Circa 1900 Navy boat flag

[Brian]

I am hoping you can help me with some research. I have a No. 8 size boat flag that belonged to Lt. Harry Caldwell, the first commander of the USS Holland, the Navy's first commissioned submarine (1901). While I can say for sure the flag belonged to Caldwell, I can't tie it directly to the Holland. Most photos show that the Holland flew a larger boat flag...maybe a No. 6. One photo shows what could be a smaller flag.

Caldwell's only other command was in 1917 when he commanded a two turret monitor that was guarding New York harbor. Photos show that this ship flew a much larger standard naval ensign.

Here is my question...are there any traditions in the Navy of an outgoing officer receiving a flag after a change of command? Is there any other official way a command officer would receive a flag?

It seems logical that the flag is connected to the Holland, I'm just looking for some concrete wat to tie them together.

Any info will help...Thanks!

[NAVA1974]

Flags of Maritime Nations 1899 shows three different sized boat flags, No. 6 was 3.52 x 6.67 ft, No. 7 was 2.90 x 5.50 ft, and a No 8 boat flag was 2.37 x 4.50 ft. I would expect that the larger flags would be flown in port in good weather while the smaller ones flown in poor weather conditions.

I can't speak to the tradition of commanders receiving flags from their boats, but I suspect it was handled on a case-by-case situation. The Navy would probably not want to officially acknowledge that it gave away government property like that.

Nick A
Columbia Maryland

[Brian]

Nick,
Thanks for the reply. The header of the flag is mostly torn or cut off with only about 1/3 inch remaining. Since that's where it would have been identified as a Navy flag, perhaps it was removed to hide it's origins to anyone but Caldwell himself?

It would make sense that being the commander of the first prototype of a revolutionary new vessel, he would want some kind of memento after leaving the boat.

I guess I may never find the answer. I have had this flag for a long time, but never new of Caldwell's command of the USS Holland until a couple years ago.

Brian

[NAVA1974]

Nick,
Thanks for the reply. The header of the flag is mostly torn or cut off with only about 1/3 inch remaining. Since that's where it would have been identified as a Navy flag, perhaps it was removed to hide it's origins to anyone but Caldwell himself? Brian

Brian,
How many stars are on the flag? What is the star pattern?

Thanks,
Nick A

[Brian]

Nick,
The pattern is 3-2-3-2-3 with all the stars uniformly pointing up. They are machine sewn with a zig-zag stitch. The information that I have says that's regulation for a boat flag from 1900-1916.
Thanks,
Brian

[NAVA1974]

Nick, The pattern is 3-2-3-2-3 with all the stars uniformly pointing up. They are machine sewn with a zig-zag stitch. The information that I have says that's regulation for a boat flag from 1900-1916. Thanks, Brian

Brian,
Yup, that sounds like a Navy Boat Flag all right. I have a few pictured on fllickr.com, including one each of sizes No. 6, 7, and 8:

13 Star Flags - a set on Flickr

All the Navy flags are wool bunting with cotton stars.

Nick A