The Red Ensign

 

           Just having a little practice at embroidering the Union Jack ( It's a tricky flag to do ! )

So in 1889 there was an Act Of Parliament which states that all merchant ships now had to fly the Red Ensign in British Waters . 

🌿⚓The Red Ensign is now solely the ensign of ships of the British Merchant Navy and of all civilian vessels that have not been granted a special ensign. The British Merchant Navy connotes British merchant ships and their crews, transporting cargo and people during time of peace and war. Interestingly, the Red Ensign was the first flag to be recognized officially as the national flag of England. It was referred to as "a national flag" in an Act of Parliament in 1854. The Red Ensign is now officially the national flag of the UK when afloat.

Then in 1889, an Act of Parliament was passed making it compulsory for British ships to fly the Red Ensign on certain occasions. This was fiercely opposed by the owners of coastal shipping, on the grounds that there was no need for a British ship to fly a flag in British waters. The Red Ensign is the only flag that has even been the subject of legislation.
Text from: Historical Flags of Our Ancestors
Pete Loeser  ⚓🌿

We think that Great Grandfather would have been one of those who would not have been happy about it , because before that it was only ships of war or battleships that would have flown this flag .

Grumpy old Cornish sea Captain ! 

So while I was embroidering the old schooner , I had the a spooky feeling that I should not to do a flag . As if he was looking over my shoulder !

 There is just one old black and white photo of The Flower of the Fal moored up....not sure where ...she has a flag right up on the top...we can't make out what it is , but it does not look like the Red Ensign , nor the Union Jack . 

No idea what that flag is , but my husband says it was always his grandfather that would climb up there , he was the lithe one .

The boys had to grow up fast back then , working on the schooner .Play time was climbing up onto the Cutty Sark which was in Falmouth harbour back then . 

 They'd play "climbing the greasy pole" which would involve scrambling along the bowsprit , hanging upside down and dropping into the water below !

Anyway , I'm embroidering the Red Ensign , I'll make it into a pin cushion and Great Grandfather will like that ! 

                                              🌿⚓🌿