FLYING OF FLAGS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 9, 19 September 1944, Page 4

FLYING OF FLAGS

THE UNION JACK

POINTS APT TO BE FORGOTTEN

With the occasions warranting the llying of flags becoming more numerous as. the tide of battle in the European theatre rushes, onwards to its inevitable, close it is necessary that the public should know something of the history and background of the Hags they are called upon more and more to display in order that they will not unwittingly commit blunders- and breaches of tradition. The Union Jack is naturally the flag which is displayed the most prominently. At the same however it provides perhaps more pitfalls for the inexperienced than any other national flag. Traditional Points The following are the main points concerning the Union Jack which should'be borne in mind: — TlTe broad white of St. Andrew's Gross should be uppermost next the staff. If reversed it is a sign of distress., Never hist the flag before sunrise and always lower it at snnset; this should be done by hand. Never allow the flag at anv time to trail or fall on the ground. When hoisting the Hag to halfmast it should firsit be run up "the full height of the staff, then lowered to half-mast. When lowering it again it should be run up the full height of the staff 4 then lowered. When showing respect to a foreign nation on any special occasion, always display the Union. Jack with the flaf of the other nation but never place the one over the other on the same rope or halyard, This would be an act of discourtesy. Fly from separate staffs.

When troops, are marching past and are carrying their colours uncased and flying to the all male British subjects should raise their hats.

If flags other than the Union Jack are carried by any marching organisations the, Union Jack should be placed on the marching right of all others or in front. /

When displaying flags in the body of a church the Union Jack is placed on a staff to the right of the congregation. If in the chancel or on the platform at the clergyman's right as he faces the congregation.

The flag should never be used as a covering for a table lounge f balcony railing or in any position where anything can be. placed upon it. The one exception is an altai covering with only the, Bible placed upon it. When using the flag for decorative purposes other than on asstaf f it should be displayed as though flying from left to right. Red, white and blue bunting ol cloth should be used for draping rather than the. flag. However the flag may be used to form a central feature Tfy but should not. be placed lower than a person seated. In street decoration when the Union Jack and other flags are display ed together on a line stretched from one building to the Union Jack should fly to the north on streets running east and west and to the east on streets running north land south. Never use the flag as part of a costume. Origin of Union Jack The origin of the Union Jack dates far back into history. In 1194 when Richard I. came back from the Crusades he introduced the cross of St. George as the battle flag of England, the red cross on a white field. In 1603 James; VI. of Scotland bef came James I. of England and three years later the, Scottish flag of St. Andrew ? a blue field with a white diagonal cross was combined with the cross of St. George. This formed the Union Jack of the two nations and it was. under that flag the Hudson and Cook sailed over the, uncharted seas and made their great discoveries and the foundations of the British Empire, were laid in the east and in the west.

The Act of Union with Ireland was passed in the reign of George 111. The cross of. St. Patrick, a diagonal red cross on a white was added to the Union Jack and this new flag of the United Kingdom was flown for the first time on January 1 1801. The British flag has always stood for international honour, for national liberty } for individual freedom for fellowship of men within the Empire for freedom of worship, for maintenance of law and order under democratic and for a consideration under which every man and woman has a voice. We, value all for which our flag stands yet. sometimes through lack of knowledge do not give it the courtesies which have become traditional.