.jpg?w=1)
Lot Essay
Admiral John Nicholas:
In October 1880 he passed out from Britannia Training ship as a midshipman then served on various ships including Minotaur and Furious seeing action in Egypt and the Mediterranean . He rose rapidly through the ranks, becoming Captain of Devonport Dockyard in 1916, Deputy Superintendant King's Harbourmaster of Devonport, Rear Admiral in July 1917, Vice Admiral in 1922 and full Admiral in 1926.
Royal Standards from this period have the lions passant guardant in proportion within their quarter unlike later examples in which they are elongated and out of proportion. The Standard can only be flown when the Monarch is aboard ship or in residence and is carried by the Royal Staff travelling with the Monarch. It is extremely rare for Royal Standards to leave Royal possession although there are a few precedents of Royal Standards being gifted by the Monarch such as from Queen Alexandra to Scott for his expedition and Queen Mary to The Sandringham Company on their departure to war.
The wooden toggle is indicative of this Standard being from a Royal Yacht rather than a Royal Naval ship which would have been more likely to use Inglefield clips.
We are grateful for the kind assistance given by Graham Bartram FFI, Chief Vexillogist, The Flag Institute, London, in the dating of this Standard and the additional information provided
In October 1880 he passed out from Britannia Training ship as a midshipman then served on various ships including Minotaur and Furious seeing action in Egypt and the Mediterranean . He rose rapidly through the ranks, becoming Captain of Devonport Dockyard in 1916, Deputy Superintendant King's Harbourmaster of Devonport, Rear Admiral in July 1917, Vice Admiral in 1922 and full Admiral in 1926.
Royal Standards from this period have the lions passant guardant in proportion within their quarter unlike later examples in which they are elongated and out of proportion. The Standard can only be flown when the Monarch is aboard ship or in residence and is carried by the Royal Staff travelling with the Monarch. It is extremely rare for Royal Standards to leave Royal possession although there are a few precedents of Royal Standards being gifted by the Monarch such as from Queen Alexandra to Scott for his expedition and Queen Mary to The Sandringham Company on their departure to war.
The wooden toggle is indicative of this Standard being from a Royal Yacht rather than a Royal Naval ship which would have been more likely to use Inglefield clips.
We are grateful for the kind assistance given by Graham Bartram FFI, Chief Vexillogist, The Flag Institute, London, in the dating of this Standard and the additional information provided