Distinguishing Flags of the British Army (WW2 and later)

Last modified: 2022-10-14 by rob raeside
Keywords: united kingdom | army |
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• Introduction
• Chief of the Imperial General Staff (until 1964), Chief of the General Staff (since 1964)
• Field Marshal, Commander-in-Chief Forces in the Field, Army Group Commander
• Member of the Army Council (until 1964), Military Members of the Army Board (since 1964)
• Senior Staff Officer on the Staff of the Commander-in-Chief
• Director, Territorial Army, Cadets and Home Guard
• General Officer, Commander-in-Chief or Commanding a Command
• Commander of a Corps
• Divisional Commander
• Brigade Commander
• District Commander
• Area and Sub-District Commander
• Line of Communication Area
• Line of Communication Sub-Area

See also:

• United Kingdom
• Ministry of Defence and Army
• Distinguishing Flags of the British Army (WWI)
• Distinguishing Flags of the British Army (Interwar period)

Introduction

The Distinguishing Flags of the British Army in WW2 and later shown below come from Graham Bartram's World Flags Database websiteand from a range of printed publications.
Miles Li, 3 February 2018

Chief of the Imperial General Staff (until 1964), Chief of the General Staff (since 1964)

image by Miles Li, 17 February 2018

FOAN 1958 showed it with the proportions of 1:2, and specified 'car flag 11 1/2 ins. x 5 3/8 ins.'. World Flag Database shows it with the proportions of 3:5.
Miles Li, 17 February 2018

Field Marshal, Commander-in-Chief Forces in the Field, Army Group Commander

image by Miles Li, 3 February 2018

The Union Jack. Same as General Headquarters during the interwar years. FOAN 1958 showed it with the proportions of 1:2, and specified 'car flag 11 1/2 ins. x 5 3/8 ins.' World Flag Database shows it with the proportions of 3:5.
Miles Li, 17 February 2018

Member of the Army Council (until 1964), Military Members of the Army Board (since 1964)

  images by Miles Li, 17 February 2018

FOAN 1958 showed it with the proportions of 1:1, and specified 'car flag 9 ins. x 9 ins.'.
Admiralty Manual of Seamanship 1979 Vol.1 showed it with the proportions of 1:2.
World Flag Database shows it with the proportions of 3:5.
Miles Li, 17 February 2018

Senior Staff Officer on the Staff of the Commander-in-Chief

image by Miles Li, 17 February 2018

Defaced with formation sign.
FOAN 1958 specified 'car flag 9 ins. x 6 ins.'.
World Flag Database shows it with the proportions of 3:5.
Miles Li, 17 February 2018

Director, Territorial Army, Cadets and Home Guard

image by Miles Li, 17 February 2018

FOAN 1958 specified 'car flag 9 ins. x 6 ins.', however its illustration was ambiguous on whether the Royal Crest was depicted in full colours or in black outline only. In any case this flag is now obsolete.
Miles Li, 17 February 2018

General Officer, Commander-in-Chief or Commanding a Command

image by Miles Li, 19 February 2018

Same as Headquarters of an Army during the interwar years.
Defaced with formation sign.
FOAN 1958 specified 'car flag 9 ins. x 6 ins.'
World Flag Database shows it with the proportions of 3:5.
Miles Li, 19 February 2018

Commander of a Corps

image by Miles Li, 19 February 2018

Same as Headquarters of a Corps during the interwar years.
Defaced with formation number or sign.
FOAN 1958 specified 'car flags are size 9 ins. x 6 ins.'.
World Flag Database shows it with the proportions of 3:5.
Miles Li, 19 February 2018

Divisional Commander

image by Miles Li, 19 February 2018

Same as Headquarters of a Division during the interwar years.
Defaced with formation number or sign.
FOAN 1958 specified 'car flags are size 9 ins. x 6 ins.'.
World Flag Database shows it with the proportions of 3:5.
Miles Li, 19 February 2018

Brigade Commander

image by Miles Li, 19 February 2018

Same as Headquarters of a Brigade or Administrative Area during the interwar years.
Defaced with formation number or sign.
FOAN 1958 specified 'car flags are size 9 ins. x 6 ins.'.
World Flag Database shows it with the proportions of 3:5.
Miles Li, 19 February 2018

District Commander

image by Miles Li, 20 February 2018

Defaced with formation number or sign.
FOAN 1958 designated it to be Major General in rank, and specified 'car flags are size 9 ins. x 6 ins.'.
World Flag Database shows it with the proportions of 3:5.
Miles Li, 20 February 2018

Area and Sub-District CommanderCommander

image by Miles Li, 20 February 2018

Defaced with formation number or sign.
FOAN 1958 designated it to be Brigadier in rank, and specified 'car flags are size 9 ins. x 6 ins.'.
World Flag Database shows it with the proportions of 3:5.
Miles Li, 20 February 2018

Line of Communication Area

image by Miles Li, 20 February 2018

Same as Headquarters Line of Communications during the interwar years, but upside-down.
Defaced with formation number or sign.
FOAN 1958 designated it 'Commander of Headquarters Communications Zone in the Field', and specified 'car flags are size 9 ins. x 6 ins.'
Different from its predecessors in the arrangement of colours.
World Flag Database shows it with the proportions of 3:5.
Miles Li, 20 February 2018

Line of Communication Sub-Area

image by Miles Li, 20 February 2018

Defaced with formation number or sign.
FOAN 1958 designated it 'Brigadier in Command of Headquarters Communications or Base Area', and specified 'car flags are size 9 ins. x 6 ins.'
World Flag Database shows it with the proportions of 3:5.
Miles Li, 20 February 2018