Dipping the flag

[carlisle401]

I hope this is permitted as it was a post that is now closed concerning the Dipping of National and other Flags.

I served in the Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment) and I now live in the USA where I am a member of the Scottish American Military Society. I am the Color Guard Commander for my Post.

As regards flags in the UK. The National flag is the Union Flag and three of the countries within the UK have their own flags.
The Union flag is flown on certain days. Scotland has it's own law regarding the flying of the Saltire and they fly the Union flag on certain days.

In the USA as the Color Guard Commander I have to follow strict flag protocol, especially when Presenting or Posting the Colors.


The US Flag and other National Flags do not get dipped. State and Branches of the Armed Forces do get dipped. I took the question up about the Saltire and it is considered the same as a State flag here in the USA. The British Union flag or any other National flags does not get dipped in the USA. The US Flag in a Color Guard will always be on the Color Guards right or when in file at the front.

As regards the Queen's and Regiment Colours, The Queen's Colours is the Union Flag with some of the Regimental Battle Honours on it. The Regiment's Colours is Coloured in the choice of the Regiment, Royal Scots has blue with Regiment Battle Honours on it. In the case of the Royal Scots we couldn't get all our Battle Honours on it. Queen's Colours always to the right.

As regards the Saltire it will be dipped in the USA as it is not regarded as a Nation, but as part of the United Kingdom which is the recognized National.

When you have seen the dead British Servicemen returning to Brize Norton, their coffins have been draped in the Union flag, no matter which part of the United Kingdom they come from.


Dipping the flag when the Last Post being played by the Royal British legion