This site contains information on the order of flags used when Royal Navy ships "Dressed Overall" on ceremonial occasions between 1889 and 2006. It is meant to show the results of my research into the subject as an interested amateur and should not be regarded as an"official" study.

There appear to be very few official files in existence. From 1898 to 1913 the Official Dress Diagrams were printed in the Fleet Signal Book. Sometime after WW1 they transferred to the Admiralty Reference Book OU Series then, about 1943, to the BR Series. I have not been able to locate any of the OU or BR series publications nor their diagrams.( They may be held in the Nat.Archives in Kew, UK.)

I have relied mostly on over 200 photos that show part or most of the patterns. Where possible I have compared them with the Official Diagrams of the pattern that I have and RN Flag Charts of the various periods. These patterns were also used by the RAN, RCN, and RNZN.

It should be pointed out that even though Official Patterns existed, some ships, particularly smaller craft, still made up their own patterns.

I would like to thank Miles McLaughlin for supplying so many photos from his collection. John Perryman of the R.A.N.Historical Section for his encouragement and locating numerous photos and old Signal Cards. Tony Lovell of the "Dreadnought Project" for supplying most of the the Admiralty Dressing Line Diagrams. The numerous people who kindly gave their time in what sometimes, for them, was a frustrating and fruitless search for information.

DRESSING SHIP

This means decorating a ship with flags from stem to stern. Usually these flags are permanently attached to lines called "Dressing Lines". Ships dress in the morning at "Colours" and undress again at sunset.

Ships underway do not dress overall. Those underway should dress with masthead ensigns only until clearing port.

When any dressing date falls on a Sunday the ships will dress overall but the salute will defer until the following day when ships will dress with masthead flags only.

Ships may also dress by order of the Senior Officer present when in the presence of a Royal or Imperial Standard or visits by Royalty or Imperial persons.
( Signalman's Handbook 1949)

NAMES OF LINES

FORE - DOWN: Runs from Bow to Foremast
FORE - MAIN: Runs from Foremast to Mainmast
MAIN - DOWN: Runs from Mainmast to Stern

THE PATTERNS

Official Patterns commenced in 1889 and the order of flags for each pattern was set out in Admiralty publications issued to the ships.

There were four different time frames:

1889 to 1898 (Approx)
1899 to 1918 (Approx)
1919 (Approx )to 31st Dec 1948
1st Jan 1949 to Today

HELP!

Obviously there are gaps in the information I have presented on this site. If anyone has any photos, diagrams, or other information that they could make available to add to the site I would be very grateful. I will return any photos etc. if requested.

Cheers
Bruce Constable
Australia
June 2006
Email: hmasperth1@yahoo.com.au