When is a Union Jack not a Union Jack?

Well actually it always is.......... On the last cruise I was on there was a very snooty man on the next table to us lecturing his dinner companions who had mentioned seeing the Union Jack in some art work onboard.
"Actually, it's only called a Union Jack when it is flying from the back of the ship, you should call it the Union flag"

Well I'm sorry Mr Snooty man but you were wrong I'm afraid.
Whilst he was right in saying that a flag flying from the bow of a ship is a 'Jack' and this name applies to any flag, the Union Jack works slightly different. His point was that when flying from the back of the ship it was the Union Jack but at all other times it should be referred to as the Union flag.  
This has never been correct but for some reason in recent times this theory seems to have gained some popularity.
The Union Jack came into existence in 1602 with the unification of England and Scotland and was called simply the flag of Britain. The term Union Jack started to be heard from around 1627 and the British Admiralty has always referred to it as such. In fact in 1902 the British Admiralty issued a flyer to all it's officers stating that it was correct and right to use the term Union Jack for all Union flags no matter where they were flying. The term Union Jack was even used in a Parliamentary debate in 1908 when it was decided that 'the Union Jack should be regarded as the national flag'.

So the next time someone gets all pompous with you and tells you you have to call it the Union flag just refer them back to me and tell them their wrong!

Happy cruising