Flag interpretation 1880 Scottish ship

[Mart 'n' Al]

Can anyone help with these flags from a ship, The Damascus, mastered by an ancestor in about 1880.  They are from a painting of the ship, s0 might be stylised, rather than genuine.  I am particularly interest in the strip of 4.  Do they say something, (like Aye aye, me 'earties, etc?)

Damascus (Number: 15792) - Master: James Laird 1879-80
launched 9 Feb 1857
She was a 3 masted wooden sailing ship both passenger & cargo, built by Walter Hood & Co., Aberdeen
Technical specs:
Tonnage: 975 grt / 950 nrt /
Length:   206.7 ft
Breadth: 33.8 ft
Depth: 20.9 ft    

Original owner Thompson & Co., Aberdeen
Subsequent owner and registration history: in 1880 William Henderson, Aberdeen.
18xx Sold Norway. In 1893 J. Gjersoe, Christiania, Norway Re-named MAGNOLIA

Martin

[philipsearching]

There seem to be have been various signal codes over the last few centuries.  I don't think the one I found http://www.beaufortonline.com/nautical-flag-guide/ would help much!

Stop instantly
Keep clear
Reverse course
(I am Spanish?)

Sounds like dialogue from Fawlty Towers meets The Navy Lark!

Philip

[jim1]

Being a complete land lubber a Google search throws up (maybe not the best term to use as we're on the sea)
From the top:
L-stop your vessel instantly
T- keep clear
R-reverse course
Q- I request free pratique
I think it all means "get out of the way I've got no brakes"

[Mart 'n' Al]

Thanks to both of you so far.  That will cause a laugh in the family.  I have a notion that some combinations can mean something more than just the individual flags?  Is that so? 

LTRQ stands for "Long Term Request Queue" these days, whatever that means.

I tried searching for images of 'LTRQ flags' and got into a strange netherworld of various sexual choices!

Any more help is welcome.

Martin

[jim1]

From the top:
L-stop your vessel instantly
T- keep clear
R-reverse course
Q- I request free pratique
I think it all means "get out of the way I've got no brakes"

The last line is non nautical.

[John915]

Good afternoon,

As it is flying as a group of 4 then it means either, a geographical term, a ships name or a bearing.

To have any of the individual meanings quoted the flags would have to be flown seperately. Not in a linked group.

The blue and yellow squares should be black and yellow I think.

John915

[philipsearching]

As it is flying as a group of 4 then it means either, a geographical term, a ships name or a bearing.

To have any of the individual meanings quoted the flags would have to be flown separately. Not in a linked group.

The blue and yellow squares should be black and yellow I think.

Spoilsport    I was enjoying being silly!

You are, of course, absolutely right about the group of four.  I don't think we'll ever know what it means without the codebook (and I don't think admiralty or other codebooks are online)

Philip

[Mart 'n' Al]

I wonder if it is an instruction to the artist "Just use any old flags, it'll confuse my descendants".

What about the top flag, red and blue with the star?

Martin

[philipsearching]

https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/gb~hfaa.html#abcl
shows it as the flag of the Aberdeen & Commonwealth Line, formerly the Aberdeen Line.
https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Aberdeen_Line

Philip