[YCHistorian]

American Flag UK,

A bit of flag trivia for you. I see you've posted a picture of the Royal Standard. What was the only US warship to ever fly the Royal Standard?
Answer: The destroyer USS Warrington (DD-383). The Warrington moored at Fort Hancock, New Jersey, on the morning of 9 June, 1939 to convey King George VI and Queen Mary of Great Britain across New York Harbor to Manhattan. The King And Queen were in New York ostensibly to visit the World's Fair, however the real reason they were here was to enlist United States aid in preparing for the impending war. My uncle served on the Warrington during WWII. -YC

[YCHistorian]

Here's a photo of the Warrington flying the Royal Standard from the mainmast, enroute to Manhattan with the King and Queen aboard....

[Peter Ansoff]

What was the only US warship to ever fly the Royal Standard?

Hmm. King George V visited the American battleship New York at Rosyth in July 1918. (He toured the engine room and shoveled some coal into one of the furnaces, to the delight of the stokers.) I don't know if the New York flew the royal standard on that occasion -- maybe Admiral Rodman's memoirs or a press account could tell us.

[Peter Ansoff]

I finally had time to look up Rear Admiral Rodman's memoir. Again, he commanded a squadron of American battleships that was attached to the British Grand Fleet during World War I. This quote from his book describes the King's visit to Rodman's flagship, the USS New York:

"Shortly after the Armistice, when our squadron was to sail for home, the king came up to Edinburgh to bid us farewell. During the war, ships did not give full peace-time honors when distinguished guests came on board. . . . But since the war was over and I wished to show my full appreciation of the honor of the king's visit, I obtained permission from the commander-in-chief to render full honors when the king came on board.

"This necessitated the flying of the royal standard during the king's stay on board. As we did not have one, I borrowed one from [British] Admiral Beatty's flag-ship, which, by the way, some one forgot (?) to return. . .

"When the king came over the side, the marines presented arms, the band played the British national air, and officers and men saluted as the royal standard was broken at the main-masthead and my flag at the fore.

"As we walked aft, I said, "Your Majesty, this is a historic day and a proud one for us, for this is the first time in history that the royal standard of Great Britain has ever flown officially over an American man-of-war."

Sorry, YC, but it sounds like the Warrington was not the only US warship ever to fly the Royal Standard. Maybe she was the only one to have flown it while under way.

Peter A.

[YCHistorian]

Peter,

Thanks for that information. I stand corrected. In any case, flying the Royal Standard from a US man-of-war was a rare event, indeed. I have a nice news photo of the Warrington passing the Statue of Liberty, men at the rails, and flying the Royal Standard from the masthead. A tip of the hat to you, sir, for that bit of history. -YC

[YCHistorian]

Peter,

I know that Admiral William S. Sims commanded all United States naval forces operating in Europe during WWI. I wonder what the relationship between Rodman and Sims was? I recently purchased an original hand-colored William Lionel Wyllie etching of the USS Constitution from a gentleman in the UK. The original artwork was dedicated to Wm. S. Sims in 1924. Evidently he was well thought of in the UK. -YC

[Peter Ansoff]

I know that Admiral William S. Sims commanded all United States naval forces operating in Europe during WWI. I wonder what the relationship between Rodman and Sims was? I recently purchased an original hand-colored William Lionel Wyllie etching of the USS Constitution from a gentleman in the UK. The original artwork was dedicated to Wm. S. Sims in 1924. Evidently he was well thought of in the UK.

Admiral Sims was Rear-Admiral Rodman's boss, at least within the US Navy chain-of-command. Rodman's squadron was attached to the British Grand Fleet, and he was under the tactical command of the British C-in-C, Admiral David Beatty. This could have been an awkward situation, but fortunately Rodman and Beatty got along well together and became good friends.

Admiral Sims was very pro-British -- in fact, his superiors in Washington were somewhat suspicious of his judgement because they thought he leaned too much toward the British point-of-view.

Peter A.

[NAVA1974]

I just came across this old thread. I have a UK Royal Standard that was worn by the USS Constitution during Queen Elizabeth's visit in 1976. That ship was, and is, the oldest commissioned warship in the world.

[Peter Ansoff]

I have a UK Royal Standard that was worn by the USS Constitution during Queen Elizabeth's visit in 1976.

Wow! Nick, is there a story about how you acquired that flag?

Peter Ansoff

[Paulhudds]

Originally Posted by NAVA1974

I just came across this old thread. I have a UK Royal Standard that was worn by the USS Constitution during Queen Elizabeth's visit in 1976. That ship was, and is, the oldest commissioned warship in the world.

Unfortunately, the USS Constitution is not the oldest commissioned ship. That honour goes to the HMS Victory, of Nelsonian and the Battle of Trafalgar fame. Her keel was laid in 1759 and launched in 1765, with 3 years of "seasoning" thrown in. USS Constitution's keel was laid in 1794, and launched in 1797. However, the Constitution is the oldest still afloat. Unfortunately, the Victory is, short of a cripplingly expensive refit, pretty much consigned to dry-dock. But Victory is still commissioned as the flagship of the Second Sea Lord of the Royal Navy. Sounds fancy. But she is just used as a museum ship now.