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British shipping companies (A)

Aberdeen and Commonwealth Line
Aberdeen Coal & Shipping Co., Ltd.
Aberdeen, Newcastle & Hull Steam Co
Aberdeen Steam Navigation Co.
Adam Steamship Co.
Adelaide Steamship Co.
Aitken, Lilburn & Co. (Loch Line)
Ald Shipping Co.
W.H.J. Alexander Ltd.
Alexandra Towing
Alfred Holt & Co. and Blue Funnel Line
Allan Line
Allan, Black & Co.
Allantone Supplies Ltd.
Allchorn Pleasure Boats

See also:

Aberdeen and Commonwealth Line

image by James Dignan

Based on an illustration by Sampson (1957)
James Dignan, 8 October 2003

I have also a flag with the star pointing upwards.
Jarig Bakker, 8 October 2003

Brown's Flags and Funnels (1940):
Aberdeen and Commonwealth Line, ltd. (Geo. Thompson & Co., Ltd.), London
Funnel: Yellow.
Flag: Red over blue, a white six-pointed star pointing flywise. The star may be intended as having a spanning circle half the height of the flag.
Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg, 18 October 2003

"Flags and Funnels of the British and Commonwealth Merchant Fleets" shows a five-pointed star.
António Martins-Tuválkin, 8 June 2006

Aberdeen Coal and Shipping Co., Ltd.

image by Phil Nelson, 8 April 2000

from Stewart and Styring's Flags, Funnels and Hull Colors 1963

Aberdeen Coal & Shipping Co. Ltd. originated 1902 as the Aberdeen Coal Co. Ltd. changing its name as noted by Brown 1926 but continuing to show the original flag, which had the red letters "A.C.C." on the central stripe, apparently to post WW2 with Brown 1951 still showing this version and Stewart & Styring (1963) being the first to show the new flag.
Neale Rosanoski, 9 February 2004

Aberdeen, Newcastle & Hull Steam Co.

image by Ivan Sache, 12 March 2008

Lloyds Book of House Flags and Funnels (1912) shows the house flag of "Aberdeen, Newcastle & Hull Steam Co., Ltd." (#141, p. 43), a company based in Aberdeen (Scotland), as blue with a white saltire.
Ivan Sache, 12 March 2008

Aberdeen Steam Navigation Co.

image by Eugene Ipavec, 9 August 2008

The house flag of the Aberdeen Steam Navigation Company, blue-white-blue vertical triband. The company's operations included services between Aberdeen and the Aberdeen Wharf in Limehouse for over a century.
Jan Mertens, 7 February 2005

Adam Steamship Co.

image by Ivan Sache, 8 April 2008

Lloyds Book of House Flags and Funnels (1912) shows the house flag of "Adam Steamship Co., Ltd." (Aberdeen), also "Adam Bros. Ltd." (Aberdeen & Newcastle-on-Tyne) (#192, p. 46), as red with a white cross crosslet.
Ivan Sache, 8 April 2008

Adelaide Steamship Co.

image by James Dignan

Based on Sampson (1957)
James Dignan, 10 October 2003

Formed in 1875. Merged with Gulf Steamship Company in 1882. The company has been reorganized from liquidation in 1900 and 1920. The company stopped operating as a maritime entity in 1977 changing its name to Residual Assco Group Ltd. The Marine division became Adsteam Marine Ltd. Australia.
Phil Nelson, 10 October 2003

image by Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg, 22 March 2011

The Adelaide Steamship Co. Ltd.: Sources generally indicate a larger star. According to Loughran (1979) the flag originated from the "X" international signal flag with the addition of the star. The change of name given as 1977 (possibly confusion here with a proposed merger with Howard Smith which the Trade Practices Tribunal refused to sanction) was actually 1997 and the shipping interests handled by Adsteam Marine were mainly tugs, mostly in joint ventures with Howard Smith Ltd. who were the operators. The Adsteam shareholding was immediately put on the market by Adelaide Steam and oversubscribed.
Neale Rosanoski, 9 February 2004

image by Jarig Bakker, 17 Jan 2005

Adelaide S.S. Co. Ltd., Adelaide: white flag, blue cross; in the center a red 8-pointed star.
Source: Brown's Flags and Funnels of British and Foreign Steamship Companies [Wedge 1926].
Jarig Bakker, 17 January 2005

