The Union Jack

"The First Union Jack" by George William Joy The British flag has evolved as the different countries that now make up to United Kingdom came under the rule of England. In the 16th century the flag was known as the British flag or the flag of Britain and included the red cross of St George (England) and the blue saltire of St Andrew (Scotland). The Union Jack is a transnational flag full of historical significance. It represents the union of different countries and the growth of a family of nations whose influence extends far beyond the British Isles. This far-reaching influence is still seen today in the incorporation of the Union Jack in other national flags such as that of Australia. The British flag is called the "Union Jack", an expression that needs to be explained. The Union Jack is a fine expression of unity as well as diversity. The British flag incorporates the national symbols of three distinct countries, England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. In fact its name "Union Jack" emphasises the very nature of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland as a union of nations. The flag is also known by another name, this too, emphasising the idea of union: the "Union flag", perhaps a less common term but a little more precise. The countries comprising the British Isles are not inward-looking or isolated states with an insular mentality; together they constitute a powerful union that has spanned centuries. Recent devolution that gave Scotland its own Parliament and Wales its own Assembly has also emphasised the importance of individual national identities within the union without affecting the essential unity of Great Britain. On the contrary, it has strengthened it. Recognition of, and respect for national identities are an essential ingredients for effective union. The Union Jack symbolises all this: respect for individuality within a closely knit community. The name ‘Union’ first appeared in 1625. There are various theories as to how it became known as the ‘Union Jack’. The most plausible one is that when a small flag was mounted on the front of a warship (and a selected number of other ships) it was called ‘the Jack’. Sometime around 1674 the British flag became formally known as the ‘Union Jack’ when mounted on a warship and the ship was not in harbour. At the same time the British flag was referred to as the ‘Union flag’ on land. This rule was relaxed by the early nineteen century when the sailing term could be used when referring to the national flag everywhere. The Union Jack was amended in 1801 to incorporate the cross of St. Patrick (Ireland). And if you’re wondering why the Welsh flag was never incorporated into the Union Jack, it is because it was already a principality of England by 1801.

The only surviving Union Jack from the Battle of Trafalgar sold on October, 21st, 2009, for a staggering world record of £384,000 - nearly 40 times its estimate. The huge flag, that is littered with holes from shot damage and still has a whiff of gunpowder, flew from the jackstaff of HMS Spartiate at the historic battle 204 years ago. After the victory over Napoleon's French army, the crew lowered the flag and presented it to Lieutenant James Clephan for his outstanding performance. The current version of the Union Jack is the combination of three different flags.These flags have roots in the countries that comprise the United Kingdom. Here’s how it breaks down. England contributed St. George’s Cross to the Union Jack. This flag—a red cross on a white background—honors Saint George, England’s patron saint. However, St. George wasn’t the first to be associated with it. It was originally the flag of the Genoa republic, then it was adopted by crusaders, then England. The first official English use occurred in the thirteenth century, when English soldiers wore it for identification. Eventually, St. George became the patron saint of England and the red cross became more than just a patch that identified England’s military. It became the flag of England, and a core component of the Union Jack. Here's what it looks like:

Scotland also contributed a patron-saint flag to the Union Jack. Their national flag, Saint Andrew’s Cross, was first adopted in the fifteenth century. It honors their patron saint, Saint Andrew. As the legend goes, St. Andrew was crucified on an X-shaped cross. Over time, iconography developed to show the apostle on the cross, to commemorate his martyrdom. This includes the flag—which also goes by “The Saltire.” Like the English flag, Saint Andrew’s Cross was first used by Scotland to identify their soldiers on the battlefield. Here’s the flag:

The year 1603 saw the Union of the Crowns, the event that brought Scotland and England together. When this went down, a combined British flag was created. This flag—the flag of Great Britain—is the predecessor to the modern Union Jack. This is what it looked like:

The third component of the Union Jack is owed to Ireland. Their contribution, the Cross of Saint Patrick, is also a patron-saint flag. While the flag’s origins are unclear, its association with Saint Patrick dates back to the 1780s.

It wasn’t until 1801 that Great Britain and Ireland were united. This resulted in a change to the flag of Great Britain: the cross of Saint Patrick was added to the existing flag of Great Britain, and the Union Jack was created. But what about Wales? The United Kingdom has four countries, but only three are represented on the Union Jack.

St. Davis's Cross, the alternative flag of Wales. The Welsh Flag has just three colours. These are red, white and green. Each of these colours holds a special significance.White represents peace and honesty.Green represents hope, joy, love and in some cultures has a religious meaning.Red represents hardiness, valour, strength and bravery.I guess it is very fitting that the dragon is coloured red. Dragons may be mythical creatures but they easily represent these traits In Wales you may see two flags flying including the yellow St Davids Cross and the red dragon on a green background.

Cardiff Castle Keep It’s not that Wales isn’t a country; both Wales and the United Kingdom maintain Wales’ status as an independent nation. However, when the first flag of Great Britain was developed, Wales was already part of England. Because of this, it has no special representation in the Union Jack. Both the Union Jack and its individual components are steeped in rich history. And finally: Make sure you hang the flag up the right way. An upside-down Union Flag is used as a sign of distress. Even worse, it can be seen as an offensive gesture! Tip: Always make sure that the red line in the top-left corner is at the bottom of the white cross. References: www.know-britain.com www.greatbritishmag.co.uk