Pedant's Corner

It can't have escaped your attention that 'patriotism' has been sweeping the nation. Lamposts have been given an alternative use, illuminating our streets and supporting decades-old christmas decorations clearly wasn't sufficient use for these metal and concrete pillars, now their drab colours have been enhanced with red, white and blue.

Usually these overt symbols of our nation's identity are only displayed when we compete with the world in the beautiful game. Although interestingly when our troops are tasked with supporting the freedoms we take for granted here in Blighty, the Union Flag is absent from our local streets.

The composition of the flag is composed of the red cross of Saint George (England), the white and blue saltire of Saint Andrew (Scotland), and the red saltire of Saint Patrick (Ireland), representing the union in 1801 of the kingdoms under one monarch. Note that Wales is not represented as it was part of England at that time.

Strictly the term 'Union Jack' refers to a smaller version of the flag flown from the bowsprit of ships to indicate nationality.

If that's not enough pedantry for one day, it's the chaotic way these symbols of national pride are being hung from lamposts. I've weaned myself away from tut-tutting when I see a miss-placed apostrophe, or the ubiquitous use of the word unique, when clearly there is more than a single identical 'unique thing'.

On our National flag to be correctly displayed the broader white diagonal of the cross of Saint Patrick should be positioned on the hoist side of the flag, the side nearest the flagpole above the red diagonal cross.

Yet another upside down flag

Placing the flag upside down is considered lèse majesté and is offensive to some, including this writer. However, it can be flown upside down as a distress signal. While this is rare, it was used by troops under siege during the Boer War and during campaigns in India in the late 18th century.

At first I'd assumed these 'patriots' were unaware of the convention, something that was drummed into me at scouts during church parade, but there are so many inverted symbols, I'm beginning to think it's a very subtle distress signal about our incompetent government.