Wedge 1926 version seems to be in the middle.
Jonathan Dixon, 23 March 2011

image located by Neale Rosanoski, 16 April 2011

Adelaide Steamship Co. Ltd. As far as the question of the size of the star is concerned, how it is depicted in various publications is not really relevant as an actual flag is shown by the National Maritime Museum [shown] which has it wholly throughout the cross fesse point. The Adelaide Steamship Co. was formed when Australia was a British colony and the capital was probably British, but its operations have always been Australian based and it was officially registered under the name of Adelaide Steamship Co. Ltd. 15.12.1910 in the Australian companies registry.
Neale Rosanoski, 16 April 2011

The diagonal points of the star extend slightly onto the field. With proportions given of 1092.2mm x 914.4 mm the portrayal by Peter Hans is nearly exactly on.
Neale Rosanoski, 17 April 2011

Aitken, Lilburn & Co. (Loch Line)

image by Ivan Sache

The flag is white with a red triangle charged with the letters G.S.C. Co (white).
Source: 1911 Lloyd's flag book, as illustrated at The Mystic Seaport Foundation.
Ivan Sache, 14 January 2004

image by Ivan Sache

The company originated in 1867 winding up in 1912 and only operated sailing vessels. Originated they used "Clan" names but after Clan Line was formed they adopted a first name of "Loch" hence Loch Line [a name also used by at least two other companies]. Griffin 1883 and 1895 also show this flag for the Glasgow Shipping Co. which they formed in 1870 for the Australian trade and they were also involved with the General Shipping Co. which was formed in 1893 with different investors for the Australian trade and managed by Aitken, Lilburn, and for which two flag versions are shown. Griffin 1895 shows diagonal quarters of red, white and blue with the blue letters "S" and "G" on the white and the white "Co." on the blue [see G264 above] whilst "The Colonial Clippers" by Basil Lubbock shows the same quarters but with the letters being "G", "S", and "Coy." respectively [see G265 above] with the latter arrangement of the first two letters making more sense.
Neale Rosanoski, 22 August 2010

Ald Shipping Co.

image by James Dignan

Based on Sampson (1957)
James Dignan, 12 October 2003

Appears to have been out of Bristol.
Phil Nelson, 12 October 2003

Ald Shipping Co. Formed 1923 and out of Bristol, last ship sold in 1960.
Neale Rosanoski, 9 February 2004

W.H.J. Alexander Ltd.

image by Eugene Ipavec, 18 February 2009

W.H.J. Alexander Ltd. or “Sun Tugs” is yet another towage company featured in the Thames Tugs site. First page of two, mainly showing photos and describing boats’ careers: http://www.thamestugs.co.uk/SUN-TUGS-%5B1%5D.php.
“W.H.J. Alexander Ltd began operating from Wapping as a lighterage company in 1883. 1899 saw the beginning of the use of the prefix 'Sun' on all their vessels. For many years they were based at St. Johns Wharf, Wapping, where 'WHJ' was reputed to often sleep on a camp bed. WHJ died in 1929 and the business was inherited by his six sons, all tug masters, and two daughters. The eldest son, George, then ran the business, and also skippered a tug at Dunkirk. 1938 saw them contributing four tugs and 150 barges to the Silvertown Services consortium and thereafter they concentrated on ship towing. On 27-1-1969 they joined with Ship Towage (London) Ltd to form London Tugs Ltd.”

