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Board of Ordnance: Royal Corps of Transport Fleet (Britain)

Royal Corps of Transport Fleet

The crossed swords blue ensign of the Royal Army Service Corps was chosen as the ensign of the Royal Corps of Transport Fleet formed on 5th July 1965. A badge of the ensign, introduced during the 1939-45 War, was still the shoulder flash on the uniforms of both civilians and soldiers.

In October 1966 a Royal Warrant was issued; "HM the Queen has graciously permitted operational vessels of the Army flying the Army Ensign commanded by Army officers and manned by military personnel in uniform to be titled Her Majesty's Army Vessels and to fly the Union Flag at the fore (?) when moored, or dressed overall under way."

by Martin Grieve

Badge detail

by Martin Grieve

There was no Army Ensign, the crossed swords ensign being the ensign of a corps, and the task of designing an Army Ensign was given to HQ Maritime Group RCT Portsmouth, who produced a Blue Ensign defaced by crossed swords superimposed with the royal crest. It was approved by the Queen and announced in Army Order 53/66, and Defence Council Instruction (General) 62/67. The ensign was first flown on 17 May 1967 by Tank Landing Craft engaged in Exercise Wagon Trail.

The Army Ensign was the army equivalent of the navy's White Ensign, while the crossed sword ensign was comparable to the vertical anchor Blue Ensign of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Service. T