![]() The history of the United Kingdom's flags is very interesting and can take up a significant study. Here we are only going to talk about the British Blue Ensign. In 1652, Admiral Blake reorganized the Royal Navy into three squadrons: Red, White, and Blue (the original rank order). The rank order was later changed (how it is today) to White, Blue, Red. Up until 1864, the Blue Ensign was flown by the Blue Squadron of the Royal Navy. Each squadron flew a different flag to identify which one they belonged to and each squadron had their own admirals. So, the Admiral of the White outranked an Admiral of the Red. In 1864, it all changed. The White Ensign was to be used only - and by all - Royal Navy vessels. The Blue Ensign was reserved for Royal Navy Auxiliary/Reserve vessels and civil ships. The Red Ensign was to be used by merchant ships. The Blue Ensign was also granted, via a warrant, to a merchant ship in which the master (captain) was a member of the Royal Naval Reserve and a certain percentage (has changed through history) of the crew were also in the reserves. It was a mark of distinction, an honor, as it is today. In the case of the RMS TITANIC, Captain Smith was a commodore in the RNR and all the other deck officers (except 3rd Officer Pitman) were members of the RNR. So, the TITANIC was permitted to fly the British Blue Ensign and this was the flag flying when she left port for the last time. See these sites for more information: British Ensign History, British Ensigns, Blue Ensign, and Blue Ensign Regulations. We are now selling a small (12" x 18") version of this flag in our store.
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