Last modified: 2005-09-17 by bruce berry
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image by Martin Grieve, 24 Aug 2005
The new SA Naval Ensign is the same as that used previously except the
new SA national flag is in the canton and the badge of the Navy no longer
appears in the fly. It was the third version of the SA Naval Ensign which
comprised the former SA flag in the canton with a green Scandinavian cross
on a white background in the proportion 1:2 in use between 1952-1959. Thereafter
between 1959 and 1981 a white fimbriation was added around the national
flag to separate it from the cross. In 1981 the Naval emblem was added
to the lower fly and the proportions changed to 2:3 (as in the case of
the National flag). This version was used until 1994 when the new flag
was added and once again the naval emblem was dropped from the fly - the
proportions remain 2:3.
Bruce Berry, 6 March 1996
With the adoption of the new South African national flag on 27 April 1994, the use of the previous naval ensign containing the old national
flag was no longer appropriate. Hence a new South African naval ensign was approved by the Chief of the South
African National Defence Force on 29 September 1994. This design differs from its immediate predecessor in that new national flag appears
in the canton and the navy emblem no longer appears in the lower fly. The new ensign is thus:
"a rectangular white flag, in the proportions of two to three; with thereon a dark green cross; and having in the upper hoist canton the
national flag of the Republic of South Africa, with a white fimbriation".
It also needs to be noted that the shade of green has been standardised so that the green cross and the green "pall" of the national flag are
now both the same shade - PMS 349 - whereas previously the cross was the
darker "tartan green".
The new naval ensign was carried for the first time at a Defence Force
parade held in Pietersburg on 11 November 1994 and hoisted on the Ensign Staff of naval vessels at noon on the same day. Between 27 April and
noon on 11 November 1994, the South African National Flag served as a temporary ensign.
Bruce Berry, 23 Apr, 2004
image by Martin Grieve, 23 Apr 2004
On 5 March 1981, a new ensign was adopted. This flag changed the proportions of the naval ensign to 2:3. The green cross on white with a fimbriated national flag in the canton was retained; however, the naval badge, the crest of the South African Coat of Arms on a blue ground plan of the Castle of Good Hope, was placed in the lower fly quarter. This flag was flown until 1994.
From 27 April 1994 until 11 November 1994, the South African Navy used
the national flag as the naval ensign. The Republic of South Africa changed
its naval ensign on 29 September 1994. The ensign removed the naval badge
and replaced the old national flag with the current national flag. It was
officially taken into use on 11 November 1994.
There is a South African Naval Colour that consists of the naval ensign
charged with the crest from the coat of arms in the lower quarter."
Sources: SAVA Journal 2/93, "Flags of the Union Defence Forces and
of the South African Defence Force, 1912-1993
[hhs93] ;" SAVA Newsletter, 11/94;
SAVA Newsletter, 17/96."
Paige Herring, 16 Mar 1998
On 5 March 1981, the Chief of the South African Defence Force approved a
new design for the South African naval ensign, namely:
"a rectangular white flag, in the proportions of two to three; with thereon a dark green cross; and having in the upper hoist canton the
national flag of the Republic of South Africa, with a white fimbriation; and in the lower fly the emblem of the South African navy, to wit:
81.gif)
image by Martin Grieve, 23 Apr 2004
On a dark blue ground plan of the Castle of Good Hope of the same shade as the blue stripe in the National Flag, a gold lion passant guardant
standing upon a wreath of six links, alternately white and red; and resting the dexter forepaw on four vertical staves, alternatively gold
and dark blue and tied together with a gold ribbon".
This ensign was hoisted with appropriate honours as "Colours" on 31 May 1981 and was also carried at a parade held in Durban on the same day and
continued in use until the change in the national flag on 27 April 1994.
Bruce Berry, 23 Apr, 2004
image by Martin Grieve, 26 Apr 2004
The third naval ensign reverted back to the British tradition. This
version, adopted 14 November 1952, was 'a dark green cross on a white background
with the Union National Flag in the upper canton next to the hoist.' Because
the design specified that the national flag should be of 2:3 proportion,
the flag (1:2 proportion) had a distinctive Scandinavian cross look. The
third South African naval ensign flew until 1959, when a white fimbriation was
added to separate the national flag from the green cross.
