Flags Hoisted In The UK
From 2002 to the year 2004 I lived in in England, in the area of the city of London to be a little more specific. During my time in the UK I observed all kinds of British ensigns attached to British flag poles throughout this exciting capital city. Interestingly, different country flags are used this day and age in the United Kingdom.
One of the popular flags I observed hoisted on British flag poles was the flag of England. This flag shows the St George's cross, which has been in popular use since the 1200's century. I was told at the time that the Red Cross has been in use for hundreds of years.
The use of the red cross of St George started when followers of Christ wore it on their respective clothes; it became increasingly popular on vessels of all kinds. It was in fact attached to naval flagpoles for hundreds of years. At times however, it has been mistaken for the flag of the Church of England. Many however living internationally are very much aware of the design of the flag of England, as featured in modern-day events of all kinds.
One off shore flag is the flag that represents Jersey. Jersey is the largest of the Channel Islands and is a separate administration from Guernsey, another Channel Island. The island was at one time owned by the Duke of Normandy. In 1204 century however it became a separate crown dependency. Like the other islands, the Germans took it during WW2. The saltire of St Patrick was inadvertently adopted by Jersey in the last century. Some thirty years ago, the arms of Jersey were added above the center of the cross.
Once part of the Norse Kingdom of the Isles, the Isle of Man was sold to Scotland during the 1200's and ceded subsequently to the kingdom of England. It is now a self-governing crown dependency. The Manx name for the island is "Ellan Vannin." The government is called the "Tynwald." The emblem of the Isle of Man is a very ancient one and has been used on the island's flag for at least three hundred years.
In the past, the flag of Northern Ireland was not the Union Jack. This territory's flag existed from 1953 to '72 and was a banner of the arms of the government of Northern Ireland.
Some years ago, the flag of Hong Kong was similar to that hoisted on British flag poles by other dependencies. Considered a colony back in the day, Hong Kong was then inhabited by at least 5 million people. Hong Kong Island was ceded to Britain about a century and a half ago.
Contributor is a former flagpole expert with more than 20 years of experience in the area of flag poles.
