The Battle Ensign

The other night I watched Master and Commander again. I have seen it so many times, and yet it never disappoints. Each time, though, since I know the story by heart, I look for other things, sometimes something small that peaks my attention.

This time it had to do with disguise and going into battle. Captain Aubrey is bent on taking a French enemy ship as a prize. His friend and naturalist Dr. Maturin is showing him a particular find from his explorations around the Galapagos Islands. It appears to be a stick, but on closer viewing, Aubrey is surprised to see that it is an insect that has disguised itself to avoid any predators. Aubrey receives a flash of inspiration: If he disguises his ship, the Surprise, as a whaling vessel, perhaps the enemy will want to investigate and then Aubrey can spring his trap! And so the captain paints and cloaks the Surprise in "whaler" disguise, going so far as to burn old rope that creates billows of smoke, like a whaling ship might appear as it burns whale oil.  And a rather obscure and generic flag is flown.  

 

But at the precise moment before battle is to ensue, Aubrey cries, "Let fly!" and the ensign of the British Royal Navy is immediately hoisted up, a declaration of military intent. I love that part...it is a gesture of honor and protocol of battle. These things are not to be taken lightly.

A battle ensign is the name given to a large war flag which is flown on a war ship's  mast just before going into battle, identifying the allegiance of the ship, in what might be considered a confusing situation, with cannon fire and smoke and sails all fighting for attention. That is why the ensign is quite large, about 20x40ft. It was commonly accepted that as long as a ship flew its ensign, it was an active and legitimate participant in battle; prior to action, it was acceptable to fly a false flag.

The ensign is flown from an ensign staff at the stern of the ship, just behind the quarterdeck, which is the holy of holies, where the captain stands.

If a ship surrendered, its flag must come down, and hence the phase, "strike one's colors". Of course, the British Royal Navy did not give up easily, and so another phrase, "nail one's colors to the mast" indicated that they were determined to fight on and NEVER surrender! The battle ensign is a matter of morale to its crew. If a ship was to sink, a senior officer was entrusted to see that the flag was saved. No matter what other flags are flown from any other or higher masts, the stern is always the superior flag location. The battle ensign features the white field with red cross of St. George, patron saint of England, and the union jack in the upper right hand corner.

 

And the final honorable gesture, if a ship is defeated by another, the captain surrenders his sword to the winning captain. That will be investigated another day, but for today, the ensign is our concern.