12. So soone as you shalbe out of ye English Channell in your voyage outwards bound, you are to wear the Union Flag at ye Mainetopmast head and to continue so to do untill in your returne you shalbe againe in the Channell[276].
At that date Rooke was Vice-Admiral of the Red, and flew, while in the Channel, the red flag at the fore.
Early in 1702 an important alteration was made in the white squadronal colours, which led to the introduction of the St George's cross in the admiral's flag and in the fly of the ensign. It will be remembered that hitherto the white colours consisted of: (1) a plain white flag for the admirals; (2) a plain white ensign with a small St George's cross in the upper canton next the staff; (3) a plain white pendant with a St George's cross at the head. In February, 1702, the Earl of Pembroke, then Lord High Admiral, sent the Navy Board instructions for fitting out the fleet intended to operate against the French; these instructions included:
An account of what Flagg-Ships are ordered to be fitted out at Chatham and Portsmouth, and what Flags they are to wear.
Britannia Ld High Admiral The Standard Sr George Rook Soveraigne Adml of ye White Union Flagg Marq^s of Carmarthen Prince George Rear Adml to L^d Adml. Redd flagg Sr Dav^d Mitchell Boyne Vice Adm^l of ye White Union fflagg Sr Clo. Shovell
Roy^l William Mr Aylmer Vice Adm^l to ye L^d Adm Redd fflagg Victory Sr Jno. Munden R^r Adm^l of ye White Union Flagg St George S^r Staff^d Fairborne Rear Adml of ye Blue Blue Flagg
The Vice Adm^l of the Blue vacant by Mr. Benbow being in the West Indies.
The Lord High Adm^l and the Flagg Ships of his squadron to have Redd Ensignes and Pendants as usual to ye Private Ships.
The Admiral of the White to have Ensignes with the usual Cross in the Canton, with this distinction; that a third part of the said Ensignes for himself and the Flaggs and private Ships of his Squadron are to be White in the middle of the Flye:--and this to be in the whole length of the Ensigne.
The Adm^{ rll} of the Blue and the Flagg Ships of his Squadron to wear blue Flaggs and Blue Ensignes and Pendants to the private ships with the usual Cross in the Canton of each as hath been usually worne by ships of the Blue Squadron.