What's the strangest place you've seen the Red Ensign?

[Shaun Gander]

So we're on our annual Christmas road trip, usually we go to Monterey area so we're close to the ocean. This year the wife wanted a change and try for a white Christmas so we're headed to Mammouth Lakes in the mountains, hopefully as its a ski resort we'll get snow! We stopped in a small town called Lone Pine on highway 395 in California tonight to break up the drive.

So to the reason for the thread title. It turned out that most of the early westerns and numerous other films were made here I think around 400 so far and there is a film museum here. Well there was a huge Red Ensign hanging on the wall with no explanation. Seemed very unusual for the middle of the desert/mountains.

So I asked the staff and it turns out that it's never seen a ship in its life. Turn out it was a movie prop in IRC the Charge of the Light Brigade.

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SDG

[j.sabourn]

Not personally the red ensign, but most likely other people use the same for a similar purpose. Sailed with a matelot with National front tendencies who used the Union Jack as a bed spread. Looked better anyhow than those bedspreads that believe were job lots , that seemed to be there on British ships all my time at sea. Think they originated in hospitals during the first Crimean war. Probably chosen by Florence Nightingale. Cheers JS

[j.sabourn]

Shaun if you google The Red Ensign of Australia you might be surprised, the same as any Australian may also be.
The Red Ensign which the armed forces in Oz fought under during both world wars . Australians didn’t fight for a flag anyway. The official flag was the Union Jack. The blue Ensign of Australia didn’t come into force until 1954. Up until then the Red Ensign was the de-facto civil flag of Australia. Reading the full account of its past it was not only as people think a marine flag. So according to that the Red Ensign would of been seen on many battlefields of Europe. This will of course upset people’s thinking a bit, but if google is to be believed , then the history of the white and Red ensigns should be read and digested. I can’t transfer the stories from google to here as am too thick. But anyone who can should put them up for all to see and decide amongst themselves am sure would take people’s imagination away from politics for a time at least. I was in Canada when your flag was changed to the maple leaf only . People don’t realize how short a life some of our national emblems have. Cheers JS. PS. Sorry was thinking you were from Canada but see it is the USA. Have to go back a bit further for that one. Cheers JS

[Shaun Gander]

Yep in Southern California or wouldn't be driving for over 6 hrs to try and get a whit Christmas!

Not sure of the origins of the Stars and Strips and it late here and not feeling like playing Google as I usually end up spending too long looking at different results.

There is one star for each state and a strip for each of the original 13 colonies. There seems to be much more respect for the flag here. You don't see it on clothing very often, it's is flown on a lot of homes including mine. It's comidered to be disrespectful to let it touch the ground. When it needs replacing there is a formal way of disposing of it.

SDG

[j.sabourn]

Shaun as an aside to the google report... I sailed for 11 years out here on Australian ships on bare boat charters with foreign owners , we nearly always flew the blue Ensign of Australia’s. National flag. I tried at various times tried to get a Red Ensign but were very thin on the ground. I don’t think there would have been any laws broken on flying either flag. As long as the National Flag is flown. As said the Red Ensign was considered by most to be the unofficial national flag of Australia prior to 1954
The USA is a prime example of all their shipping just flying the national flag which is all that is required. The same as most countries of the world. Have a good trip. Cheers JS

[Captain Kong]

The Royal Navy used to fly the Red, White and Blue ensigns. in Nelsons days. Now just the White.

[j.sabourn]

Don’t think the flag makers will be. Making much profit there Brian. Cheers JS
Brian if you do go on google under the heading Red Ensign of Australia you will see the authentic pictures taken of the Red Ensign on certain battlefields of the fourties. You will also see the same pictures where the Red Ensign has been replaced by the later and official national blue Ensign of the national flag. I can see why the old Australians, some of them at least don’t have too many aversions when the argument arises to change the flag. Past experiences must have shown them it was changed at the whims of others during their lifetime. You wouldn’t think people could be so secretive as to Doctor old photographs to put their message across, but they do obviously. Be careful when you join your next liner and check the port of registry with the flag, have a good trip and put your faith in your chauffeur , if he speaks funny maybe just the plum in his mouth. Cheers good sailing. JS

[Rodney Mills]

Shaun. Is it to early for snow up at Big Bear? I took my boys up there to play in the snow and throw their first snowballs.


Los Angeles, is the only city in the world where if it's timed right you can Ski, Surf, Scuba, have the other that starts with S and ends with X, and get lost in the desert and die from exposure, hike in the hills and get bit by a rattlesnake...it's a wonderful town. And do it all in one day, I think the closest is Vancouver (but no rattlers I believe).


As to the Red Ensign, I fly her every Sept. 3rd, our Memorial and Veterans days below the Stars and Stripes.


Cheers, Rodney

[Ken Trehearne]

You're certainly correct about flag respect in USA Shaun. While in NY in late '40's I got it in the neck when lowering the S&S, our courtesy flag at the time,and letting it drag on the deck. The crane driver working on the nearby hatch stopped amid support from his team, until I had left the scene. A kindly wharfie helped me fold the flag after which I sheepishly walked away. Strange how these embarrassing things stick in the mind.
KenT
R412277

[Des Taff Jenkins]

Hi Shaun.
Down here in Cooma in the deep South of N.S.W. I have a Red Ensign in my room alongside what my wife calls the Flotsam and Jetsam from my time at sea.
Cheers Des

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