WWII (post?) era Red Ensign (Red Duster)


Red Ensign, Red Duster wool flag from 1930's or 40's

The story

So this is one of my Red Ensign's, Red Duster flag in my collection and is one of my favorits as it show signs of heavy use. Its a flag that "has been there". Other collectors might go for the mint condition flags but as written on previous posts I go for the used ones, the one with story, the one that has been in duty :)

There is no need for me to write half a page about the flag as a symbol as there are several sites who has done this. I like this one : https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/gb-ensr.html#red which has a very fine description about the Red Ensign and also a few comments on why it was called "Red Duster".

The construction

My flag is made of wool and smells of diesel and the classic "attic wool", which also makes sense as the flag was usually hoisted at the stern of the ship there the engine exhaust also flows by. It has the classic wool woven horizontal lines throughout the fabric and those hessian style ropes with brass clips. There is few holes and painting scattered over the flag. As seen on the picture it has fraying at the end.

Its a multi piece construction where the union jack on canton is stitched together. Also the red fabric is two pieces sewn together horizontally. It seem to have had old markings on the header but they are not visible anymore, just some very very faded black ink.

Measurement of the flag is 215 x 133 cm none stretched. I'm assuming it originally was a 3 yard flag based on the 133cm hight ( 3 yard = 274 x 137 cm, ratio 2:1), so about 50cm was "frayed" away during use.

From the look of it and other features I think it was made in 1930's or early 40's, so just before WWII or under

The seller did not knew any history of the flag besides the came from an antique shop on the east coast of Scotland.

Images of the flag

Multi piece Union Jack on the canton


Two red fabrics are sewn together horizontally


Heavy fraying at the end


Stitchings of the Union Jack


The woven horizontal lines throughout the fabric


Upper end of the hoist/header with the brass clip stitched the header with cross stitchings


Lower end of the header with rope made of hessian (I think). Reinforcements where the header meets the fabric.


The other side. As seen the header has seen betters days. I like it :)


Back of the flag with a small hole close the header

Final thoughts

Not much to say other than its one of my favorits. If I knew the story of where it was used then it would be in my top 3 flags :)

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