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Royal Dee Yacht Club (United Kingdom)

image by Clay Moss, 10 July 2014

Flag of Royal Dee Yacht Club

Flag of Royal Dee Yacht Club

The Royal Dee Yacht Club blue ensign is defaced with a wolf's head erased argent, langued gules', facing the hoist.

A wolf's head was the arms of Hugh de Abrincis (or Lupus) 1st Earl of Chester, William the Conqueror's cousin. He later got into trouble and "lost his head", hence 'erased', meaning violently torn-off, leaving a jagged edge, sometimes shown red. A complete wolf is one of the supporters of the arms of the City of Chester, and a wolf's head is the crest of the arms of the Cheshire Police.
David Prothero, 26 February 2003

Norie and Hobbs (1848) describes this flag defaced with a bird. The error presumably originated when the tongue was mistaken for a beak and the jagged neck for feathers. The error has been repeated in other books including the 1905 Flaggenbuch and the 1923 Album des Pavillons.
David Prothero, 27 February 2003

The Dumpy Pocketbook (1960) has a dog-like head, presumably white, but drawn furred (it's in black and white, so the alternative is that is plain and yellow). But then, this being an English publication from a time with easier communications, they probably asked the club directly.
Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg, 6 May 2003

21 October 1847. Royal title and warrant for defaced Blue Ensign granted. Ten vessels, 240 tons net.

1879. Only two yacht warrants in force; both warrants and club warrant withdrawn.

1883. Desire of all remaining members of club (commodore, vice-commodore, former vice-commodore, hon. secretary and one member) that name of club be changed from Royal Dee to Royal Cheshire. River Dee now silted and unusable. Members sail on the Mersey and the channel between Mersey and Dee. Cheshire Yacht Club formed in 1860 desirous of being included in Royal Dee and called Royal Cheshire Yacht Club; 200 active members and 8 regattas a year.

26 December 1883. Secretary of State, Home Office, has no jurisdiction in the matter of the amalgamation of clubs. Petition must be made when clubs have amalgamated. Would be pleased to grant title to Cheshire if properly requested.

1884. Royal Dee Yacht Club Warrant renewed.

24 March 1928. Warrant cancelled. One warrant issued between 1912 and 1927.

1997. Warrant restored. [National Archives HO144/129/A34030, ADM 116/2500]
David Prothero, 11 July 2014

Burgee

image by Clay Moss, 10 July 2014