Semaphore is a form of communication at a distance where signals are created by holding two flags in different positions for each letter of the alphabet. One of the oldest systems of its kind, it was used to send signals by the ancient Greeks and Romans, who added the refinement of flaming torches for sending signals at night.

Semaphore flags are usually red and yellow if used to send signals at sea and blue and white if used on land. Because there are only so many flag positions possible, some signals serve double duty as both letters and numbers with a special signal to indicate that "numerals follow," which is sent first. To revert to letters again, the signal "J" is sent first.

A			B			C			D
E			F			G			H
I			J			K			L
M			N			O			P
Q			R			S			T
U			V			W			X
Y			Z			0			1
2			3			4			5
6			7			8			9
Letters Follow			Cancel			Error			Numbers Follow

The material on this page originally comes from Guiding UK [http://guidinguk.freeservers.com/semaphore.html]. Please visit this wonderful website and check out other great offerings.

For a really cool website where you may practice learning semaphore online, see Navy League Learning Pages [http://www3.sympatico.ca/lar.richardson/nlindex.htm]