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>Albert > >Are you sure about the commissioning pennant, I >thought they were only flown by private ships (i.e. >not flagships). > >Although I couldn't say where I got that idea. > >Cy > >>>I'm trying to find out what ensigns/flags were flying >>>on HMS Victory as she approached the battle [approx. >>>mid-day]. >>> >>>In particular I'm trying to establish which flags >[ie. >>>admirals flag, white ensign, union flags, pennants >>>etc], and where they were placed, and if at all >>>possible - how large they were? >>> >>>I'm okay for the signal flags, as these are well >>>documented. >>> >>>Thanks everyone for your help >> >>Don't know dimensions. >> >>AFAIK, in addition to signal flags: >> >>(1) White ensign on halyard from after end of spanker >>boom to taffrail of poop deck. Flagstaffs had been >>abandoned by 1805. >> >>(2) Commissioning pennant at peak of mainmast. This >>was probably the main royal mast, since in the very >>light winds the British fleet was carrying all >>possible sail. This would have been a <i>white >>squadron</i> commissioning pennant, to go with the >>white ensign flown by all ships because of the >>commander-in-chief of the fleet was a vice-admiral of >>the white squadron. >> >>(3) White ensign at the peak of the foremast. This >>indicated that a vice-admiral of the white squadron of >>His Majesty's fleet was on board. Other admirals' >>flags: <i>Royal Sovereign,</i> blue ensign at the >>foremast (Collingwood, a vice admiral of the blue); >><i>Britannia,</i> white ensign at the mizzen mast >>(Northesk, a rear admiral of the white).

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