Sir, – JL Pelan (January 16th) wrote, “The national flag of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is called the Union Flag since 1921. Before that, since 1801, it was the National Flag of Great Britain and Ireland, and also called the Union Flag. It is called a Union Jack only when it is flown on a ship, usually, a warship of the royal navy”.
While the designation “Union Jack” is obviously attributable to the maritime origins of our national flag, this term has been used for many years as a label for the flag both afloat and ashore. The alternative designation “Union Flag” has also been used for many years.
Assertions (such JL Pelan’s) are often made that the designation “Union Jack” should be confined to the maritime environment or at least be regarded as somehow less formal than “Union Flag” when referring to the national flag on land. However, detailed scrutiny of official correspondence preserved in the National Archives, of naval and military regulations and of the records of parliamentary debates suggests that there has never been a coherent doctrine governing the designation of the national flag.
The use of both designations – “Union Jack” and “Union Flag” – for our national flag afloat and ashore is now so well-established that the two terms must be considered as interchangeable.
The Flag Institute is clear that “Union Jack” and “Union Flag” enjoy equal validity as designations of the national flag of the United Kingdom afloat and ashore in both formal and informal contexts.