Last modified: 2023-06-03 by 
zachary harden
Keywords: rank | military | pennant | marshal of the navy | admiral | general | vice admiral | lieutenant general | rear admiral | major general | senior officer | elephant | anchor: fouled (blue) | anchors: crossed (yellow) | crown: thai |
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![[Ketu or Chan 1891 Rank Flag (Thailand)]](../images/t/th~rk891.gif)
image by Jaume Ollé, Miles Li and Eugene Ipavec
From the Singha Beer source:
The Ketu or Chan Flag (B.E.2434) [1891 AD]According to the description, this appears to be a 1:1 flag whereas the image is 2:3. But elsewhere the term "square" has been used to designate rectangular flags.
This is a square, dark blue flag, in the middle of which stands a white elephant – in full caparison – on a slightly raised dais. It is facing in the direction of the flagpole. [Identical to the Flag on State Buildings, with no white circle and a smaller elephant.]This flag was originally initiated by King Rama V, following a special Royal Decree, pertaining to the design of Siamese flags (R.S.110 of B.E.2434 [1891 AD]). Later, in B.E.2440 [1897 AD], the Keta [sic] underwent a change of design to emerge as the Chan flag, once used to denote the various ranks of offices in the Royal Thai Navy, ranging from that of Lieutenant General to that of the Commander-in-Chief. During the reign of King Rama VI (B.E.2453 [1910 AD]), it was used on the official flag [sic – maybe "as the official flag"?].
Santiago Dotor, 05 Nov 1999
![[Marshal of the Navy 1891-1936 (Thailand)]](../images/t/th~189fa.gif)
image by Jaume Ollé, Miles Li and Eugene Ipavec
From the Singha Beer source:
The Flag of a Marshal in the NavyFrom the appearance of the flag and the way it is chronologically placed in the Singha Beer source, I am assuming this is a pre-1936 flag.
This is a rectangular dark blue flag, in the middle of which stands [a] white elephant – in full caparison – standing on a raised dais. In the top left-hand corner, there are two crossed anchors under a yellow crown.
Santiago Dotor, 12 Nov 1999
![[Naval Jack and Admiral 1891-1917 (Thailand)]](../images/t/th~189ja.gif)
image by Jaume Ollé, Miles Li and Eugene Ipavec![[Vice Admiral 1891-1917 (Thailand)]](../images/t/th~189va.gif)
image by Jaume Ollé, Miles Li and Eugene Ipavec![[Vice Admiral 1891-1917 (Thailand)]](../images/t/th~189ra.gif)
image by Jaume Ollé, Miles Li and Eugene Ipavec![[Vice Admiral 1891-1917 (Thailand)]](../images/t/th~189co.gif)
image by Jaume Ollé, Miles Li and Eugene Ipavec
![['Pu Yai' Naval Officer's Flag 1897-1936 (Thailand)]](../images/t/th~nof97.gif)
image by Suttipong Phuensaen, 17 August 2021
Flaggenbuch 1939 shows a blue pennant with the fly (3/5ths length) coloured white as Halbflotillenchefstander or "pennant of a Half-Flotilla Commander".
Santiago Dotor, 05 Nov 1999
From the Singha Beer source:
Pu Yai Rlag [sic – surely "Flag" was intended]
This is a triangular flag, 36 cms. wide at the base and 75 cms. long, with a chakra in the middle. The flag is divided into two parts. The left side is dark blue, while the right side, which tapers off to a point is white. It was designed in B.E.2440 [1897 AD] in accordance with Royal Decree issued by King Rama V, was used alongside the Crocodile's Tail Flag.The latter was flown from the main mast, white the Pu Yai flag was flown from the stern of the ship, denoting that high-ranking officers from a frigate [sic – this is most probably a wrong translation of "fleet"] were on board that particular vessel. In cases where the high-ranking officer happened to be a general, the General's flag would be used instead.
The Pu Yai flag was in use until B.E.2479 [1936 AD].
