![[Old War Ensign of India]](../images/i/in~w.gif)
Last modified: 2013-07-20 by ian macdonald
Keywords: india | military | navy | war ensign | rank flags | elephant (yellow) |
Links: FOTW homepage |
search |
disclaimer and copyright |
write us |
mirrors
|
|
|
by Željko Heimer
War ensign of India: St. George's cross with national flag in canton, ratio 1:2 (from Flagmakers Catalogue).
Željko Heimer
In a display of the three service flags in the Defense Planning Staff briefing room, was an Indian Navy white ensign with the fly end truncated to conform the size to the 2:3 dimensions of the other two flags on display. Also, the naval ensign had the wheel (chakhra) on the white stripe of the canton dark gold instead of blue. I have no idea why; the ensign in the lobby of the naval officers' club had a standard blue chakhra.
Joe McMillan, 3 December 2000
In the July issue of the US Naval Institute's Proceedings, there's an
article on the Indian Navy, illustrated with a number of photos taken at the
Navy's recent Fleet Review. It appears to me
that the Indian naval ensign's proportions are 2:3. Also, the overall red
cross of the FOTW image looks wider than the ones of the ensigns in the
photograph.
Tom Gregg, 15 July 2001
![[Admiral]](../images/i/in~adm.gif)
2:3, by Željko Heimer
A white flag with a red cross throughout and A blue Chakra (on white
"background") in the middle of the cross, almost reaching the white fields. No
doubt, a British influence is obvious here, as in many other Indian flags.
Željko Heimer, 8 November 2001
![[Vice-Admiral]](../images/i/in~vad.gif)
2:3, by Željko Heimer
As Admiral, defaced with a red ball in canton.
Željko Heimer, 8 November 2001
![[Rear-Admiral]](../images/i/in~rad.gif)
2:3, by Željko Heimer
Same as the admiral's flag defaced with two red balls, one in first and one in
third quarter.
Željko Heimer, 8 November 2001
Admiral's flag shaped as swallow-tailed "broad pennant".
Željko Heimer, 8 November 2001
![[President's Colour of the Indian Navy]](../images/i/in^nvclr.gif)
by Joe McMillan
From Das (1981),
the President's Colour was first presented to the Indian Navy in 1950. It
was a 36 x 48 inch (approx. 91 x 122 cm) flag based on the then-naval ensign,
white with a St. George's cross and the Indian national flag in the canton. On
the center of the cross was the state emblem--the Ashoka lions capital--in gold
and in lower fly the elephant emblem from the president's personal standard, as
in other Indian President's colours. Das says the elephant was silver fringed
with gold thread, but his illustration shows it gold. I suspect he meant to say
it was embroidered in silver gilt thread, which would make more sense,
especially on a white background, so I've shown it in gold color. This flag
presumably will be changed, if it hasn't already been, to conform to the design
of the new Indian ensign, which has the naval badge in blue in place of the St.
George's cross. I've shown the flag without fringe. I'm not sure whether it has
it or not--the Sovereign's colour of the Royal Navy does not, and India might
follow that precedent.
Joe McMillan, 27 January 2003
Confirming the gold color, the following is from the prominent Indian
newspaper The Hindu, writing on 8 May 1951 about the first presentation of this
colour:
"The President's Colour consisted of a white ensign with the State emblem--the
Asoka lions--embroidered in gold on the centre. An elephant, which in the
President's flag signified strength, was also embroidered in gold in the canton
diagonally opposite the one containing the National Flag."
This article appears on line at
http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2001/05/08/stories/10081045.htm
Joe McMillan, 4 February 2003
The photo of the colour dipped in salute to the President of India at the
International Fleet Review in 2001 appears to show no fringe. Gold cord and
tassels, however. See
http://www.rediff.com/news/2001/feb/17ifr25.htm
Joe McMillan, 5 February 2003