Paige Herring, 16 Mar 1998
On 14 November 1952 notice was given under Government Notice No. 2633 in
the Government Gazette that with effect from 25 March 1952, the South African navy had adopted as its ensign:
"a dark green cross on a white background with the Union of National Flag in the upper canton next to the hoist".
This notice cancelled Government Notice No. 1550 of 26 July 1946, in terms of which the first South African naval ensign had been adopted.
The third design for the South African naval ensign marked a return to
the traditional of the British white ensign with overall proportions of one to two. The width of the dark green cross was one-quarter of the
width of the flag and the horizontal arm lay along the centre of the flag. The vertical arm of the cross was placed such that the canton next
to the hoist had the proportion of two to three (for the national flag). In its original form, this design of the naval ensign had the national
flag placed directly against the vertical and horizontal arms of the
dark green cross. However in 1959, in terms of South African Defence Force Order No. 63,
it was stated that the national flag should be separated from the dark green cross by a narrow white stripe (fimbriation)
as shown below.
The choice of dark green for the cross in 1952 has influenced all subsequent naval ensigns used in South Africa. HH Smith (1993) reports that green may have been chosen rather than the red as found on the British white ensign and other naval flags since green was the vertical stripe at the hoist of the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek flag.
image by
Martin Grieve, 28 Apr 2004
There was a further proposed amendment to this design in 1967 to add to the lower fly the crest from the South African Coat of Arms, namely:
"On a wreath of colours (white and red), a lion passant guardant Gules, supporting with the dexter forepaw four staves erect, alternatively
Argent and Azure and banded Or".
51.gif)
image by Martin
Grieve, 28 Apr 2004
Although the South African State Herald was furnished with an approved art card for this amended design, this ensign was never taken into use.
Instead, the design formed the basis of the Naval Colour which was
designed in August 1968 and presented to the Navy by Mr PW Botha, then Minister of Defence on 12 April 1969.
The naval ensign, with fimbriation, was used until a new ensign was adopted on 31 May 1981.
image by
Martin Grieve, 28 Apr 2004
image by
Martin Grieve, 28 Apr 2004
A new design for the South African naval ensign was recommended by Commodore FJ Dean OBE, then the Director-General of Naval Forces on 15
May 1951, namely: "the national flag of the Union of South Africa with an upper hoist canton consisting of three equally wide horizontal
stripes from top to bottom or orange, white and blue. The white stripe of the canton charged with a lion passant guardant Gules, supporting
with the dexter paw four staves erect, alternatively Argent and Azure and banded Or, from the crest of the Coat of Arms of the Union of South
Africa" (see image below).
image by Martin Grieve, 28 Apr 2004
This ensign was approved on 31 May 1951 but HH Smith (1993) reports that it appears not to have found favour in naval circles and as such it was
never flown. This design was also criticised by Dr C Pama - a leading
figure in heraldry and vexillology in South Africa - who suggested that the canton should be omitted and the red lion replace the three small
flags in the centre of the South African flag instead.
image by
Martin Grieve, 28 Apr 2004
At the same time as this second design of the South African naval ensign had been proposed, a personal flag to be flown at sea by the Minister
of Defence was announced. This flag was of the same design as the naval
ensign but with a fouled anchor in the fly. According to HH Smith, printed references refer to the anchor
as being orange, but he received a letter from the Chief of the Navy referring to a black anchor. Although the Chief of the Navy stated that this flag was never used, it is referred to in an article by Capt. MF
Stern on the flags of South Africa published in the spring 1963 issue of The Flag Bulletin that the Minister of Defence did indeed fly this
ensign in late 1951.
