Spanish Naval ensign (1785-1931)

Spanish Naval ensign (1785-1931). It belonged to Lieutenant James Everard RN (1796-1825). The flag is made of wool bunting with a linen hoist and is hand sewn with the royal arms painted onto the fabric. A rope is attached to hoist the ensign. Design: three horizontal stripes red, yellow and red. On the wider yellow stripe is a cartouche containing the arms of Castile (a yellow castle on red field) and Leon (a white field with red rampant lion). A crown is placed above.

James Everard was born in Norfolk in 1796. His family later moved to Lowestoft and he went to school at Great Yarmouth with the idea of going into the Navy. In 1809 he was a midshipman on board HMS 'Tribune'. He then served in the 'Nymphen' under Captain John Hancock patrolling the waters around Flushing. He briefly served on the 'Liffey' when she escorted the 'Bellerophon' with Napoleon on board. He was present in 'Leander' at the bombardment of Algiers in 1816. The 'Leander' suffered heavy losses, and as a result of his bravery, Everard was promoted to lieutenant in 1816. While on half pay, he resided in Paris, returning to England to serve as 2nd Lieutenant in HMS 'Nimrod'. In 1822 he became 1st Lieutenant in the same ship. He died in 1825 with three seaman from the 'Nimrod', when his boat capsized in Belfast Lough while he was attempting to assist the crew of a Swedish warship caught in a gale.

Original size: 2184 mm x3023 mm