The Spectator

Should ‘Union Jack’ just be used at sea?

Flagging interest; green fees; what you own of the nation

issue 19 October 2013

Union dispute

Pedants suffered a blow as the chief vexillologist of the Flag Institute declared that the Union Jack and Union Flag are interchangeable terms, the latter being just as correct on land as it is at sea. Here are both sides of the argument:

evidence for ‘union jack’
being correct only at sea

— A ‘jack’ is an old term for the bow flag of a vessel, and was in use before the Union Jack came into being.

— A proclamation by King Charles I in 1634 referred only to the ‘Union Flag’.

— The royal proclamation on 1801 which added the cross of St Patrick also used only the term ‘Union Flag’.

evidence for ‘union jack’
being correct on land and at sea

— An Admiralty circular of 1902 ruled that Union Flag and Union Jack were interchangeable terms, at sea or on land.

Comments

Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months

Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.

Already a subscriber? Log in