

I believe it is a Union flag, or those who claim Union nationality and not exclusively for those who claim to be English, whatever that is.

Being truly pedantic if you were English you would fly the St Georges Cross, I believe.


As far as I am aware one's Nationality is defined, by most of the rest of the world, by one's passport and there is no indication (of which I am aware) within a UK passport defining one as coming from one of the states that make up the Union. I note that those from the north want to remove themselves from the Union and will try to impose a national vote to demonstrate support for the idea - I have to wonder how many of those eligible to vote are 'Scots' - whatever they are. Your recent immigrants I believe will consider themselves 'British' not English, or maybe citizens of the UK - which to me seems more correct that being English. 'English' should have disappeared at the Union of the Crown, or Parliament 300 or 400 years ago.

Being English is like claiming to be a Pict or an Angle - or a bit more recent Norman.

My father was a pilot in Coastal Command and survived being shot down over the North Sea and a prolonged internment on the Baltic coast - he would be ashamed to have though he was fighting for 'England' - he fought for freedom from tyranny, against mass extermination - if you like for Britain (or the UK) and all that the name implies.

Jonathan

The place of your birth on page 4 gives that information.

 

[Neeves]

The place of your birth on page 4 gives that information.

I believe that in some countries you take your nationality from at least one of your parents and location of birth is irrelevant.

But I could be wrong.

Jonathan

 

[KevO]

RAFSA ensign is different to the RAF one (and to the no-longer-RAF yacht club on the Hamble).

Pete

Pretty sure that the RAFYC on the Hamble is still going strong... RAFYC Home - The Royal Air Force Yacht Club

 

[Neeves]

I decided as we were no longer racing that I halted my subscriptions otherwise I too could have exhibited a fancy flag, along with the current one with stars.

Even, some, Australians were accepted with open arms.

Jonathan

 

[JNKScot]

I believe that in some countries you take your nationality from at least one of your parents and location of birth is irrelevant.

But I could be wrong.

Jonathan

When I was working in Baghdad in 1984, one of my colleagues, Swedish national with a Nigerian wife turned up with very small daughter, born in London and the possessor of a British passport.

 

[Quandary]

Pretty sure that the RAFYC on the Hamble is still going strong... RAFYC Home - The Royal Air Force Yacht Club

There is Hallberg Rassy cruising continuously about here called Sir Arthur Wellesley, I think it may be one of theirs.

I have mixed views about the claim that the RAF is English, my late big brother who saw action in Liberators had to accept the name Paddy, later abbreviated to Pat, his old crew mates could not find his funeral because that was the only name they had for him.

 

[grumpy_o_g]

My aforementioned Father joined the RN in 1943 with the sole desire of becoming a pilot. When asked why not join the 'crabs', the reply was, "Have you seen their uniform? Awful". A question of style and looking smart that he had for the following 28 years!

That I would agree with. I don't know who was responsible for the idea of best blues with no belt for NCO's and other ranks but my real ire is saved for cretin that thought Thunderbird jackets were a good idea. I never wore mine once after training - hardly anyone did. In practice it was combats, denims, shirtsleeves or wooly-pully. The flasher Mac got replaced by a secondhand greatcoat for £10 before I even left training.

 

[grumpy_o_g]

Pretty sure that the RAFYC on the Hamble is still going strong... RAFYC Home - The Royal Air Force Yacht Club

I think KevO means that is no longer a club for RAF or ex RAF personnel only. BKYC yachts certainly flew/wore the RAF Ensign and were RAF assets, same as RAFGSA gliders which had an RAF roundel. RAFSA may have changed though - the yachts are no longer RAF assets perhaps.

 

[grumpy_o_g]

Its a shame that those who protest cannot also be correct.

I believe it is a Union flag, or those who claim Union nationality and not exclusively for those who claim to be English, whatever that is.

Being truly pedantic if you were English you would fly the St Georges Cross, I believe.


As far as I am aware one's Nationality is defined, by most of the rest of the world, by one's passport and there is no indication (of which I am aware) within a UK passport defining one as coming from one of the states that make up the Union. I note that those from the north want to remove themselves from the Union and will try to impose a national vote to demonstrate support for the idea - I have to wonder how many of those eligible to vote are 'Scots' - whatever they are. Your recent immigrants I believe will consider themselves 'British' not English, or maybe citizens of the UK - which to me seems more correct that being English. 'English' should have disappeared at the Union of the Crown, or Parliament 300 or 400 years ago.

Being English is like claiming to be a Pict or an Angle - or a bit more recent Norman.

My father was a pilot in Coastal Command and survived being shot down over the North Sea and a prolonged internment on the Baltic coast - he would be ashamed to have though he was fighting for 'England' - he fought for freedom from tyranny, against mass extermination - if you like for Britain (or the UK) and all that the name implies.

Jonathan

I think he was assuming that the guilty party was English, rather than the Union Flag.

 

[Walther]

I think KevO means that is no longer a club for RAF or ex RAF personnel only.

+1. The linkage between the RAF and the RAFYC is now almost entirely historical. A few people believe that’s a bad thing; most don’t much care and are happy that the club is doing well in its current form.

See generally this video: RAF Yacht Club.

 

[prv]

Pretty sure that the RAFYC on the Hamble is still going strong... RAFYC Home - The Royal Air Force Yacht Club

The club‘s still going, but it no longer has any genuine connection to the RAF. A certain retired Air Commodore of my acquaintance investigated joining, but after attending a couple of events became rather uncomplimentary and cancelled his application.

Pete

 

[Goldie]

The club‘s still going, but it no longer has any genuine connection to the RAF. A certain retired Air Commodore of my acquaintance investigated joining, but after attending a couple of events became rather uncomplimentary and cancelled his application.

Pete

I did a tour at a nearby Unit with a number of RAF personnel and approached the RAFYC to see if they were interested in establishing a relationship. Sadly, and with the exception of one individual, they weren’t.

 

[Buck Turgidson]

There are no sea craft entitled to wear one now. Whoever it is flying/wearing an RAF ensign on a yacht needs to be asked to desist.

As for uniform. Flying suit whenever possible. I did wear the thunderbirds Jacket at times but mostly when I was on Tristars as it was standard dress for some reason.

 

[grumpy_o_g]

There are no sea craft entitled to wear one now. Whoever it is flying/wearing an RAF ensign on a yacht needs to be asked to desist...

You're absolutely right. I thought the RAFSA boats used for JSAT (Joint Services Adventure Training) may have been able to wear it but it seems not any more.

 

[Zing]

When I was working in Baghdad in 1984, one of my colleagues, Swedish national with a Nigerian wife turned up with very small daughter, born in London and the possessor of a British passport.

I’m sure they changed the rules on that.

 

[grumpy_o_g]

Up to 1983 you just had to be born in the UK to be a British citizen. The only exception was diplomats - even children of servicemen on overseas posting to the UK got full British citizenship I think. After that at least one of the parents had to be EU.

 

[JNKScot]

Up to 1983 you just had to be born in the UK to be a British citizen. The only exception was diplomats - even children of servicemen on overseas posting to the UK got full British citizenship I think. After that at least one of the parents had to be EU.

Swedish National = EU; believe it or not, at the time, he was a tax exile from Sweden resident in London; working in Baghdad on contract.

 

[JumbleDuck]

err, "wearing" an ensign....

When did you move to Tunbridge Wells?