Erection of Flagpole

Flagpoles are not always available at campsites, so it is necessary for instructors and cadets to improvise one from the available material at the campsite if necessary. Besides, the flagpole is yet another item in Campcraft Competitions that is held by the NPCC HQ once every 2 years.

Parts of a flagpole / flag staff

  1. 2 x long poles (with flaps at both ends and walls on both sides)
  2. 3 x pegs
  3. 3 x manila hemp / nylon ropes (between 1/4 - 1/2 inch in diameter. Equal length)
  4. Twine
  5. 1 x pulley (optional)

Erection Procedure

Use round lashings to lash the 2 long poles together. The thicker pole will be the bottom of the flag staff. The length of the overlapping portion should be least 1/3 the length of the bottom pole.

  1. Use clove hitches to secure the 3 manila hemp / nylon ropes to the flag staff, between the 2 lashings. These will form the guylines of the flagpole. The clove hitches should be adjusted such that the working end is about 120 degrees to one another, leaving no gaps between each hitch.
  2. If there is a pulley, use the twine to whip it to the top of the flag staff. If there is no pulley, a loop can be improvised from the manharness knot. The free ends of the manharness knot are then whipped tightly to the top of the flag staff (refer to diagram).
  3. Use a long piece of twine as a flag line, running it through the pulley loop.
  4. Raise the flag staff with one person anchoring the base.
  5. Hammer in the 3 pegs into position. They should be 6 to 8 footsteps away from the base and at an angle of 120 degrees to one another.
  6. Adjust the flag staff until it is vertical then secure the 3 guylines to their pegs simultaneously using the guyline hitches.

Securing a flag to the flagpole

  1. A flag has 2 loose ends used for securing it to a flag line. The loop end usually represents the top of the flag.
  2. Secure one end of the flag line to the loop using a sheet bend.
  3. Secure the other end of the flag line using a fisherman's knot (for ropes of equal thickness) or a sheet bend (for ropes of different thickness).
  4. Pull one end of the flag line slightly to check if the flag will be raised in the correct way.

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