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Board of Ordnance: Army Council (Britain)

Army Council

Army Council 1905-1945

by Martin Grieve

The shield, without the red border, was also used in the centre of the Union Jack as the flag of the Army Council, authorised in 1905. Although a drawing was sent to the Admiralty it was not put into the Admiralty Flag Book. On 31st October 1919 the War Office wrote asking that it should be included in the Flag Book. The Admiralty "supposed that it may occasionally be flown at sea" and agreed to the request. Authorised by Naval Law Branch letter 34291/19, and added to the 1916 edition in 1920.
David Prothero, 20 September 2004

Army Council 1945-1964

by Martin Grieve

The badge was modified 30th October 1944. Naval Law Branch letter 725/45 authorised an amendment, which was included in errata 7 (1947) to the 1930 edition of the Admiralty Flag Book. I have not seen the details of this amendment. It was probably to make the badge the same as the shield from which it was derived; cannon pointing dexter on a pale blue background. In Gresham Carr's "Flags of the World" (1953 and 1961) the cannon are reversed to point towards the hoist, and the background colour is pale blue. However in BR20, volume II, 1958, although the cannon are pointing to the hoist the background is still dark blue.
David Prothero, 20 September 2004

Army Council car flag 19??-1953

by Martin Grieve

The car flag of the Army Council was different; the royal crest on red over blue, 9 inches square (23 cm). The defaced Union Jack of the Army Council disappeared when the Army Council was abolished in 1964, but the car flag, probably with a St Edward's crown by then, continued as the flag of Military Members of the Army Board.
David Prothero, 20 September 2004

The Army Council was replaced by the Army Board, which uses the same red over blue flag with the Royal Crest in the centre. The ensign used by the Royal Logistics Corps is also called "The Army Ensign" and is still in use - Blue Ensign with crossed swords.
Graham Bartram, 17 September 2004