Last modified: 2017-09-13 by ian macdonald
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The Australian Military Regulations 1927 'as made' on 14 December 1927
introduced a new Union Flag for the Military Board at Regulation 722. This
provision also appeared at the equivalent Paragraph 1194 of the Army's
Australian Military Regulations and Orders (AMR&O's):
'The Union Flag
bearing in its centre as a distinguishing mark, a crown on a blue shield with
the words "Military Board" on a white scroll in the lower half of the shield may
be flown by the Military Board.' This flag could be flown for the Military Board
as a whole, afloat and ashore including as a car-flag. The 'blue shield'
probably meant the blue badge disc itself, rather than a blue shield-shape on a
white disc.
Jeff Thomson, 10 November 2015
On 23 January 1941, the Military Board Union Flag prescription was replaced
with an Australian Blue Ensign version:
'The Ensign of the Commonwealth
bearing on the fly thereof, as a distinguishing mark, a crown on a blue shield
with the words "Military Board" on a white scroll in the lower half of the
shield may be flown by the Military Board or a member thereof when embarked upon
duty in boats or vessels.' This flag could be flown by the Military Board as a
whole and by individual Board members, but only afloat. There was a separate
non-ensign car-flag, so this Army ensign did not have a 2:3 car-flag version.
The blue shield was probably not placed on a white disc, so may have been
invisible against the blue flag field.
In April 1942 the Military Board
was suspended in favour of a Commander-in-Chief, General Blamey, so the flag
went out of use and was not reinstated after the war. However it remained in
legal effect until the flag-related Regulations 721-723 of the Australian
Military Regulations 1927 were repealed on 26 February 1947.
Jeff Thomson,
10 November 2015
From 23 January 1941 the small Union Flag was replaced by a car and mounted-orderly flag for all members of the Military Board. It was 9 inches by 6 inches and was described at Regulation 722A as 'Flag, distinguishing, Headquarters of an Army (red, black, red), bearing in its centre, as a distinguishing mark, the Royal Crest in gold, above the words 'Military Board' on a white scroll.' Like the Military Board Blue Ensign which was flown when embarked in boats and vessels on duty, it became dormant after the Military Board was abolished on or about 31 March 1942 and was repealed from the Regulations on 26 February 1947.
From 27 February 1947 the Chief of the General Staff flew a Commonwealth Blue Ensign with the addition of the Royal Crest, both afloat and from motor cars. The other Military Board members used a flag described in the Australian Military Regulations and Orders (AMR&Os) paragraph 1193 as;- 'All other Military members of the Military Board - Flag, distinguishing, upper half red and lower half blue, with Royal Crest in gold embroidered on both sides'. There was a 6 feet by 3 feet version to be flown in boats and vessels, and a 9 inch by 6 inch car-flag. There were no longer references to use of the flags by mounted orderlies. In 1956 it was noted that the wording of the prescription excluded civilian members of the Military Board from having the flag flown, but on 7 May 1956 there was a directive from the Military Board that the flag could be flown for the civilian members. Presumably this flag continued until final abolition of the Military Board around 1976.
Jeff Thomson, 4 September 2015