Bruce Berry, 28 Apr 2004
image by Martin
Grieve, 28 Apr 2004
Following World War II, the South African military discarded the British
White Ensign and began to use a solid white ensign with the South African
flag in the canton. Adopted in 1946, the flag was in 1:2 proportion. As
a result, the national flag, as well as the flags in the center, had to
have a 1:2 proportion (Union Nationality and Flags Act of 1927). This ensign
was changed due to the fact that it was difficult to identify.
Paige Herring, 16 Mar 1998
Prior to 01 September 1946, ships of the South African navy flew the British white ensign and the South
African national flag as a jack. The first specifically South African naval ensign was "a plain white flag
with the national Flag in the upper dexter canton". No proportions were gazetted but the ensign followed the
British tradition of being one to two, giving the South African flag in the canton incorrect proportions. It was soon apparent that the new
ensign was not a good flag from a practical point of view. In particular it was difficult to identify at sea in conditions of bad visibility and
it was not popular with naval personnel who referred to it as the "witdoek" (literally 'white cloth'). As a result there was a
recommendation to change the design in 1951.
(Source: SAVA Journal 2/93: Flags of the Union Defence Forces and of the South African Defence Force, 1912-1993 by Prof. HH Smith)
Bruce Berry, 28 Apr 2004
From the sources indicted below it would seem that we have the wrong year for
the adoption of the South African Naval Force Ensign.
11th March 1947. South African Department of External Affairs informed the
British Admiralty that South African Naval Force ships wear the South African
White Ensign.
No date of introduction given.
South Africa Government Gazette 26th July 1947. No.1550. It is hereby notified
for general information that the Union Government has decided that with effect
1st September 1947 the South African Naval Force will adopt as their ensign a
plain white flag with the National Flag in the upper dexter canton. [National
Archives (PRO) ADM 1/19753]
David Prothero, 18 Mar 2005
Here follows an extract from 'The South African Flag Book' to be
published soon. The information comes from SAVA Journal SJ: 2/93 and the
contents entitled:
'Flags of the Union Defence Forces and of the South African Defence Force
1912-1993' by the late Professor Hugh H. Smith. He did his research directly at
the South African National Defence Force and National Archives.
"The first South African Naval Ensign (1946 - 1951) - On 17 September
1945, the then Minister of Education and Finance, the Hon. J.H. Hofmeyr,
recommended to the Minister of Defence that: The British white ensign with the
shield of the Union of South Africa's coat of arms in the lower left hand side
should be used as the ensign of the
South African Naval Services.
It is not possible to establish if the 'lower left hand side' was intended to
mean the heraldic left - the lower side of the fly - or if it was intended to
mean the left hand side from the point of view of a person looking at the flag,
i.e. the lower hoist.
That no action was taken to implement this recommendation is clear from the fact
that, at a staff conference held on 8 November 1945, it was decided that the
then Chief of the General Staff - General Sir Pierre van Ryneveld - should
recommend a new naval ensign to the Prime Minister - Field Marshal Jan Smuts.
The new ensign was to be:
a white flag with the national flag of the Union of South Africa in the upper
dexter canton.
At a staff conference held on 6 December 1945 it was announced that the above
recommendation had been accepted; and on 26 July 1946 Government Notice No 1550,
published in Government Gazette 3684 notifying 'for public information'
that:
"the Union Government have decided that, with effect from 1st September 1946,
the South African Naval Forces will adopt as their ensign a plain white flag
with the National Flag in the upper dexter canton."
No proportions were specified in the notice in the Government Gazette,
but in fact as shown in Figure 6.20 of SJ: 2/93, the ensign had the proportions
of one to two; and the National flag of the Union filled the whole of the upper
hoist canton. This followed the proportions of the White Ensign. It meant,
however, that the three flaglets in the centre of the national flag also had the
proportions of one to two, instead of two to three as specified in the
Nationality and Flag Act of 1927. The ensign was hoisted for the first time on 1
September 1946.
In the meantime, the position of the South African Naval Services (SANS) in the
Union Defence Forces (UDF) was regularised. Up to this time the SANS was an
Active Citizen Force unit. It was now added to the UDF as a Permanent Force Arm
of the Service and in 1951 its name was changed to the South African Navy (SAN).
