Union Jack or not !!!

[MustangLady]

I've noticed on a few occasions now (newspaper articles/tv etc) when they talk about our flag the UNION JACK it is now referred to as just 'UNION', have they dropped the 'JACK' now ? If so why is that?

[ChuckFickens]

Isn't only a union Jack id flown from a ship, otherwise it's the Union flag.

[mike11111]

Jack is a naval term. The correct title is the Union Flag

[bigfoot3000]

Much explained here. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_Flag

[MustangLady]

Well I never knew that! so it's only referred to as Union Jack if on a ship or boat,otherwise its just the Union Flag. I thought I'd always heard it called the Union Jack before now, its only recently I'd heard it referred to as the Union Flag. I'd asked a few others and they said the same thing, I'll let them know too now. thanks people

[bigfoot3000]

I never knew that myself Mustanglady, everydays a education here it seems! lol!

[MustangLady]

I read the wikapedia article and didn't even realise the Union Flag was a combination of the 3 other flags, definately learn something new EVERY DAY !

[bigfoot3000]

The internet is a marvelous invention ml!

[mike11111]

Although 'Jack' is a naval term, over the years the term 'Union Jack' has come to refer to the Union Flag without any naval connotations. Only the most pedantic would object nowadays. Consider the naval differentiation between a ship and a boat (don't really want to go there!).

[tamborine]

It's the Union Jaabir (muslim for Jack) ;)

[MustangLady]

lol@ wharf.
@mike11111; I'll still refer to it at Union Jack, to me it don't sound right calling it the Union Flag though it's probably to 'correct' term. I've been calling it Union Jack since I was little. I apologise to anybody out there with 'naval' connections.. boat / ship, there certainly is a difference!

[MustangLady]

lol@tamborine

[mike11111]

The word 'boat' is loosely applied to any sailing vessel, whereas 'ship' generally denotes a larger vessel. Thus it is possible to refer to the QE2 as a 'boat', though one would not refer to a rowing boat as a 'ship'. I have been given to understand that the difference in naval terms is that 'boat' refers uniquely to a submarine, whereas all other vessels are 'ships'. Being ex-RAF I wouldn't know for sure.

[MustangLady]

well Mike11111, another thing learnt today. And would a sub really be referred to as a 'boat'? that one surprised me!

[mike11111]

Perhaps someone with RN experience will confirm the above or otherwise. I know that the Services can be very picky about terminology. When I was a new recruit in the RAF I was given a right roasting for using the word 'aeroplane' instead of 'aircraft'. Also, to refer to the Service as 'The Raff', instead of spelling out the letters, was tantamount to heresy.