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United Kingdom: Flags from the War of 1812

Introduction
Proportions
Cantons
Width of arms and fimbriations
Counter changing
Alignment of diagonals

See also:

Introduction

Photographs of the jacks and ensigns of British ships captured during the War of 1812 can be seen in H.C. Washburn's "Catalogue of the Trophy Flags of the United States Navy" and C.H.J. Snider's "The Glorious Shannon's Old Blue Duster". They show a distinct lack of uniformity and differ in many respects from the official design. In "Nelson's Navy" Brian Lavery wrote, "Flags were made in the royal dockyards or by contract; on occasion the ship's sail maker could put one together when required." This collection of flags all appear to have been made by ships' sail makers. Perhaps ships were issued with a set of flags when commissioned, but had to make their own arrangements when replacements were needed? Flags from ships on the North American Lakes have not been included in the comparison as a possible local shortage of bunting may have influenced their design.

Shown below is a variety flags that display variations from the official design.
David Prothero, 30 March 2009

Proportions

Red Ensign of brig 'Peacock'

image by Martin Grieve, 30 March 2009

A few are 2:1, some are considerably less than 2:1, but most are just slightly less than 2:1. Snider wrote that bunting was nine inches wide, and that the ensign of the frigate 'Macedonian', which was 16'4" x 9'6", was made from thirteen strips of bunting. Thus slightly less that one quarter of an inch was 'lost' from each strip in sewing the bunting together. If the flags had been made to the 18th century formula of eighteen inches of length for each strip of bunting they would have been slightly longer than 2:1.
David Prothero, 30 March 2009

Cantons

Red Ensign of schooner 'Highflyer'

image by Martin Grieve, 30 March 2009

Most cantons are one quarter of the ensign, but three are too long, or too short, in one dimension or the other.
David Prothero, 30 March 2009

Width of arms and fimbriations

Canton from incomplete Red Ensign of schooner 'St.Lawrence'

image by Martin Grieve, 30 March 2009

Four flags are fairly accurate, but the rest are too wide or too narrow in one respect or another.
David Prothero, 30 March 2009

Counter changing

White Ensign of brig 'Penguin'

image by Martin Grieve, 30 March 2009

Considering the general lack of accuracy, the counter changing is better than might be expected. Eleven flags are fairly good and only five flags have diagonals that are either symmetrical, upside-down (above), or one half upside-down.
David Prothero, 30 March 2009

Alignment of the diagonals

Red Ensign of brig 'Frolic'

image by Martin Grieve, 31 March 2009

White Ensign of frigate 'Cyanne'

image by Martin Grieve, 31 March 2009

Union Jack of frigate 'Cyanne'

image by Martin Grieve, 31 March 2009

This is the most consistent error. Less than half the flags have diagonals that run from the corner of the flag or canton to the angle between the arms of the St. George's cross. On the majority the diagonals are off-set, and run from the hoist/fly edge to the vertical arm above or below the angle of the cross. All the errors are the same. None run from the horizontal edge to the horizontal arm.
David Prothero, 31 March 2009

Command flag of Lord Howe, 1794

image by Martin Grieve, 31 March 2009

It seems almost to have been an accepted variation. The command flag of Lord Howe, flown on 'Queen Charlotte' at the Battle of the First of June, 1794, is illustrated in William Crampton's "Flag" with the comment that badly aligned diagonals were a common mistake in flag making. Pictures almost invariably depict jacks and ensigns with diagonals correctly aligned, but a water-colour "Entrance of Port St.George, Lissa" by Lieutenant W.I. Pocock, National Maritime Museum ref PAF0041, has a Union Jack with off-set diagonals flying from a flag pole on land. See photograph.
David Prothero, 31 March 2009