St Georges Flag

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Freeman30

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Many years ago when I was new to Thames boating I flew both the Welsh flag (for SWMBO) and St Georges flag. I was told by a lock keeper that I could not proceed without removing the St Georges flag as it prohibited (could only be flown by an Admiral).

I now see many boats flying the St Georges flag - has the rules changed or what.

:confused:
 
Its a shame these traditions have been forgotton but I guess the chances of being mistaken for an Admiral are pretty low and even if you were by some bearded jobsworth the confusion caused is hardly likely to be life and death:)
 
I like all the rules , it's interesting , and is a nice bit of history / tradition , but in the modern world , how do you think a speedboat full of beered up yobbos would react if i told them they they should remove their St Georges flag immediately ?

Or even a normal person flying one ( it does happen ) , i imagine they would be on the phone to the office before they had even left the lock telling the bosses what an awkward lock-keeper i had been.
 
I like tradition too - in fact, English traditions are.. er.. well, very English! And when all is said and done, we 'Englishmen' (and women) owe much to our rich national heritage, largely built on our great seafaring history and naval achievements. Hurrah, I say! (though I might be a bit biased ;) )

I must admit though, the thought of a lock keeper, or anyone, trying to tell a group of beered-up yobs in pirate hats and one-eye patches to lower their St George's flag... well, the bravery of past naval exploits now escapes me!

Now, shall we also mention that it is illegal to fly the Union Flag too, anywhere on a boat or ship, and especially not from the Jack staff (or pulpit) - so where does this leave us with Union flag bunting? 'Dressed overall', who could possibly object to such a colourful and patriotic display?

Maybe 'education' and 'marketing' is what is called for ;) ....
 
jecuk said:
Dressed overall has nothing to do with union flag bunting...
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LOL! No, it hasn't. But then how many boats on the Thames have a full set of signal flags (versus those with a 'Henley bunting' box)? And I for one wouldn't have a clue what mischief I might be making with a hap-hazard signal arrangement. And bunting is so much cheaper too! :)
 
Nothing to stop you flying a defaced George, or county flag, or whatever.

But please, please don't wear, or fly a George at any time that the little Ships are cruising - for example during next week's TTBR (as a mark of respect).

For some strange reason, I equate flying A George with footbal hooligans and the like....

(Sorry)
 
Is it really in the EA's powers to tell you what flags you can and can't fly?

I thought that the Skull and Cross Bones was illegal but nobody ever tells people to take em down!

Chris
 
Skull and Cross Bones

CJL said:
I thought that the Skull and Cross Bones was illegal but nobody ever tells people to take em down!

Chris
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......the flag was also used by several British submarines during both world wars. If it's good enough for them.....:D
 
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teddington_lock said:
Not from the ensign mast ....
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Ah, but then you'd be wearing it.

Agree wherever flown it's in bad taste and probably disrespectful. Even ADLS members wear a Red and fly their defaced George from the flag mast (? name) up front.

(T_L - not disagreeing with you).
In any event there's no effective penalty for wearing an incorrect flag as B1 pointed out.
 
TrueBlue said:
Ah, but then you'd be wearing it.

Agree wherever flown it's in bad taste and probably disrespectful. Even ADLS members wear a Red and fly their defaced George from the flag mast.
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Members of the ADLS fly a red ensign and a defaced cross of St George (house flag) from the masthead. They can also fly it from the jack staff if they don't have a mast - as I do on Thames with the mast down. When in company they can fly the undefaced cross of St George from the jackstaff so long as they have a house flag up.
 
Lazy Days said:
What's a defaced George? Is it this?:
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HaHa - good try!

I am at the limit of my vexilological knowledge (hence my poor descriptions), but basically you take an existing whole flag and add your defacement to it.
For example:-

the Guernsey flag

Pedantically I suppose the White Ensign could have been a defaced St. George until it became a flag in its own right.

Oh dear, I've spoilt your joke.....
 
I feel that it is important to respect the traditions or etiquette associated with flags. After all, it is only the tradition associated with a flag's design that distinguishes it form any other piece of coloured cloth.

If you do not care about the tradition, why fly a traditional design?
 
simplification

When i started this hobby i found the flag rules interesting and loved all the traditions around them. I have a nice big shiny book here with all the details right here..However, having read 10 years of post from various members of the forum all claiming expertness and all contradicting each other, I can only say it has seriously taken the fun out of it.. really...Its got the to the point that i cant be bothered to even fly the red ensign, after having had some fool come up to the boat and threaten to take it away because it was still there after sunset...

Confession.. last weekend I went up and down the tidal Thames brazely not flying any flag at all...nobody died. come on ...line up
 
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