Santiago Dotor, 12 Nov 1999
No. 12. THE SENIOR OFFICER'S PENNANT. The Senior Officer's Pennant shall be 30 inches long by 10 inches broad at the mast tapering to the point. The first 1/3 is to be dark blue with a white "Chakr" in the centre, and the remaining 2/3 white. This Pennant is to be hoisted on the mizzen top of a ship when in command of the Senior Officer, while that ship is at anchor. If the ship has no mizzen top, the Pennant can be hoisted where it is best seen. "Flag Regulations for the Kingdom of Siam" (1899)
Suttipong Phuensaen, 17 August 2021
From the Singha Beer source:
The Flag of a General of the Navy (B.E.2479) [1936 AD]The Chakras in these images are possibly wrong, since they appear as yellow whereas they are described as white. Also, those in the Admiral's flag are described as "tracing the shape of an equilateral triangle" – as in the current Vice Admiral's flag – and pictured differently.
In B.E.2479 [1936 AD], flags signifying the various naval ranks were divided into four categories, in accordance with Article 8 of a special Royal Decree, issued in the same year, these consisted of the Marshal's, the General's, the Major General's and the Lieutenant General's flag. Use of these flag[s] was discontinued in B.E.2522 [1979 AD].
Santiago Dotor, 05 Nov 1999
![[Marshal of the Navy 1936-1979 (Thailand)]](../images/t/th~mar36.gif)
image by Jaume Ollé and Suttipong Phuensean, 19 Aug 2007
From the Singha Beer source:
In B.E.2479 [1936 AD], flags signifying the various ranks were divided with four main categories in accordance with Article 8 of a special Royal Decree concerning flag[s] – the first are being [sic] that of a Marshal of the Navy. This was a rectangular, dark blue flag, with four white "chakras" in each corner. In the middle are two crossed anchors beneath a Crown – all of which are decked out in yellow. This flag was used until B.E.2522 [1979 AD] when it was discontinued.
Santiago Dotor, 12 Nov 1999
![[Marshal of the Navy 1936-1979 (Thailand)]](../images/t/th!mar36.gif)
image by Jaume Ollé and Eugene Ipavec
Suttipong Phuensean, 19 Aug 2007
![[Admiral 1936-1979 (Thailand)]](../images/t/th~adm36.gif)
image by Jaume Ollé and Eugene Ipavec
From the Singha Beer source:
Admiral FlagIdentical to the current Vice Admiral Rank Flag, with yellow, clockwise Chakras instead of counterclockwise, white ones and with the two bottom Chakras halfway up the flag's height instead of near the bottom.
The flag of a General of the Navy is a rectangular, dark blue flag, with three Chakras tracing the shape of an equilateral triangle.
Santiago Dotor, 05 Nov 1999
![[Vice Admiral 1936-1979 (Thailand)]](../images/t/th~vad36.gif)
image by Eugene Ipavec and Jaume Ollé
From the Singha Beer source:
Vice Admiral FlagIdentical to the current Rear Admiral Rank Flag, with yellow, clockwise Chakras instead of counterclockwise, white ones.
The flag of a Lieutenant General in the Navy is a rectangular dark blue flag with two with [sic – "white"?] Chakras, one above the other.
Santiago Dotor, 05 Nov 1999
![[Rear Admiral 1936-1979 (Thailand)]](../images/t/th~rad36.gif)
image by Eugene Ipavec and Jaume Ollé
From the Singha Beer source:
Rear Admiral FlagIdentical to the current Commodore Rank Flag, with a yellow, clockwise Chakra instead of a counterclockwise, white one.
The flag of a Major General in the Navy is a rectangular, dark blue flag with a white chakra in the middle.
Santiago Dotor, 05 Nov 1999
![[Senior Officer 1936 (Thailand)]](../images/t/th~so.gif)
2:5
image by Miles Li and Eugene Ipavec, 30 September 2009
From the Singha Beer source:
The Flag of the Acting Commander-in-Chief (B.E.2479) [1936 AD]This pennant appears in Flaggenbuch 1939 as a Dienstalterstander or "seniority pennant".
This is a triangular white flag, with the base measuring two-fifths of its length. In the middle stands a dark blue anchor.The flag first made its appearance following a special Royal Decree, issued in B.E.2479 [1936 AD]. Nowadays, however, use of this flag has been discontinued.
Source: Flaggenbuch; Flags of All Nations.
