New Zealand Flag Institute

GLOSSARY

 

 

 

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See BATTLE ENSIGN, WAR ENSIGN, and WAR FLAG.

 

BATTLE STREAMER -

A streamer attached to the colours or flag of a military unit, naming its battle honours (i.e. battles or campaigns in which the unit served with distinction).

 

BEND ON -

To attach a flag to a halyard.

 

BICOLOUR-

A flag with a field composed of two colours, usually in equal fields. Bicolours are generally divided horizontally (such as Russia) or vertically (such as Italy or France). Bicolour flags may also be divided diagonally, though this is rare (see Bhutan). The colours are described from top to bottom (e.g., blue-white-green, for Hungary).

 

BLACK -

See Sable.

 

BLUE ENSIGN -

A Blue ENSIGN of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Originally the flag of an Admiral of the Blue. Until the 1860’s Royal Naval flag officers were on one of three lists: blue, white, and red (in that order of seniority, red being the most senior). Naval vessels flew the ensign associated with the admiral under whose command they sailed. In 1864 it was decided to end this confusing arrangement. Henceforth the White Ensign was reserved to the Royal Navy; the Blue Ensign undefaced for the Royal Naval Reserve, and defaced with the appropriate departmental or territorial badge to government and Colonial service; and the Red Ensign to the merchant navy. Accordingly the Colonial Naval Defence Act of 1865 required ships operated by colonial governments to fly the Blue Ensign defaced with