h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

The little tag with the washing instructions is at the bottom??

flags have a toggle at the top and a lanyard at the bottom

horizontal striped flags can be flown upside down and a difference seen

vertical stripped flags you could not see any difference

it would not matter which colour was closest to the mast as the toggle and rope are only on one side

What might be the purpose of wanting to invert them

to sereptitiously warn of danger

say if pirates had taken a ship and were holding hostages

you might be able to invert the flag to alert other ships

Good ideas but no

After a larger event

does it show the ship has been taken as a prize ship

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For the Union Flag it says, "The King is Dead".
(and, 'Long Live the King').

Whereas, at half-mast (the right way up) it conveys a lesser catastrophe - a death in the Royal Household.

Its to do with the flag its self

I don't think it's naval as the only flag a UK ship can fly at sea is the appropriate ensign. Prize ships flew the victor's flag over the losers.

Flippant answer, if a flag is upside down someone needs serious words with the colour party.

Is it to do with rules about flying them?

Prize ships flew the victor's flag over the losers

+3 Rosemary

Now what did thay do on land

put their hands up

nope

I'm guess here - they put their own flag back up, but upside down?


Geggs

Very close

If a flag (such as the old regimental colours) is laid up, it's normally hung on a horizontal pole.

Correct +1 DGI
But regimental colours before that

Erm waits for . A white flag?

You are on the right track so close

Black flag?