White ensign on a "ordinary" yacht

[Frank Holden]

Another bit.
The blue ensign as flown by British Merchant Navy ships was flown by ships upon which the master and a certain number of officers were members of the RNR ( Royal Naval Reserve). Most commonly seen on BI and P&O ships.

'The gentlemen of the P&O
The officers of the BI
And the men of the Merchant Navy'

Being a member of the RNR meant that - in time of war - one could avoid the rigours of North Atlantic convoy duty and get a nice comfy RN billet in Mombasa or similar - sitting under a palm tree drinking G&Ts.

 

[MADRIGAL]

Post #136 was confusing for me at 1st, eh!
View attachment 143912
I hope that I'm right???

Canadian indeed, but the flag shown in post 136 is actually the flag of the Canadian Province of Nova Scotia, where pride in its Scottish roots runs deep. No wonder you were confused, as it is the obverse of the Scottish saltire superimposed with the shield of the royal arms of Scotland.