British Shipping Line Flag - British & Commonwealth Military Badge Forum

manchesters · #1 12-05-23, 09:38 AM

Hello,

Can anyone ID this WW1 or WW2 period Shipping Line flag shown in the drawing please.

Could be

T & WS

or

TW& S

regards

mike_vee · #2 12-05-23, 11:56 AM

Flag and initials appear to be connected to "T&W Smith" (Thomas & William Smith, North Shields).

https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/T._and_W._Smith

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manchesters · #3 12-05-23, 12:19 PM

Thanks Mike, that seems to fit.

regards

mike_vee · #4 12-05-23, 12:23 PM

More info :

Quote:

Joseph Somes, George Marshall, and T. and W Smith were other important owners who carried on the former East India Company trade, and all had the cross in some form.

Smith avoided any clash with authority by making his cross blue . This flag, bearing the initials of Smith’s Dock Company, the Tyneside and Teeside ship-repairers and builders, now flies over the property and small craft of that firm.

House Flags and Funnels

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manchesters · #5 12-05-23, 12:40 PM

Excellent, thank you

mike_vee · #6 19-05-23, 08:26 AM

Spotted this 'On War Service' badge on eBay , same company but a branch/offshoot :

Quote:

The Company began life as a ship builder with a shipyard at North Shields and split in the 19th Century into two, this part being the Rope side. They had an Admiralty Contract and in the war made steel mooring lines and cables for Royal Navy Ships.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/314597028...Bk9SR8j5ybGGYg

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