White Ensign Collection

HMS Conqueror submarine returns to Faslane Holy Loch after sinking Argentine battleship General Belgrano South Atlantic Falklands War, July 1982

Paddle Steamer Leith 1837
The paddle steamer Leith arriving at Grantham Pier, Edinburgh. Built by R.Menzies & Sons for the General Steam Navigation Co 1837 and used by GSNC for coastal service between Leith and London

Lowering the Ensign at Sunset, c1890-c1893. Artist: William Christian Symons
Lowering the Ensign at Sunset, c1890-c1893. A print from Her Majestys Navy Including its Deeds and Battles, by Lieut Chas Rathbone Low, Volume III, JS Virtue & Co, London, 1890-1893

Departure of the Baltic Fleet, 1854. Creator: Unknown
Departure of the Baltic Fleet, 1854. From "Cassells Illustrated Family Paper; London Weekly 31/12/1853 - 30/12/1854"

The Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. The Queens coach passing through Admiralty Arch on the way to Westminster Abbey before the ceremony. 2nd June 1953

British X-Craft midget submarine, World War II, 1945. Creator: Unknown
British X-Craft midget submarine, World War II, 1945. New Weapons. From " His Majestys Submarines". [His Majestys Stationery Office, London, 1945]

HMS Rodney, Royal Navy 1st class battleship, c1890-c1893. Artist: William Frederick Mitchell
HMS Rodney, Royal Navy 1st class battleship, c1890-c1893. A battleship of the Admiral class, HMS Rodney entered service in 1888 with the Home Fleet

White Ensigns decorating the Admiralty Arch during Trooping the Colour celebrations, marking the Queen official birthday and her 70-year Jubilee, London, England

HMS Trafalgar, a Trafalgar Class Attack Submarine, on transit to the fleet review in Portsmouth Dockyard, part of the Trafalgar 200 celebrations

Explosion on board the British battleship HMS Royal Sovereign (colour litho)
2807709 Explosion on board the British battleship HMS Royal Sovereign (colour litho) by French School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

The Nile Expedition 1884-1885: the Naval Brigade under Lord Charles Beresford rescuing Sir Charles Wilson
6030875 The Nile Expedition 1884-1885: the Naval Brigade under Lord Charles Beresford rescuing Sir Charles Wilson, February 1885 (photogravure) by Stewart

Hoisting the White Ensign on board a British warship (colour litho)
6001926 Hoisting the White Ensign on board a British warship (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Hoisting the White Ensign on board a British warship)

The surrender of the German High Seas Fleet, 1918 (colour litho)
968981 The surrender of the German High Seas Fleet, 1918 (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The surrender of the German High Seas Fleet, Scapa Flow)

HMS Rodney, 1st class battleship (colour litho)
2775650 HMS Rodney, 1st class battleship (colour litho) by Mitchell, William Frederick (1845-1914); Private Collection; (add.info.: HMS Rodney, 1st class battleship)

HMS Latona, 2nd class cruiser (colour litho)
2775646 HMS Latona, 2nd class cruiser (colour litho) by Mitchell, William Frederick (1845-1914); Private Collection; (add.info.: HMS Latona, 2nd class cruiser)

HMS Undaunted, 1st class cruiser - belted (colour litho)
2775619 HMS Undaunted, 1st class cruiser - belted (colour litho) by Mitchell, William Frederick (1845-1914); Private Collection; (add.info.: HMS Undaunted, 1st class cruiser - belted)

The Comte de Grasse surrenders his sword to Samuel Hood on the Ville de Paris
PNP325942 The Comte de Grasse surrenders his sword to Samuel Hood on the Ville de Paris, 1782 (litho) by American School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Francois Joseph Paul)

British Maritime Flags, from a French book of Flags, c. 1819 (colour litho)
STC103821 British Maritime Flags, from a French book of Flags, c.1819 (colour litho) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; The Stapleton Collection; French, out of copyright

Captain Cook Taking Possession of the Australian Continent on Behalf of the British Crown, 1770 (colour litho)
5235831 Captain Cook Taking Possession of the Australian Continent on Behalf of the British Crown, 1770 (colour litho) by Gilfillan

H. M. S. Britannia lying off Plymouth (oil on canvas)
BON101601 H.M.S. Britannia lying off Plymouth (oil on canvas) by Buttersworth, Thomas (1768-1842); 48.2x67.9 cm; Private Collection; (add.info)

HMS Thrush, 1st class gunboat (colour litho)
2775654 HMS Thrush, 1st class gunboat (colour litho) by Mitchell, William Frederick (1845-1914); Private Collection; (add.info.: HMS Thrush, 1st class gunboat)

HMS Blenheim, 1st class cruiser (colour litho)
2775637 HMS Blenheim, 1st class cruiser (colour litho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: HMS Blenheim, 1st class cruiser)

HMS Bramble, 1st class gunboat (colour litho)
2775617 HMS Bramble, 1st class gunboat (colour litho) by Mitchell, William Frederick (1845-1914); Private Collection; (add.info.: HMS Bramble, 1st class gunboat)

HMS Speedwell, torpedo gunboat (colour litho)
2775638 HMS Speedwell, torpedo gunboat (colour litho) by Mitchell, William Frederick (1845-1914); Private Collection; (add.info.: HMS Speedwell, torpedo gunboat)

HMS Colossus, 1st class battleship (colour litho)
2775621 HMS Colossus, 1st class battleship (colour litho) by Mitchell, William Frederick (1845-1914); Private Collection; (add.info.: HMS Colossus, 1st class battleship)

HMS Hero, 2nd class battleship (colour litho)
2775615 HMS Hero, 2nd class battleship (colour litho) by Mitchell, William Frederick (1845-1914); Private Collection; (add.info.: HMS Hero, 2nd class battleship)

