Ian L Posted November 17, 2016 Share Posted November 17, 2016 This photo is doing the rounds on Facebook, Has the Union flag been printed upside down on her shirt ? I understood the broad white band should be at the top (like the one on the wall) next to the flag pole ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 11th Armoured Posted November 17, 2016 Share Posted November 17, 2016 The flag on the shirt is in the same orientation as the one on the wall, is it not? Incidentally, I'm not convinced that's an actual print on the shirt - it looks like a superimposed image to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Davey089 Posted November 17, 2016 Share Posted November 17, 2016 This photo is doing the rounds on Facebook, Has the Union flag been printed upside down on her shirt ? I understood the broad white band should be at the top (like the one on the wall) next to the flag pole ? No its correct Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Davey089 Posted November 17, 2016 Share Posted November 17, 2016 This one is upside down Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 LarryH57 Posted November 17, 2016 Share Posted November 17, 2016 Why the union flag was not created as symetrical in the first place is beyond me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Chris Hall Posted November 18, 2016 Share Posted November 18, 2016 You can blame that on St Patrick of Ireland as its his flag that isn't symmetrical. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 laboisselle Posted November 18, 2016 Share Posted November 18, 2016 As everyone else has said, you can only judge the flag to be 'upside down' if you can orient it in relation to a pole - which in this case you can't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Surveyor Posted November 18, 2016 Share Posted November 18, 2016 If upside down that means in distress Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 RAFMT Posted November 18, 2016 Share Posted November 18, 2016 Traditionally that's normally an upside down ensign (or more formally you were supposed to put a knot in the ensign) but it was supposedly done during the Boer War by troops on land (who didn't have another flag to use). Let's face it at any distance you'd be hard pressed to tell if the Union flag was upside down and impossible prior to 1801. And these days it's not an internationally recognised means of showing distress, not least because so many countries physically cannot fly their flag upside down (France, Ireland, Japan etc.) and there are so many other ways of signalling distress. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 10FM68 Posted November 18, 2016 Share Posted November 18, 2016 As everyone else has said, you can only judge the flag to be 'upside down' if you can orient it in relation to a pole - which in this case you can't. Generally it is accepted that, in the absence of a pole, the broad white stripe is at the top on the left - as on the back of the teeshirt, which is correct. The following link will add to the debate and clear up a few myths! http://www.flaginstitute.org/wp/british-flags/the-union-jack-or-the-union-flag/ 10 68 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Tony B Posted November 18, 2016 Share Posted November 18, 2016 Actually the International Flag Code for Distress is V a red diagonal cross on a white background. Unfrotunatley, for many years that was the flag of Jersey. In 1977 proposals were made to alter the flag to prevent confusion, so in 1979 the seal of jersey , three Golden Lions on a red background was added in the upper quarter of the flag. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Enigma Posted November 19, 2016 Share Posted November 19, 2016 To me the simple way is this. When on a t-shirt or so without a pole; the right lower side should have the red stripe on the upper 3rd of the white band. This works also more or less on a pole, the lower corner away from the pole should have the red band on the top 3rd. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 secondshooter Posted November 19, 2016 Share Posted November 19, 2016 To clear this up once and for all ! she should take here T shirt off and find a pole to dance on and everybody will be happy:cool2: PS we fly your flag the other way up as New Zealand is below the equator and we don't want to offend the Queen with an upside down flag. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Tomo.T Posted November 20, 2016 Share Posted November 20, 2016 (edited) At top of post, The broad white band flies uppermost, The other way means SOS, Please save our souls, we're in distress. If for post you are bereft, It's taken to be on the left. Tomo Edited November 27, 2016 by Tomo.T Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 laboisselle Posted November 21, 2016 Share Posted November 21, 2016 Appreciate the time you took To make a rhyme to help us see But is it my left as I look Or the flag's left as it looks at me?! :cheesy: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Sean N Posted November 21, 2016 Share Posted November 21, 2016 Please save our soles, we're in distress. Is that an appeal for a rescue or a cobbler?! :-D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 RAFMT Posted November 21, 2016 Share Posted November 21, 2016 At top of post, The broad white band flies uppermost, The other way means SOS, Please save our soles, we're in distress. This is not stated in the International Code of Signals nor under annex IV of the Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea. It has however been occasionally promoted as a distress signal in "helpful" guides, presumably mistaking it for the old practice of turning the ensign upside down. As said before, this and many other national flags are either identical or very similar either way up, or even become the flag of another national when flown this way. General distress is shown by flying NC if using flags, with specific events (fire etc.) having their own letter combinations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Tomo.T Posted November 27, 2016 Share Posted November 27, 2016 Is that an appeal for a rescue or a cobbler?! :-D Ha! yes, spelling corrected,Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 ruxy Posted November 27, 2016 Share Posted November 27, 2016 As everyone else has said, you can only judge the flag to be 'upside down' if you can orient it in relation to a pole - which in this case you can't. Obviously - you were in the Boy Scouts ,, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 fesm_ndt Posted November 28, 2016 Share Posted November 28, 2016 I would say it still means distress on military bases......... As on the rare occasions it occurred the squaddie that did it would be in distress or more to the point would soon be :-D Our military flags had a rope lanyard attached for unfurling. short bit to the top with the long to the bottom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 stevel98 Posted January 30, 2017 Share Posted January 30, 2017 (edited) LarryH57 said: Why the union flag was not created as symetrical in the first place is beyond me! Simples, the Scottish saltire was on the Union Flag before the Irish red X. Edited July 7, 2018 by stevel98 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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Ian L
This photo is doing the rounds on Facebook, Has the Union flag been printed upside down on her shirt ?
I understood the broad white band should be at the top (like the one on the wall) next to the flag pole ?
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