Ebay: unknown Canadian flag

[rob love]

The PM of the time unveiled his candidate for the new flag at a gathering of veterans in Winnipeg. He was heckled for the duration of his speech. It was the three Maple Leaves with a blue stripe on each end of the flag.

The flag shown on ebay certainly has the 3 components that most felt were important at the time: maple leaves, the Union Jack, and the Fluer-de-lis. Seems to me the government of the time (Liberal) wanted to get away from having the union jack as part of the flag.

The flag shown on ebay seems to be attracting a lot of interest and is a neat piece of Canadiana. If it was one of the proposed replacements, it is interesting that someone went to all the trouble of making it up, and on the old cloth material at that, vice today's nylon.

[chris vickery]

Perhaps one of the originals that were used for samples, Rob?
If that is the case, it would certainly have value as a piece of Canadiana.

[Grant Bowker]

I did a bit of Googling last night and didn't find the eBay flag among the 1965 candidates, but that might just be that I missed or it wasn't posted....

[rob love]

Maybe it was liberated before it was catalogued.

[servicepub (RIP)]

The flag is that of the (Canadian) Senior Combatant Officer of the Canadian Army Overseas.
Here is an article I wrote for the Militaria Collectors Club of Canada recently;

The Canadian Army Flag

Although many Canadians of a 'certain age' may remember the fierce flag debate of the early 1960's few are aware that the Canadian search for a national flag that pre-dates the selection of the modern version.
In 1926, Colonel A. F. Duguid, DSO, Director of the Historical Section and author of the official history of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, submitted a design to the Deputy Minister of National Defence for a national flag. No action was taken at that time by the Deputy Minister and the first attempt at a national flag was quietly set aside by the government of the day.
At the outbreak of the Second World War, and following Canada's decision to embark troops for overseas, it was decided by the Army that a flag was required which would suitably identify the Canadian Active Service Force (CASF). However, it was decided by the Prime Minister that the Union Jack, then the official national flag for Canada, would continue in use although the Red Ensign would be flown at Canadian establishments in order to identify the Canadian contribution to the war.
Nonetheless, Duguid's design was resurrected and its use was recommended by then Major-General Andrew McNaughton as the identifying flag of the senior formation of the CASF in his 27 November 1939, letter to the Minister of National Defence. In describing the flag McNaughton referred to a memo by Duguid which outlines the design as including "three maple leaves proper, conjoined on a white field, the correct device for Canada. Great Britain is represented by the union, in a canton next to the staff. Old France is represented by three gold fleur-de-lis on a blue background, within a circle." The latter device indicating 'an ancient and honourable connection'. All of the elements of the flag were adapted directly from the Armorial Bearings of Canada as assigned by Royal Proclamation of 21 November 1921, and were in keeping with the rules of heraldry. The design was approved by the Cabinet and Militia Councils on 7 December, 1939.
When the 1st Canadian Division sailed for England in December, 1939, the flag was flown from the ship carrying the Divisional Commander with the approval of the Admiral in charge of the movement. During this voyage it was consecrated in mid-Atlantic. On 24 January 1940, the flag, which had unofficially become known as the Canadian Battle Flag, was flown at the Royal review of the 1st Canadian Division where the King expressed approval of the design and accepted a miniature replica presented to him by the Divisional Commander.
As the flag was always intended to be flown by the Commander of the senior CASF formation - often known as the Senior Combatant - it had been predicted that, should a Canadian Corps be formed, the flag would pass to that Commander. Ultimately, the Canadian forces overseas grew to an Army and it was the Army Commander who held the flag. In fact, when McNaughton handed over command of the First Canadian Army to Lieutenant-General Harry Crerar, in January 1944, he sent the flag with a short memo which stated; "On relinquishing Command of the First Canadian Army I hand over to you the Canadian Army Flag with my very best wishes to you and all who serve under your Command."
Little is known of the whereabouts of the original flag although many examples were produced, in a variety of sizes. The design was often used in Canadian Army publications and the author holds examples of the flag on a Christmas card as well as on a match-book cover.

Clive M. Law