The Australian Red Ensign
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| Acquired in Glasgow on 11 November 1918, the day the Armistice was signed, by 1378 Corporal Arthur William Skyring, of 4 Australian Broad Gauge Railway Operating Company, AIF. | Acquired in London on 12 November 1918, the day after the Armistice was signed, by 1378 Corporal Arthur William Skyring, of 4 Australian Broad Gauge Railway Operating Company, AIF.
It was hard to obtain Australian flags in Britain during the First World War and this very small example was all that Skyring could find in London. |
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Queensland Public Service Patriotic Carnival at the Exhibition Grounds, 12 October 1918. "To assist our Soldier Boys, their Wives & Dependants". |
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Associated with 421324 Flying Officer Morris Dolf Freudenstein RAAF, who served with 640 Squadron RAF (Wellington Bombers) during World War Two. It is claimed he carried the ensign whilst on operations. |
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"These Colours Don't Run" |
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Unusual WWI Postcard with the embossed words on front "To My Aunt From Camp", followed by the written words "with love from Bob and Bill". The back reads: "Dear Auntie & Uncle Just a few lines to let you know that I am still alive. Cousin Jack is looking after us very well. We stayed out at his place last Saturday night and enjoyed ourselves. Well this is all I have to say. So Goodnight. I remain your loving nephew. Bill & Bob". |
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| Australian Red Ensign. USA National Flag, Union Flag of UK. AIF Recruiting poster, circa 1917. | Australia will be there (with a Red Ensign). |
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| Australian Comforts Fund pin back button with the Red Ensign in the background, 1918. | Hindley St Decoration Committee for the visit by the Prince of Wales (with Red Ensign). |
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| Corop Peace Day 1919 with Red Ensign. | 1917 Australia Day pin back badge. |
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| America Day badge (with Red Ensign). | Aust. Comforts Fund Appeal badge with Red Ensign. |
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This 1908 souvenir of the visit of the American "Great White Fleet" to Australia shows the Red Ensign (with the original 6 point Federation Star). The fleet and its hosts had nothing to do with the Merchant Navy so it is just another example of the Red Ensign being used as a Civil Flag. |
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14th Battalion AIF certificate to Private Albert Sherlock for Great War service clearly showing the Red Ensign along with an (authorised) photo of King George V. |
This 1916 catalogue for a piano solo march honouring the Anzacs clearly shows an Australian Red Ensign, stylized in the same or similar manner to that applied to the other national flags.
The Allied Commander Pays The Highest Tribute To The Australian Forces
On November 7th 1920 the remains of an Australian soldier and a French soldier were buried in the Amiens Cathedral. The Bishop of Amiens and Marshal Foch expressed themselves thus:
The Bishop of Amiens: "We bow to you, Messieurs les Australiens, for the magnificent deeds that you did in those days, now happily at an end, for your country and for France, and for the victory of hope and sanity. The soil of France is transfigured to a new divinity by your sacrifices. In the whole of history we cannot find an army more marvellous in it's bravery, and in the war there was none that contributed more nobly to the final triumph".
Marshal Foch: "We intend today in Amiens to express to you and the Commonwealth of Australia our gratitude......Our aspirations and our will had to be agreed, they could not be too closely allied. Although our task was never easy, it was made less difficult by the patriotism and the passionate valour of the Australians which served as an example to the whole world. That wonderful attack of yours at Villers Bretonneux was the final proof, if any were needed, that the real task of the High Command was to show itself equal to it's soldiers. You saved Amiens. You saved France. Our gratitude will remain ever and always to Australia.
Note the Australian Red Ensign.
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| Four pin-back badges from 1918 or 1919 showing the use of the Red Ensign and the Union Jack. | ||