We are shown a red house flag bearing a white diamond with a large initial ‘A’ without serifs. A larger example is no. 847 in the on-line 1912 Lloyds Flags & Funnels: http://library.mysticseaport.org/initiative/ImPage.cfm?PageNum=42&BibId=11061&ChapterId=8, although, oddly, the initial is not centered here (doubtless an positioning error in printing): ‘W.H.J. Alexander, London’.
Jan Mertens,17 February 2009

image by Neale Rosanoski, 1 January 2010

W.H.J. Alexander Ltd. Jan's comments on the printing in Lloyds (1912) would appear to be spot on. It is not clear in the website scan but the original shows they have the diamond points top and bottom slightly askew as well. Unusual for this publication of course and they have the "A" centred in the 1904 version as it is in Loughran (1979). However the thamestug website does not agree on the diamond because they have shown their diamond as being within the field, not by much top and bottom but definitely at the sides. Their funnel version shows an orange band, when everyone else agrees that it is red, taken no doubt from their sole coloured ship photo which could be taken as showing orange so perhaps it was a reddish/orange shade. But it does make them a bit suspect to me. Then for a bit more variety the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce chart of 1966 also shows a diamond within the flag field but gives a blue "A". The best support for the diamond being throughout the field comes from a model of the "Sun XVI" [assuming that the modeler has been meticulous in detail] at http://www.boatmodelling.com/component/option,com_gallery2/Itemid,87/lang,de/?g2_itemId=14156 which helps for the flag detail but only confuses the funnel colours with 2 orange bands against 1 red band.
Neale Rosanoski, 1 January 2010

Alexandra Towing

image by Jarig Bakker, based on the website of the National Maritime Museum.

The house flag of the Alexandra Towing Co. Ltd, Liverpool. On a white background, there is a red cross with the initials 'ATCL' in the quarters. The flag is made of a wool and synthetic fibre bunting. It has a cotton hoist and is machine sewn. A rope and toggle is attached.

"The company were tug owners, originating in Liverpool and initially operating in the docks and on the Manchester ship canal. They incorporated Alexandra Towing Co. on 11 August 1887. In 1908 the company took over the six tugs of the W. & T. Joliffe fleet, designed for sea towing. The Alexandra tugs followed the passenger liners to Southampton in 1919 and the firm also opened an office at Swansea in 1925. They took over their Liverpool rivals W. H. Lamey in 1968 and various other local firms in 1967 in a bid to rationalize the towage business on the Mersey. In 1974 they took over London Tugs Ltd, forming Alexandra Towing Co. (London) Ltd. During the 1970s they diversified into other transport businesses."
Jarig Bakker, 3 August 2004

Alfred Holt & Co. (Blue Funnel Line)

image by James Dignan

Based on Sampson (1957)
James Dignan, 10 October 2003

Also known as the Blue Funnel Line - Ocean Steam Ship Company. Ltd., and China Mutual Steam Navigation Company Ltd.
Houseflag: Blue, with White Diamond, AH in Black in center.
Jarig Bakker, 10 October 2003

See http://fp.redduster.f9.co.uk/BLUEFUN.htm for a history of the company.
Phil Nelson, 10 October 2003

Larousse Commercial Illustré (1930) shows Alfred Holt (Blue Funnel Line), Liverpool: blue, a white diamond in the centre bearing a black monogram AH (with serifs, the letters joined). The distances from the flag's edges to the diamond's appear equal (that is to say, about one fourth of flag height), while the monogram's height is about one third of the flag's.
Jan Mertens, 16 May 2004

Allan Line

image by Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg, 2 December 2010

The "Allan" Line Steamship Co., Ltd. was founded in Glasgow begin 19th century, and became Ltd in 1897; London, Liverpool, Glasgow, Le Havre - East coast of North America, from the St. Lawrence till the La Plata.
Houseflag: red pennant over a vertical triband of red, white and blue.
Source: Houseflag chart in Brockhaus' Konversations-Lexikon, 14th ed (c.1907)
Jarig Bakker, 13 October 2003

The Allan Line was more formally known as Montreal Ocean Steamship Company. It merged with the Canadian Pacific Line in 1915 and operated as Canadian Pacific Ocean Services afterwards.
Phil Nelson, 13 October 2003

