| OFFICIAL
DIAGRAM
|
|
The Official diagram at the top depicts the battleship HMS Neptune and is from the Admiralty Fleet Signal Book 1913. I have found no photographic evidence that this pattern was ever worn as illustrated. The lower 1913 diagram illustrates changes in 1919 and 1922
|
 |
|
Dressing
Lines used by some warships between 1919 and 1948 |
 |
|
My diagram depicts HMS Duke of York as she appeared at the Review of the Fleet on the Clyde, Scotland, by King George VI in July 1947. The flags were identified by the use of numerous photos taken at this event. She is also flying the Royal Standard, Union Flag, and Lord High Admiral flags from the mainmast. |
COMMENTS
Although the Official Diagram pattern above is from the 1913 Flag Signal Book, photographs show that only the 1908 pattern was being worn up to the start of World War 1. I have found no evidence that the 1913 pattern was changed during WW1. The first appearance of the 1913-1948 pattern I could find is on an old Movietone newsreel of the Victory Naval Review held at Southend on 21th - 22nd July 1919.
Fore-Down
Line.
The order appears to be the same on all ships up to the Red and Yellow
Deployment Pennant (31). On ships that used longer lines, the order above
the Deployment Pennant appears to have been whatever flags the individual
ship chose to use.
(Unfortunately, because I cannot find a copy of the Official Flag pattern after 1913, I cannot tell when more flags were added to the official pattern at a later date, or whether there was a list of flags included on later diagrams setting out the flags to be used when the lines needed to be extended.)
( The "1949-Today" Diagram sets out the flags to be used if extra flags need to be added.)
Changes to
the pattern.
There were numerous changes and additions during the life of this pattern.
1918 |
 |
The new GREEN and RED Flags appeared on the 1918 Flag Card . The names were later changed to STARBOARD and PORT Flags. |
1918 |
 |
The new Flag "D", yellow with a vertical red centre stripe, became the fourth flag from the stern.The old "D" flag now became the "Screen Flag". |
1921 |
|
Pennant Y was worn as early as 1921 at the stern end of the Fore to Main line. Although in the 1913 Diagram Flag A is the last flag on this line, no photos show that this occured in actual practice.
PREPARATIVE Flag replaced the RED BURGEE as the flag nearest the stern |
1930 1937 |
Various additions and changes occured during this period. These will be added as soon as the dates can be verified. |
THE LAST DAY OF USE FOR THIS PATTERN WAS 31ST DECEMBER 1948
 |
