Admiral's flag, in silk, presented to Admiral of the Fleet Sir David Beatty, 1st Earl Beatty (1871-1936) by the boys of the National Nautical School, Portishead. The flag is made of silk with a cotton hoist, machine-sewn with a rope and two Inglefield clips attached. The flag was presented in an oak casket (see AAA0702.1).

Before 1864, flag officers flew command flags of red, white or blue according to their squadrons (admirals from the mainmast, vice admirals from the foremast and rear admiral from the mizzen). After the squadronal system was abolished in 1864 all flag officers used the former white squadron command flag with a red cross overall on a white field. With the introduction of steam power and the eventual loss of masts, the three ranks were distinguished by the addition of red balls to the flags of vice and rear admirals (a system formerly just used for boat flags).