Allan Line. Could also be listed under Canada. They originated from UK as sailing ship operators with the family becoming established on both sides of the Atlantic but the change to steamships was effected by the formation of the Montreal Ocean Steamship Co. in Montreal, with in due course H & A Allan looking after the Canadian side and Allan Brothers the UK side. The 1897 reorganisation saw Montreal Ocean Steamship become Allan Line of Steamships Ltd. and was presumably also registered in Canada with the ships appearing to be registered in either country. The UK company apparently became Hall Brothers Steam Ship Co., U.K. Ltd. and some later sources show the livery under this name and domicile, others inclining to merely using Allan Line. Originally the main flag was blue-white-red, the change being shown by Lloyds 1904 and I suspect that it may have occurred with the 1897 change.
Neale Rosanoski, 9 February 2004

"Flags and Funnels of the British and Commonwealth Merchant Fleets" shows a shorter pennant than shown above.
António Martins-Tuválkin, 8 June 2006

Improper use of French flag in Dublin:
18 June 1868. Captain Robert Jenkins of HMS Royal George at Kingstown reported that SS Moravian owned by J. & A. Allen arrived flying the French flag under a red pennant at the mainmast. The company claimed that the tricolour was their private ensign before it became the French national flag.
[National Archives (PRO) MT 9/47 (M8961/69)]
[see 19th Century ensign legislation for more examples]
David Prothero, 8 October 2003

Allan, Black & Co.

image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 24 October 2010

Allan, Black & Co.
It is a white flag with a black thistle in its centre. The company was located in Sunderland and existed at least since 1910.
Source: Campbell and Evans (1953); plate V, flag no.9
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 25 October 2010

Allan Black & Co. Formed 1901 by William Black and Walter B. Allan to manage the newly formed Albyn Line, they went into voluntary liquidation 7/1966 following the ceasing in business of Albyn Line Ltd. The flag is generally shown in the name of Albyn Line Ltd. often together with the name of the managers in brackets , or as in this case in the managers name only.
Neale Rosanoski, 18 December 2010

Allantone Supplies Ltd.

image by Jarig Bakker, 29 January 2006

Allantone Supplies Ltd., Felixstowe - horizontal 7 stripes of yellow and red; in center orange "A".
Source: Loughran (1995)
Jarig Bakker, 29 January 2006

Allchorn Pleasure Boats

image by Jan Mertens, 5 April 2009

Founded in 1861 by former fisherman Edward Allchorn, Allchorn Pleasure Boats provide tourist excursions from Eastbourne, E. Sussex (GB), May-October each year. Company website: http://www.allchornpleasureboats.co.uk/index.html.
After a long boom period the business declined, and in 1964 Allchorn bought up its only remaining competitor, Sayers Brothers. Variously called William Allchorn & Sons and Allchorn Brothers, the firm is now no longer a family business but presently – after a 2001-2006 stint by Maritima Ltd - owned by Mr Jason Foster.

From the ‘Cruises’ section: “Allchorn Pleasure Boats operate daytime heritage round trip pleasure cruises from Eastbourne's beach to Beachy Head and its famous lighthouse. Each cruise is of approximately 45 minutes duration and features a live commentary on board one of our historic and classic Sussex-built beach boats. (...) Evening Cruises, Theme Parties, Corporate Functions and TV and Film Production can be arranged..."

Two vessels are operated (although one ship, ‘Southern Queen’, is now for sale) while a genuine DUKW ferries passengers to them at low tide and serves as a workhorse: http://www.simplonpc.co.uk/AllchornDUKW.html. Numerous photographs appear on the specialized Simplon PC site, the lower ones clearly showing the house flag: http://www.simplonpc.co.uk/AllchornPleasureBoats.html, quarterly divided blue and white, a red initial ‘A’ (no serifs) placed in the centre.

Additional information:
http://www.eastbournecousins.com/allchornboatsnews.htm
http://nationalhistoricships.org.uk/index.cfm/event/getVessel/vref/1975
http://nationalhistoricships.org.uk/index.cfm/event/getVessel/vref/1976
Jan Mertens, 5 April 2009

British Shipping lines: continued