Webmaster: Desmond
2009 © all rights reserved
North Devon Remembers
Those who died in the Service of their Country
The Union Jack or Flag, is the national flag of the United Kingdom and is so called because it embodies the emblems of the three countries united under one Sovereign - the Kingdoms of England and Wales, of Scotland and of Ireland.
The term Union Jack possibly dates from Queen Anne’s time (reign 1702 - 14), but its origin is uncertain. It may come from the ‘jack-et’ of the English or Scottish soldiers; or from the name of James I (the Latin translation of which is, Jacobus and the French equivalent Jacques) who originated the first union in 1606 . Or, as ‘jack’ once meant small, the name may be derived from a royal proclamation issued by Charles II that the Union Flag should be flown only by ships of the Royal Navy as a jack, (a small flag at the bowsprit).
The flag consists of three heraldic crosses:
The Cross of St. George, patron saint of England since the 1270’s, is a red cross on a white ground. It was the national flag of England until James I succeeded to the throne in 1603, after which it was combined, in 1606, with the cross of St. Andrew.
The Cross saltire of St. Andrew, patron saint of Scotland, is a diagonal cross on a blue ground.
The Cross saltire of St. Patrick, patron saint of Ireland, is a diagonal cross on a white ground. This was combined with the original Union Flag of St. George & St. Andrew, after the Act of Union of Ireland with England (and Wales) and Scotland on 1 January 1801, to create the Union Flag that we recognise today.
The Welsh Dragon does not appear on the Union Flag, because when the first Union Flag was created in 1606, the Principality of Wales, was by that time already united with England and was no longer a separate principality.
The 400th Anniversary of the original Union Flag, the combining of the Cross of St. George with the Cross Saltire of St. Andrew was commemorated in 2006.
Note of Military interest: on 12 April 1606, ships of the Royal Navy were ordered by King James I, to fly the newly designed Union Flag.
The Cross of
St. George
(England)
The Cross saltire of
St. Andrew
(Scotland)
The original
Union Flag
(1606 - 1801)
The Cross saltire of
St. Patrick
(Ireland)
The current
Union Flag
(1801 - to-date)
