DND/CF | Fact Sheet | Flags flown by the Canadian Army

DND/CF | Fact Sheet | Flags flown by the Canadian Army

Flags flown by the Canadian Army

August 16, 2011

Throughout the First World War, the Union Jack was flown by the Canadian Army. During the Second World War, the Canadian Active Service Force flag, commonly referred to as the “battle flag,” was authorized to indicate the Headquarters of the senior Canadian combatant formation overseas. However, by the summer of 1943, Army Council recommended the Red Ensign with the Canadian coat of arms in the fly become the official flag of the Canadian Army. Following the Second World War there was no distinctive flag for the Army, but the Red Ensign was to be the main flag for all components of the Canadian Army. As a whole, the Canadian Army did not have its own flag or Ensign; it simply used the Canadian National Flag when required.

Canadian Active Service Force (1939 – 1943)

Red Ensign (1944 – 1965)

In 1989, Mobile Command requested and received a command flag. It was granted a standard command flag pattern flag with the Canadian Flag in upper canton and the badge of Mobile Command in the fly. When Mobile Command was re-designated Land Force Command (LFC) in 1992, it continued to use the device of Mobile Command for some time. In 1998, the LFC badge was issued. This badge was based on the previous Canadian Army badge of the post war era. The current command flag uses the standard command flag design with a white field and the LFC badge in the fly.

Land Force Command Flag (1998 – Present)

DND/CF | Fact Sheet | Flags flown by the Royal Canadian Navy

DND/CF | Fact Sheet | Flags flown by the Royal Canadian Navy

Flags flown by the Royal Canadian Navy

August 16, 2011

There are three main positions for flags on a ship; the stern, masthead (top center of ship) and jack staff (bow), with the most senior position being the stern. In 1911, the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) was granted permission to fly the White Ensign at the stern of the ship as its principal identifying flag. By the same order, the Blue Ensign was permitted to be flown at the jack staff as the distinctive flag of the Dominion of Canada. During the First and Second World Wars, both of these flags would have been flown by His Majesty’s Canadian Ships. The White Ensign and the Blue Ensign were retired from use after the adoption of the Canadian National Flag. Since then, the Canadian Flag has been the Ensign on all Her Majesty’s Canadian Ships.

White Ensign (1910 – 1965)

Canadian Blue Ensign (1910 – 1965)

The Maritime Command flag was authorized as the Canadian Armed Forces Naval Jack in 1968. It is a white flag in the Ensign style with Canadian Flag in the upper Canton and centered on the fly was a “fouled anchor, surmounted by an eagle volant affrontee with head lowered to the sinister; all ensigned with a naval crown.”

Canadian Naval Jack and Maritime Command Flag
(1968 – Present)

DND/CF | Fact Sheet | Flags flown by the Royal Canadian Air Force

DND/CF | Fact Sheet | Flags flown by the Royal Canadian Air Force

Flags flown by the Royal Canadian Air Force

August 16, 2011

In 1921, the Canadian Air Force was authorized to fly the Ensign adopted by the Royal Air Force. It was not until July 1940 that a Canadian version was authorized by altering the original red centre of the roundel with a maple leaf. This continued to be the Ensign of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) until the adoption of the Canadian National Flag in 1965.

RCAF Ensign (1940 – 1965)

At the introduction of the Canadian National Flag, the Ensign was retired from use but its design was used for the command flag of Air Command, approved in 1982. The only change was the use of the Canadian Flag in the upper Canton and the use of a different style of maple leaf.

Air Command Flag (1982 – Present)