when does the "union flag," become the "union jack" ?

Answer 1

Firstly in answer to many people on here, the Union Flag is NEVER flown from a Royal Naval vessel, the Royal Navy only fly the White Ensign (The St Georges Cross incorporating the Union Flag in the top left corner)
The Union Flag has been in existence since 1606 and has been called the Flag of the Union (Union Flag) since 1625.
The term Jack Flag refers to the flying of a small flag from the jack staff situated on the bow of a warship, this term was in use before 1605 and always referred to the White Ensign.
The reason the Union Flag is sometimes called the Union Jack goes back to James VI of Scotland who inherited the English crown, Jac is short for Jacobus the Latin for James.

Answer 2

The Union flag is only ever called a union Jack when flown from the Jack staff of a ship of Her Majesty`s Royal Navy. At all other times it is referred to as the Union flag or The Flag of The Union. The Royal Navy are the only maritime group that are actually allowed to fly The Union Jack.

Answer 3

The flag is correctly known as the Union Flag and was only colloquially referred to as the Union Jack as it is only ever flown from the Jack Staff of a warship which is a small flagpole on the bow (front) of the ship (any navy ship not just the admirals).

Royal Navy warships always fly the White Ensign off the Stern (back of) of a ship.

The popular term therefore became the "Union Jack"

Answer 4

The issue of whether it is acceptable to use the term "Union Jack" is one that causes considerable controversy. It is often asserted that "Union Jack" should only be used for the flag when it is flown as a jack (a small flag flown at the bow of a ship), but it is not universally accepted that the "Jack" of "Union Jack" is a reference to such a jack flag and other explanations have been put forward.

In other words, it's the same flag, just using different terminologies in different situations.

Answer 5

When it's flown by a vessel of the Royal Navy. The national flag on ANY RN vessel becomes the Union Jack. The 'jack' refers to 'Jack Tar', the generic nickname for sailors of the Royal navy.

Answer 6

it doesnt the term union jack is used for the jackstaff on a ship, which is the staff that the union flag is flown from however people now refer to the flag as a union jack for reasons that are now lost to the vagaries of time!!!

Answer 7

Hmm, a popular question this week.

There is no such thing as the "Union Flag" and never has been since 1908 when a resolution of Parliament declared that "...the national flag shall be the Union Jack..."

Any distinction arising from its being flown from a ship or not is therefore false.

Answer 8

The Jack flies from the forecastle of a warship
In all other cases the tem Union Jack is an affectionate nickname. Ignore the wigers who regard it a a flag of exploitation and it's political misuse by BNP

Answer 9

Union flag on land: Union jack is maritime

Answer 10

Jellicoe is correct (see Encyclopedia Britannica). Strictly speaking it should only be flown on government and military buildings Britannica states "The general public use it unofficially as a civil flag".