Why does a country have a union Jack in her flag?

Answer 1

Correctly it's the Union Flag, comprising the crosses of St George, St Andrew and St Patrick, representing three of the countries of the UK. It is technically only a "Jack" when flown at the jackstaff (at the bows) of a ship.

(Not quite)

"The original Union Flag was introduced in 1606 as a maritime flag,

and in 1634 a Royal Proclamation laid down that the Union Flag

was reserved for His Majesty's Ships of War and forbid

merchant ships to wear it..........

It is quite clear that the name Union Jack was the name given to

the distinguishing flag of His Majesty's Ships, and that it is proper

to call this flag a Union Jack when flying in a ship, but this flag

which was formerly purely maritime is now used as the National flag

of Britain and some consider that it is incorrect to call it a Union Jack

when it is not flying in a ship and that when flying ashore

it should be called the Union Flag.

Strictly this view may be correct, and there would be no doubt as

to its correctness if the flagused were the 1900 War Office pattern,

but this is not so, and the flag that is seen in Britain flying from the

Houses of Parliament and other public buildings is the pattern

adopted by the Royal Navy.

Furthermore, it has been called the Union Jack in modern times

in Parliament and so by common useage it is considered that it

IS CORRECT to call this flag, which is to all intents the National flag

of the United Kingdom, the UNION JACK . It would also appear that

the 1900 War Office version should not be called the Union Jack; in

fact it is generally known as the 'Gret Union Flag'."

"Flags of the World"

Edited by E.M.C Barraclough C.B.E., R.N. and

W.G. Crampton M.ED.

Answer 2

The Union Flag of the United Kingdom evolved gradually as England and Scotland united in 1707 to form Great Britain and then Great Britain united with Ireland in 1801 to form the UK. In the first union the red cross of St George (the English flag) was overlaid by the white saltire (x-shaped cross) of St Andrew (the Scottish flag). In the second union a red saltire was incorporated to represent Ireland. The result was the Union Flag. When flown on a jackstaff at sea it is called the Union Jack.

Answer When referring to the Union Flag, the words "jack" and "flag" are considered interchangable, although technically, as pointed out above, a "jack" is flown at sea.

Answer 3

It's not the flag of England it is the flag of the united kingdom

and it's only called the union jack when it is at sea otherwise it's the union flag

Apparently I found out that the it is a mix of all the flags in the United Kingdom

Answer 4

The union jack is used to represent that the country that bears it is colonized by England and England only. However this does not include indigenous people e.g. New Zealad have a union jack but they were first colonized by Maori people

Answer 5

There is some evidence to suggest that the name derives from the use of a small flag, flown from the small mast, mounted on the bowsprit. As at 1627 a small flag was commonly flown in this position

Answer 6

The correct name of the UK flag is the Union Flag and it represents the Union of England, Scotland and Ireland (Northern Ireland now). Strictly speaking, it should only be known as a 'Jack' when it is flown on a Royal Navy warship.

Answer 7

Some Members of the Commonwealth which replaced the British empire retain the union flag as part of their countries flag such as Australia and Newzealand.

Answer 8

Though commonly known, nowadays, as the Union Jack, it is only a Union Jack when flown on a ship. Otherwise, it is the Union Flag.