The officers were offered permanent commissions in the UDF and a sufficiently
large number accepted to allow this young Navy to get off to a good start."
It is possible that the SA Dept of External Affairs might have delayed informing
the British Admiralty for some bureaucratic reason until 11 March 1947, but the
dates of the SA Government Gazette and the year of implementation is
without doubt 1946 and not 1947. Also note that the official name of the SANS
was in the plural, i.e. South African Naval Services as was the UDF, i.e. Union
Defence Forces. One wonders how the mistake
about the dates got into the Admiralty archives?
Andries Burgers, 18 Mar 2005
The mistake was not the Admiralty's, it was David Prothero's! I
copied the year of the External Affairs' letter on to the date of the Gazette
when typing up my notes. "Force" instead of "Forces" was also probably my
mistake. I had written only initials. My apologies if I have confused anyone.
The letter from External Affairs was probably in answer to an Admiralty request
for confirmation of the change. They knew it had happened, as they had a copy of
a dispatch on the subject written by the High Commissioner and sent to the
Dominions Office on 14th August 1946.
David Prothero, 19 Mar 2005
The following date is correct. In an off-list message Andries Burgers enquired;
"I have been unable to determine the exact date for the taking into use of the
Unievlag (Union Flag) as the jack".
It was 31st May 1928.
On 11th May 1928, N.H.Rankin, Officer Commanding South African Naval Service to
Admiralty was "Informed by Defence Headquarters that on and after 31st May 1928
Union of South Africa will fly the South African National Flag in place of the
Blue Ensign."
On 14th June 1928 their Lordships approved the new jack (NL 1898/28).
David Prothero, 19 Mar 2005
Thanks for the information about the 31st May. Cdr Rankin's signal implies that
the SANS had worn the Blue Ensign (presumably the SA Blue Ensign?) before 31 May
1928 as the jack. Would this not have been rather unusual in British practice?
Andries Burgers, 19 Mar 2005
I think it was the usual practice for ships of the Dominion Navies - Australian,
Canadian, Indian etc., to fly the defaced Blue Ensign as their jack, and to the
best of my knowledge all (but South Africa) continued to do so whilst they flew
the UK White Ensign.
Christopher Southworth, 19 Mar 2005
I would not necessarily conclude from OC SANS's signal that SANS vessels used a
defaced Blue Ensign as a jack. I am inclined to think that he passed on the
information in the form that it was sent to him. Would Defence HQ have known
what went on in the real world? A meeting in London in September 1928 thought
that SANS vessels had used the British Union Jack.
The business of Dominion jacks is quite complicated.
David Prothero, 20 Mar 2005
Could the Admiralty's reply on 14 June 1928 approving the new jack, not be
regarded as confirmation that the SANS did indeed wear the
Blue Ensign as a
jack?
Andries Burgers, 20 Mar 2005
The file just had a note that the jack had been approved. I don't know the
actual text.
The following is an extract from a minute in an Admiralty file of 1928.
"Agreement of 1911. The ships of each Dominion Naval Force will hoist at the
stern the White Ensign as the symbol of the authority of the Crown, and at the
jack-staff the
distinctive flag of the Dominion. The Blue Ensign with badge was not settled.
Appeared in NL 15990/12. Doubt if South African ever wore the Blue Ensign as
laid down in King's Regulations, part 2, article123. They were run as British
ships, as Officer Commanding the South African Naval Service was responsible to
the Commander-in-Chief."
The Union Nationality and Flags Act had authorised the Governor General to
regulate maritime flags; Chapter II. 7. (3). "The Governor General may by
regulation fix the manner in which the flags [Union Flag of South Africa
and
British Union Jack] may be flown on ships on the high seas or for special
purposes or occasions."
A meeting was held on the 20th September 1928 in the Dominions Office in London
to consider the consequences.
