Learning about Naval Flag Communication

Author: Amy Ewida

Back when I worked at Signal Hill, visitors would often ask me: “Why is it called Signal Hill?” Many people assumed it was given that name by Marconi after he received the first transatlantic wireless signal there in 1901. However, it was actually named Signal Hill because the location was used as a naval flag signaling station, long before Marconi arrived. I always enjoyed telling visitors about this fun fact, but now I’d like to share a bit more about naval flag communication, as I’ve learned here at Admiralty House.

There is a heavy focus on wireless telecommunications in our museum, since it was once the H.M. Wireless Station. However, another method of communication used by ships at sea  involves signal flags. Before we had radio technology, ships would hoist up distinct combinations of flags to send messages to other ships or to ports. In some ways, flag signaling can be more effective than radio signaling. Think of how sometimes a text message’s tone can be misinterpreted, and sometimes it’s easier to just say things in person! If you heard a radio signal that said, “follow me”, you might not know exactly which ship to follow, but seeing a ship flying that flag would make the message much clearer.

Flags have been used for ships to communicate with each other for centuries, especially to signal the owner or the nationality of a vessel. In 1857, the International Code of Signals was published by the British Board of Trade (and has since undergone many, many revisions). The purpose of this code is to provide a method for ships to communicate with each other across languages, especially if there were obstructions or technical difficulties on board. The first draft of the International Code contained a whopping 70,000 signals with just 18 flags! 

It was initially published in two parts, one for universal and international signals and one for British signals. In 1889, it was reviewed by the major maritime powers at the International Conference in Washington, because they found that having 18 alphabetical flags was not enough for the increasing number of ships for each nation. The first edition left out vowels due to the risk of accidentally spelling out obscene words, but due to the need for more letters, vowels had to be added back in. The new Code also had instructions for night flashing, flag waving, and semaphore. As the demands of the world change, so must the methods of communication, and so the first major revision was issued in 1900.

As you can see on the charts above, they created a standardized flag alphabet, with each letter having a spoken word associated with it to avoid mixing up letters that sound alike. For example, my first name would be spelled Alfa, Mike, Yankee. Generally, single-flag messages would indicate something very urgent. Other messages could use two letters, sometimes with a number added on to change the meaning. A three-letter signal starting with “M” would indicate a medical emergency.

In our museum’s Royal Newfoundland Naval Reserve exhibit, we have an “M” flag and a “P” flag on display. These were used around 1940 to 1960, and came from HMCS Cabot. The “M” flag, standing for “Mike”, would be used to say “my vessel is stopped”. The “P” flag, or the “Papa” flag, would say “All personnel return to ship, we are about to set sail”. If the “P” flag was used at sea instead of in the harbor, it could mean “my fishing nets have hit an obstruction”.

A famous example of naval flag signaling is “England expects that every man will do his duty”. This was the signal sent out by Horatio Nelson, Vice-Admiral of the Royal Navy, from the HMS Victory during the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. We have a model of the HMS Victory on display in our Mount Pearl exhibit, so you can imagine how grand it must have looked in battle with the flags up! The Battle of Trafalgar was massive, as Napoleon went off to invade England with 2000 ships and 90,000 men. Nelson’s message rallied the British fleets, including a familiar face to those of us in Mount Pearl. Sir James Pearl, the founder of the city we know as Mount Pearl, served on the HMS Neptune in that very battle.

Though it has gone through many changes, the flag-signaling method of communication has proven quite useful. As an anthropology graduate, I find it fascinating to see how language can be developed into something universal that spans across cultures and nationalities, and I believe it shows how innovative people can be in times of need. If you are interested in seeing some of the objects I’ve mentioned above, please visit us at the Admiralty House – starting on June 8th, we're open daily until August 31st!

Citations:

Mead, Hilary P. “The History of the International Code.” Proceedings 60, no. 8, August 1934. https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/1934/august/history-international-code.

Parks Canada. “Communication: Flags, Cables and de-Coders.” Government of Canada, December 2022. https://parks.canada.ca/lhn-nhs/nl/signalhill/culture/histoire-history/comm.

P Flag: Admiralty House Communications Museum, accession number 2005-08-13

M Flag: Admiralty House Communications Museum, accession number 2005-08-11

Turner, Joseph Mallord William. “The Battle of Trafalgar, 21 October 1805.” Oil on canvas. Royal Museums Greenwich, 1822. National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, Greenwich Hospital Collection. https://www.rmg.co.uk/collections/objects/rmgc-object-12057.

Naval Marine Archive. “England Expects That Every Man Will Do His Duty.” The Naval Marine Archive – The Canadian Collection, 2006. https://navalmarinearchive.com/research/docs/england_expects_signalflags.html.