Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-08-07
The History Of the British Flag.

rHoIn the London News
We are all familiar with the white, blue and
red ensigns, and with the Union Jack which oc-
cupies the upper quarter nearest the flagstaff.
The white ensign has the Red Cross of StGeorge
In addition to the Union Jack. Without the
jack this white ensign with red cross repre-
sents our old national dag it existed from the
time of Richard until the death Of Elizabeth.
his red cross flag, the banner of ST. George,
appears TO have been chosen by the soldier king
In honor of the saint who the patron OF
soiolers. 1t remained for more than 400 years
the nag under which the English Warriors
fought on land and on sea. When James vi
Oh scotland succeeded Elizabeth the Scotch nao
wa aasionai nag That also was cross, gu. IL
anu was known as the cross OF ST. Andrew.
The ground of the Scotch flag was blue, and its
cross was white. To mark the union OF the two
tklngdoms under one sovereign the national
banner underwent q change, although Scot
,and still retained its separate parliament
land and England were united. There ap-
peared in IL the obiique white cross OF ST.
Andrew on a blue ground. and the red cross of
gu George on a white margin, worked in the
oiue Held. The king was accustomed to sign
ms name in the French form of James,
Jacques" He was, in fact, the Union Jacques,
or, as we improperly pronounce 1t, Jack. For
iocal purposes the Scotch still continued TO use
the white ST. Andrews cross on the blue field,
ana the English the red cross on the white
neid 1t was stated by royal proclamation In
1906 that "whereas some difference hath arisen
between our subjects of South and North Britain
travelling by seas about the bearing of their
nags; Tor the avoiding OF all such contentious
hereafter, we have, with the advice OF our coun-
Gil. ordered that from heuceforth all our sub
Jects OF this isle and kingdom of Great Britain,
ana The members thereof, shall bear in their
malntop the Red Cross, commonly called ST
Georges cross, and the white cross, commonly
called ST. Andrews cross, Joined together"
land in their toretop our subjects OF South
Britain shall wear the Red Cross only,
as they were wont; and our subjects OIL
North Britain in their foretop the White
Gross only, as they were accustomed.
In 1907, when the Sco,ch aud English
legislatures were united. the distinctive flags
arranged in 1906 became the single ensign for
That made the union and established the ma
legislatures again would not alter the nas.
dfeianQ would take presumably Tor its local en-
sign the Red Cross of ST. Patrick. This Irish
banner ought TO have appeared in the Union
nag OF 1906. but it did not. Ireland had no dis
tlnct recognition in the Union flag until 1901,
When The Irish and British legislatures were
united. Al that date the Union Jack under
went further change, and the red diagonal
cross OF ST. Patrick on white field was intro
Ouced. Since that date the Union Jack has
shown the red cross and white margin, recall.
ing the banner of ST. George; the white diagonal
and blue field of st. Andrew S banner; and the
red diagonal cross of st. Patrick showing over
the white diagonal cross OF the Scotch banner.
The blue ground of the Jack is therefore due TO
Scotland, aud the RED and white crosses and
margins to England and to Ireland.