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Nailing the colours
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Nailing the colours is a practice dating back to the Age of Sail that expresses a defiant refusal to surrender, and willingness to fight to the last man.
The crew of Vengeur du Peuple nailing the colours. This is an element of the later propaganda surrounding the event, and did not happen historically.
The crew of Vengeur du Peuple nailing the colours. This is an element of the later propaganda surrounding the event, and did not happen historically.
Striking the colors
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Striking the colors—meaning lowering the flag that signifies a ship's or garrison's allegiance—is a universally recognized indication of surrender, particularly for ships at sea. For a ship, surrender
Nailing the colours
…fight only while flying their national flag. Flying another flag was considered to be a legitimate ruse de guerre only until the beginning of the fight. Striking the colours was a sign of surrender. Indeed, when shot or shrapnel felled a ship's flag (such as by severing the halyard that held it up), her opponent would cease…
HMS Iphigenia striking her colours at the Battle of Grand Port in 1810
HMS Iphigenia striking her colours at the Battle of Grand Port in 1810
Ville de Paris striking her colours at the Battle of the Saintes in 1782
Ville de Paris striking her colours at the Battle of the Saintes in 1782