Topic: Canadian Army
Preference Over Jack
Canadian Red Ensign To Be Used By Army
Ottawa Citizen, 18 May, 1955
By: Franck Swanson, Canadian Parliamentary Writer
Governor-General's Speech on the Opening of Parliament, Ottawa, 6 September, 1945
"The government has directed that, pending approval by Parliament of a particular design, the Canadian Red Ensign which was the flag carried into battle by the Canadian army, and which was flown from the Peace Tower on V-E day and V-J Day as a tribute to the valour of our armed forces and to Canada's achievements in war, may be displayed whatever place of occasion makes it desirable to fly a distinctive Canadian flag."
The army has decreed that the use of the Union Jack at defence headquarters, armories, forts, drill halls and other army buildings will be the exception and that the Canadian Red Ensign be flown in preference.
A May 6 [1955] order by National Defence Headquarters has instructed commands across the country that the flying of the Union Jack should be the exception and not the rule.
The order on "the flying of flags" was issued by Major-General Leo Brennan, adjutant-general. It specifies that the Union Jack or the Canadian Red Ensign, at the discretion of the commanding officer, may be flown at military establishments in or outside Canada.
Leaves No Doubt
It left no doubt, however, the Canadian Red Ensign is the flag that should be flown.
This is what the adjutant-general's order said:
"The Canadian Red Ensign or Union Jack will be flown at army headquarters, armories, forts, drill halls and other buildings within commands at the discretion of the officer commanding the command and by the Canadian Army when stationed outside Canada. The use of the Union Jack should be the exception and not the rule."
"At camps and station in Canada and the United States where both the Stars and Stripes and the Canadian Red Ensign or Union Jack are flown, the Canadian Red Ensign or the Union Jack should be half-masted on such occasions as the Stars and Stripes are half-masted."
Defence headquarters said today the new order does not break new ground but rather is the "official affirmation" of the army custom of flying the Red Ensign. The Royal Canadian Navy has adopted a blue ensign as its flag and the Royal Canadian Air Force as flag of air force blue.
The Red Ensign was proclaimed in an official government publication recently as the "distinctive Canadian flag" which Parliament has argued about for so long.
The Trades mark Journal carried the proclamation. It was stated in the Commons following publication of the notice that the action was taken to restrict the commercial use, without permission, of the Red Ensign.
Evolution of the Canadian Red Ensign
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