A Canadian Family

Vintage Postcard: United We Stand, British Empire Ensigns

This card depicts a series of flags based on the British Red Ensign.

The Australian Ensign is still in use. Interestingly (for me)  it’s blue and something I’ve learned is that it was actually British tradition for civil authorities to use a blue ensign – not red! Canada has a long history of using red ensigns. I believe this postcard shows the earliest version which was used until 1921. The Cape Colony was part of the British Empire until 1910 but is now part of the county of South Africa. India is represented with a blue ensign containing the Star of India at its center. Malta is represented by a blue ensign with what I think might be the Maltese Cross. New Zealand also has a blue ensign and it dates from 1902. The Straits Settlement is now  Malaysia and Singapore. It was a British colony until 1946. The Tasmanian ensign is a bit of a mystery for me because some quick research implies that the blue ensign would have been used by the state and the red would only have been used by ships – yet the postcard shows a blue ensign.

Are there any flag/ensign specialists out there who know more about these ensigns?

If so, please leave a comment in the box below.

Interested in Ensigns – you have to visit:

British Imperial Ensigns – http://imperialflags.blogspot.com/

Here’s a comment from Brisbane, Australia  blogger Clifden (http://clifden-clifden.blogspot.com/)

Thanks for a gorgeous posting. So interesting and well researched. Had a great visit in Hobart, Tasmania on the Derwent River where there is a signal station at Mt Nelson. Approaching ships could be spotted coming up the Derwent to the town of Hobart(Signal Station est.1811) In this little room was the offical British Admiralty Flag Book with all the codes and signals used for sending (flag) messages. The walls were decorated with gorgeous coloured illustrations of the flags. Thanks Evelyn

Related Posts:

The British Red Ensign Flys Over Montreal

Blue Ensigns on Montreal (Canada) ship in the St-Lawrence River

Place Viger At The Turn Of The 20th Century | Montreal In The Time Of Tramways

June 4, 2009 Posted by Evelyn Yvonne Theriault | . | British Empire, flags, postcards, vintage postcard | 23 Comments