HMS Magicienne, 2nd class cruiser (colour litho)
2775627 HMS Magicienne, 2nd class cruiser (colour litho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: HMS Magicienne, 2nd class cruiser)

The Kaiser and the Little English Boy - A Reminiscence of Cowes (litho)
3620635 The Kaiser and the Little English Boy - A Reminiscence of Cowes (litho) by Paget, Sidney (1860-1908); Private Collection; (add.info)

Crew of the British submarine HMS E13 remaining implacable under German fire after running aground on the coast of
6000347 Crew of the British submarine HMS E13 remaining implacable under German fire after running aground on the coast of Denmark, World War I, 1915 (colour litho) by Bombled

National naval flags (colour litho)
6001936 National naval flags (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: National naval flags)

HMS Mohawk, 3rd class cruiser (colour litho)
2775623 HMS Mohawk, 3rd class cruiser (colour litho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: HMS Mohawk, 3rd class cruiser)

Lowering the ensign at sunset (colour litho)
2775653 Lowering the ensign at sunset (colour litho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Lowering the ensign at sunset)

HMS Nymph (sloop) (colour litho)
2775629 HMS Nymph (sloop) (colour litho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: HMS Nymph (sloop)

King George V in naval uniform (colour litho)
5996552 King George V in naval uniform (colour litho) by Cope, Arthur Stockdale (1857-1940); Private Collection; (add.info.: King George V (1865-1936) in naval uniform

The Central African Expedition (engraving)
1059236 The Central African Expedition (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Central African Expedition)

HMS Birmingham ramming the German submarine U-15, 9 August 1914 (colour litho)
976430 HMS Birmingham ramming the German submarine U-15, 9 August 1914 (colour litho) by Swanwick, H. G. (fl.1915) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: HMS Birmingham)

The French fleet at Portsmouth (colour litho)
2818216 The French fleet at Portsmouth (colour litho) by Meaulle, Fortune Louis (1844-1901); Private Collection; (add.info.: The French fleet at Portsmouth)

The battle ensign of HMS Mauritius crowning the night scene as the cruisers six inch guns flash out in support of the Fifth Army and the Anzio beach head. Circa February 1944

A sailor from HMS Arrow walks along arm in arm with his wife after arriving back from the South Atlantic Conflict in Plymouth

Aircraft Carrier HMS Implacable July 1949 during the Western union Exercises follows in convoy behind a Royal Navy Destroyer

Motor yacht Mynonie II, 1914. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
Motor yacht Mynonie II, 1914

The steam yacht Shemara under way, 1914. Creator: Kirk & Sons of Cowes
The steam yacht Shemara under way, 1914. Seen here flying a white ensign. Shemara was built by Ramage & Ferguson at Leith in 1899

Admiralty, Westminster, London, 1917. Artist: William Monk
Admiralty, Westminster, London, 1917. Calendarium Londinense, or the London Almanack for 1918, surmounted by a view of the Admiralty on Whitehall

View from the stern of a British warship, c1940 (1943)
It is upon the Navy, under the good providence of God, that the wealth, safety and strength of the Kingdom do chiefly depend, c1940 (1943)

HMS Nymphe, Royal Navy sloop, c1890-c1893. HMS Nymphe was a screw sloop launched in 1888. She was renamed three times, as HMS Wildfire (1906)

HMS Magicienne, Royal Navy 2nd class cruiser, c1890-c1893. A Marathon class cruiser, HMS Magicienne was built in 1888 and sold in 1905

HMS Mohawk, Royal Navy 3rd class cruiser, c1890-c1893. Launched in 1886, HMS Mohawk was an Archer class torpedo cruiser. She was sold for scrap in 1905

HMS Calliope, Royal Navy 3rd class cruiser, c1890-c1893. A Calypso class cruiser, HMS Calliope entered service in 1887. In 1889 she survived an encounter with a tropical cyclone at Apia, Samoa

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The White Ensign, a symbol of British naval power and pride, has witnessed countless historic moments throughout its storied existence. From the majestic Paddle Steamer Leith in 1837 to the HMS Conqueror submarine's triumphant return to Faslane Holy Loch after sinking an Argentine battleship, this ensign has been present at pivotal events that shaped maritime history. One can almost feel the serenity as they gaze upon William Christian Symons' masterpiece, "Lowering the Ensign at Sunset" from c1890-c1893. The golden hues of dusk enveloping the scene evoke a sense of tranquility amidst the chaos of war. During Trooping the Colour celebrations in London, England, White Ensigns adorned Admiralty Arch with regal elegance. These vibrant flags marked not only Queen Elizabeth's official birthday but also her remarkable 70-year Jubilee - a testament to her unwavering dedication and service. In World War II's darkest days, even diminutive vessels like British X-Craft midget submarines proudly flew their own White Ensigns. These brave crafts played an integral role in covert operations against enemy forces. The mighty HMS Rodney stands tall in William Frederick Mitchell's artwork from c1890-c1893. This Royal Navy battleship exemplifies strength and dominance on the high seas - qualities embodied by every ship flying under the White Ensign. Yet not all moments were filled with triumph; tragedy struck aboard HMS Royal Sovereign when an explosion rocked its decks. This poignant color lithograph captures both destruction and resilience amid adversity. Amidst conflicts abroad, Lord Charles Beresford led his Naval Brigade during The Nile Expedition of 1884-1885. A photogravure immortalizes their heroic efforts as they rescued Sir Charles Wilson - a testament to bravery under Britain's revered flag. Hoisting the White Ensign atop a British warship is more than just raising a flag.