1. Naval Vessels.
Flying the South African Union Flag at the jack-staff
followed Canadian and Australian precedent which rested on no formal
authorisation other than a statement of the practice set out in article 123 of
King's Regulations. Assuming that the South African Naval Services were not
treated as part of the Africa Squadron; para.3 of the article was not applicable
to the South African Naval Service because para.1 was applicable only to Canada
and Australia, and para.2 was not applicable, as South Africa had never taken
the formal steps required by the Colonial Naval Defence Force Act 1865, section
3; viz an Order in Council. As it was a temporary measure pending consideration
by an expert committee article 123 would not be amended to include the South
African practice.
2. Government vessels other than naval.
It had been ascertained that government vessels, other than naval, flew and
continued to fly the Blue Ensign with the Union badge.
3. Merchant Vessels not registered in South Africa.
No formal instruction had been given by the Union Government but the
Union-Castle Line [which had the mail contract between UK and South Africa] had
adopted the practice, as a matter of courtesy, of flying the new flag at the
fore when entering Union ports. This corresponded to the practice when entering
foreign ports, but was not done in Australia or New Zealand.
On land the Union Jack was flown with the Union Flag of South Africa, but this
could not be done on British merchant ships which were not allowed the Union
Jack. A telegram of 23 July 1928, from the Imperial Secretary South Africa to
the Dominions Office had pointed out that the Union Jack could not be flown on
the yardarm opposite to the South African Union Flag, which created the
impression that the South African Union Flag was being accorded a privileged
position on merchant ships to the exclusion of the Union Jack.
It was to be suggested to Union-Castle that the Red Ensign should be flown
astern when the South African Union was flown at the fore.
4. Merchant vessels register in the Union.
It appeared that no instruction had been issued and it was assumed that the
South African Red Ensign was flown.
On 2 February 1928 the Mercantile Marine Department of the Board of Trade had
written to the Admiralty in reply to their letter NL 3554/27 of 11 January
regarding the flag to be flown by ships registered in South African ports.
"Question whether provisions of South Africa Act are void for repugnance with
Merchant Shipping Act is a difficult one, but Board understands that according
to strictly legal considerations some provisions of the South Africa Act will be
void on that ground."
The letter went on to say that there were considerations other than the strictly
legal one. [National Archives (PRO) ADM 1/8968]
David Prothero, 21 Mar 2005
![[South Africa Naval Colour]](../images/z/za^nv-cl.gif)
image
by Paige Herring, 16 March 1998
There is a South African Naval Colour that consists of the naval ensign
charged with the crest from the coat of arms in the lower quarter.
Paige Herring, 16 March 1998
![[South Africa Commodore]](../images/z/za^co.gif)
image
by Paige Herring, 16 March 1998
The flag of Rear Admiral Junior Grade in Album 2000 is similar to but
not the same as Commodore flag on FOTW. I guess it was changed recently.
(The rank flags on FOTW might be of the Apartheid era)
Željko Heimer, 5 Jan 2001
An on-line Jane's Information Group publication to which I have access
through my work shows the rank structure of the South African Navy the
same as in Album 2000, with the grade between rear admiral and captain
entitled rear admiral (JG) [junior grade]. The insignia is a single
broad stripe, the same as for the UK Royal Navy rank of commodore.
Joe McMillan, 4 Jan 2001
![[South Africa Admiral]](../images/z/za^ad.gif)
image
by Paige Herring, 16 March 1998
![[South Africa Vice Admiral]](../images/z/za^va.gif)
image
by Paige Herring, 16 March 1998
![[South Africa Rear Admiral]](../images/z/za^ra.gif)
image
by Paige Herring -
12 March 1998If this is the senior officer afloat pennant, a vertical green-white-green
triband, it is the "Starboard" signal pennant prescribed for use by NATO
navies to identify the senior officer present afloat (SOPA, in US terminology).
Some NATO navies use only this pennant for SOPA (including US, UK and Canada)
while others (such as France) use it when operating with Allied ships but
have a different SOPA pennant for use when operating unilaterally.
I suppose it has also been adopted by some other navies. The blue
triangle shown as the US SOPA pennant in A2K has not been in use since
about 1950.
Joe McMillan. 4 Jan 2001