Last modified: 2001-12-08 by rob raeside
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The present Customs' Blue Ensign was the result of a request, made to the Admiralty in
1948, for a new badge that was more distinctive than the Royal Crown then in use. A portcullis surmounted by a crown which had been the seal of the office since at least
Tudor times (16th century) was suggested. This had been used on the pennant of the Commissioner of Customs since 1905, and also been adopted as a badge by the Waterguard Preventive Service. Red was not thought to be a good colour on a blue
background and the badge in gold was approved by the Admiralty on 16th August 1948.
The new flags were announced in Customs Weekly Order 32/1949. One ensign was issued to
each launch and pontoon, one burgee to each station, but not to be flown until
6th August 1949. The old ensign was to continue in use on buildings as the main stock
would not be available until April 1950.
[Public Record Office ADM 1/21246 and CUST 49/3120]
David Prothero, 8 June 2001
See also:
In Wilson (Flags At Sea, pp. 40-41), the ensign of Customs vessels is shown (in the Petra Sancta system) and described as an ensign with a "castellated gateway". The ensign in use from 1707-1784 was a red ensign.
1784 ensign
From 1784-1815 the ensign was a blue one. This version was used until the change of the Union Flag in 1801.
From 1784-1815 the ensign was a blue one. This version was used until the change of the Union Flag in 1801.
Phil Nelson, 27 July 2000
In the article upon which Wilson based the paragraph about Customs and Excise flags, referred to in end-note 78, Purves wrote:- "Old drawings show this gateway or portcullis in the upper half of the fly, but Customs
officials believe that it was more likely to have been placed centrally, as later."
David Prothero, 29 July 2000
Norie and Hobbs (1848) show a blue ensign with in the middle
fly (maybe slightly moved out) a crown. Below that a six-pointed yellow star, slightly fat, with a double edge, with a white circle touching the
inner-points of the inner edge with in it what probably should be yellow letters "CH" (sans-serif).
They also show a red ensign, same crown with below it yellow letters "C H" (note the space),
together slightly wider than the crown, though not quite as high), and an excise
flag,
also a red ensign and the letters are "EX".
Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg, 12 November 2001
At the time of Norie and Hobb's chart the Excise Department dealt with taxes on goods
produced in Britain, while the Customs Department dealt with taxes on those imported from overseas.
Excise then became part of the Inland Revenue Department, but in 1909 amalgamated with Customs to form the Collectors of Customs and Excise.
David Prothero, 16 November 2001
Source: Gordon (1930)
Customs Ensign 1872 to 1950. The shape of crown would have been different before c1902.
David Prothero, 8 June 2001
The current version of the Customs flag has a large badge, and the modern St. Edward's crown. Before 1999, the badge was smaller, and before 1952 the flag was charged with the imperial crown
Source:World Flag Database, by Graham Bartram, 7 June 2001
The early 20th Century ensign was a blue ensign with a crown in full colours in the middle of the fly. The current ensign is a blue ensign with portcullis and chains in gold, surmounted by a crown in full colours, in the middle of the fly. The Commissioner uses a white triangular flag with red "V" border, and portcullis surmounted by a crown, both also in red, near the hoist.
Miles Li, 22 September 2000
The crown and portcullis badge replaced the crown badge at the request of Customs and Excise, who wanted a more distinctive badge than the crown that was also used by other public departments. The new badge was approved by the Admiralty 16th August 1948, but at the request of Customs and Excise not brought into use until 6th August 1949.
The crown badge had been introduced by an Order in Council of 1st February 1817, at first on the Red Ensign, but after 1872 on the Blue Ensign.
The first Customs flag was authorised by Royal Proclamation of 12th July 1694.
The Customs ensign was plain red with a canton of St George in the upper hoist and, a white or yellow castellated gateway with portcullis, in the fly.
The Customs jack had a Union canton. The St George's cross canton was replaced by the 1606 Union in 1707, which was replaced by the present Union in 1801.
In 1731 the Regulations for HM Service at Sea stated that the seal of the Board
of Customs could be on the jack _or_ the ensign. In 1784 the colour of the flag
was changed to Blue, however it is not clear whether all Customs ensigns were
blue between 1784 and 1801, or whether the Blue Ensign was used only on special
occasions. An Act for the Prevention of Smuggling [24 Geo III chap.47, sec.23],
directed that Revenue cruisers, when ordering suspect vessels to heave-to, were
to hoist an ensign and pendant with the seal of the Board on a blue field. In
order to conceal their identity, Revenue cruisers often flew no flag, or perhaps
a plain Red Ensign, and hoisted the Blue Ensign and Pendant when necessary.
However I think that on Customs Houses and on preventive Customs vessels, the
defaced Red Ensign or Red Jack might have continued in use. After 1801 it became
more complicated. The Royal Proclamation that introduced the present Union Jack
and Ensigns, instructed all vessels employed for the Public Service to wear a
plain Red Ensign and a Red Jack having the seal of the office employing them in
the fly. The proclamation did not cancel the act of 1784. Thus when giving chase
Revenue cruisers had to fly a Red Ensign and a Blue Ensign.
18 March 1807. Order of Custom House, Edinburgh. Geo 24 being still in force it
is necessary to hoist pendant and ensign with such marks as were then used by
vessels in service of Customs in a blue field. 1801 proclamation requires a red
field. Must hoist Blue Ensign before firing, as well as wearing Red Ensign.
This was repeated 18 February 1812. Scottish Customs Board; Instruction to
Commanders of Cruisers. To hoist during chase, pendant and ensign in a blue
field, as well as the pendant and ensign red field as provided under 1 January
1801. [Public Record Office CUST 143/11]
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