The White Ensign, at one time called the St George's Ensign because of the simultaneous existence of a crossless version of the flag, is an ensign worn on British Royal Navy ships and shore establishments. It consists of a red St George's Cross on a white field, identical to the flag of England except with the Union Flag in the upper canton.
White Ensign flying from HMS Foxhound, 1943.
Striped ensigns flying on English and Spanish galleons in 1588: (enlarge image for detailed view)
The White Ensign flying from a Royal Navy vessel.
A Royal Marine holding up the White Ensign aboard HMS Pegasus, during the Battle of Zanzibar (20 September 1914).
The ensign is a maritime flag that is used for the national identification of a ship. The ensign is the largest flag, generally flown at the stern (rear) of the ship while in port. In ports, depending on the ship's origin, it is sometimes identical with a jack on the bow of the ship. Jacks are more common on warships than on merchant ships.
National civil ensign of New Zealand flown from the stern of Hikitia