HM Customs and the Union Flag

[Adam Cheeseman]

Now, I'm a bit of stickler when it comes to the Union Flag being flown, draped, represented etc., correctly, and I wonder if someone could answer the following for me.

Coming back through British customs at Eurostar in Paris I noticed that all the Union flag emblems on the passport booths were upside down. On a recent trip on the cross-channel ferries I noticed that at the equivalent passport booths all the flag emblems were the correct way up.

Has HM Customs in Paris made a gaffe with its flags or is there a reason why flags are displayed upside down.

I can understand why national flags on militaey uniform are displayed back to front, but not on passport control.

Cheers,

Adam

[Stewy]

Can't help I'm afraid, why not email them and see what they say? I wouldn't know which is the right way up anway, how do you tell?

[Adam Cheeseman]

If the flag is the correct way up the upper white stripe in the left hand corner should be thicker than the lower one. If it is thinner, then you have it upside down.

Cheers,

Adam

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by Adam Cheeseman

If the flag is the correct way up the upper white stripe in the left hand corner should be thicker than the lower one. If it is thinner, then you have it upside down.

Cheers,

Adam

Flying the flag upside down is traditionally a distress signal when you are under duress due to enemy action - perhaps the HM customs and excise are trying to tell us something ..... or perhaps they are a bunch of careless halfwits

[Meta menardi]

Originally Posted by eeyore

Flying the flag upside down is traditionally a distress signal when you are under duress due to enemy action - perhaps the HM customs and excise are trying to tell us something ..... or perhaps they are a bunch of careless halfwits

You are right about it being a sign of distress, it has always seemed to me to be rather an odd one, since most people don't know that there is a right way and a wrong way. I suppose it is on the basis of "silly Johnny Foreigner won't notice, but any real Rosbif will"

[welsh.lensman]

The Union Jack is made up of the flags of England, Scotland and Ireland with Wales not represented, perhaps if a little red dragon was placed in the middle everyone would know it was the right way up just a thought.

[Tormentil]

Originally Posted by Meta menardi

....most people don't know that there is a right way and a wrong way.

One learns very quickly after 7 days RoP's, (Restriction of Priviledges).

[Blackbrook Eye]

Originally Posted by welsh.lensman

The Union Jack is made up of the flags of England, Scotland and Ireland with Wales not represented, perhaps if a little red dragon was placed in the middle everyone would know it was the right way up just a thought.

I am with you on this, I would love to see Wales represented on the British flag, but unfortunately most of the Welsh folk that I know would have a dicky fit at the thought of being asociated in any way with the English.

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by Blackbrook Eye

I am with you on this, I would love to see Wales represented on the British flag, but unfortunately most of the Welsh folk that I know would have a dicky fit at the thought of being asociated in any way with the English.

the reason that wales isnt on the union jack is that when the first union flag was created in 1606 wales was already united with (or conquered by depending on your point of view) england. It is recognised as a principality of england by the creation of The Prince of wales and recognised on his coat of arms meaning that it would not be on the royal arms or national flag.

Interestingly none of the original celtic nations that composed what is now wales had a dragon as their embelem anyway - siluria had a Fox, while powys had an eagle - while dyfed, and henis wyren had already been invaded by irish tribes who didnt have national symbols long before the annexation of wales by england.

The dragon was the symbol of dumnonia which comprised modern day devon, dorset, somerset, and parts of wiltshire.

The dragon was adopted as a welsh symbol somewhat later

Leaving all that aside if we included wales on the UJ you could also make a case for including cornwall (kernow) whose flag is a "george" cross in white on a black feild (though original celtic kernow had the national symbol of a hawk)

[ChrisJB]

Originally Posted by eeyore

or perhaps they are a bunch of careless halfwits

I would naturally assume this. It's surprising how often I've seen the Union JACK upside down.
One other thing, why is the Union JACK now commonly called the Union Flag? I suspect another example of irritating P.C-ness.

Regards, Chris

[Adam Cheeseman]

Originally Posted by ChrisJB

I would naturally assume this. It's surprising how often I've seen the Union JACK upside down.
One other thing, why is the Union JACK now commonly called the Union Flag? I suspect another example of irritating P.C-ness.

Regards, Chris

It's always been the Union Flag. It should only be called the Union Jack when flown on a ship, don't know why though..

Cheers,

Adam

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by Adam Cheeseman

It's always been the Union Flag. It should only be called the Union Jack when flown on a ship, don't know why though..

Cheers,

Adam

because originally it would have been flown from a jackstaff lashed to the mast.

[Tormentil]

A "jack" is a small flag flown at the bow of a ship

[ChrisJB]

Originally Posted by Adam Cheeseman

It's always been the Union Flag. It should only be called the Union Jack when flown on a ship, don't know why though..

Cheers,

Adam

Ta Adam. I guess I shall have to blame my childhood school masters for my shocking ignorance.

Regards, Chris