THE UNION JACK

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 5, 19 January 1942, Page 3

THE UNION JACK

WHY IS IT SO NAMED?

A "Jack" was a kinil of leather coat that sailors used to carry on board ship stamped with the red cross of St. George. The '"Union stands for the union of the three countries which make up the British Isles. The Union Jack is made up of tlie three Hags —the L'nglish (lag of St. George,- the Scottish ilag o! St. Andrew, and the Irish ilag of St. Patrick.

St. (iconic lived about ;*UU A.D.; he was a soldier and isave up his life rallier than deny his faith at Lhe bidding of a Iloman Emperor. Edward' lil adopted his name as a war-cry for England, and the red cross of St. George on the white ground became the English flag. St. Andrew was one of the Twelve Apostles and he was crucified on a ci'oss shaped like the. lettei X.

Some relics of St. Andrew Avere supposed to have liccn carried to Scotland, and the blue cross of St. Andrew on a white ground became the national flag of Scotland.

St. Patrick was carried to Ireland as a slave at the beginning of the fifth century. He founded many schools and monasteries and died there after living to a great age. Many centuries afterwards, the cross of St. Patrick became the national flag cf Ireland.