Military & Paramilitary Flags of Singapore (Page 1)

Preface

Hello and welcome to the Military and Paramilitary Flags of Singapore site, part of Herman's Mainframe. I am a budding vexillologist; and this page is dedicated to and also to celebrate the much overlooked vexillological scene of Singapore. Vexillology is the study of flags - the design, history, protocols, significance, commonality, etc of flags. Vexillologists are people who study about flags. To learn more about vexillology, the Flags of the World (FOTW) website (and the mailing list) is a good starting point from where I have learnt much from other more experienced vexillologists. Around the world, there also exist various vexillological associations dedicated to this field of study.

The Military & Paramilitary Flags & Ranks of Singapore site is not an official site of any of the Singapore services mentioned in these pages, but I do hope that the information here would be helpful and informative. There are quite a number of images to appear, so please allow some time for them to load. Due to bandwidth limits, the site may at times be temporarily inaccessible. These pages are works-in-progress and as such, there might be some unintended errors as well as missing or incomplete information. Do e-mail me if there is information that requires correction, additional information, and/or other comments if any.

The site relating to flags consists of two pages. Page 1 (current page) is about the general flags of the services while Page 2 deals with the ceremonial flags of the services. You may click on the <Chapter headings> or <Sectional titles> on the Directory list on the left for a direct referral to the sections. To return to the Directory, you may click on the [Return to Directory] links available at the end of each section throughout the pages.

These pages use quite a number of vexillological terminologies. If a glossary is required, please refer to FOTW: Glossary of Flag Terms website for a comprehensive list and their definitions. I am also interested in Heraldry, the art and science of coat of arms, thus I have used heraldic terms where it is appropriate. Heraldry and vexillology while separable are but inter-related and this page will thus also explore a little on Singapore's coats of arms. The different parts of the various arms of Singapore were used by the services which in turn appears on the flags of the services where necessary. 

i - Service Classifications:

The flags presented on these pages are those of Singapore’s military and paramilitary services. Some elaboration on this issue is provided before proceeding as it affects the selection of organisations to be represented here. The ‘military’ would refer to the armed services, which is comprised of the Army, the Navy and the Air Force. The three armed services of Singapore is a unified force under the name 'Singapore Armed Forces' (SAF). The SAF is under the jurisdiction of the republic’s Ministry of Defence (Mindef).

The term ‘paramilitary’ has quite a few definitions, the simplest being "a group of civilians organised in a military fashion". "Military fashion" is understood to be with regards to the hierarchy (structure) resembling that of the armed forces, as well as the presence of regimentation and discipline in training and conduct manifested in the use of uniforms and drills. For these pages, organisations are limited to official government agencies. The purpose and functions of such organisations are mainly with regards to internal security and law enforcement, and if need be, these agencies complement the duties of the armed forces. The armed forces may also assist these home-front services if and where it may be necessary.

By the aforesaid framework, the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) and the Singapore Police Force (SPF) are paramilitary organisations. The reference of these two forces as paramilitary organisations is briefly mentioned in Tim Huxley’s work, Defending the Lion City. I would also, by the above-mentioned framework, include the Singapore Prison Service (SPS) as they have such features. Tim Huxley also classified the National Cadet Corps as a paramilitary organisation in his book although it was not extended to the Police Cadet Corps. I will therefore by the same framework also include the various national cadet corps, the land-air-sea cadets, police cadets and civil defence cadets, as paramilitary organisations.

Apart from the Police, there are other government agencies that are granted the authority to do enforcement work in specialised areas. With the exception of the Prisons department, these other organisations do not fit perfectly into the given paramilitary definition framework as they fulfill the criteria only partially. Such organisations include the Internal Security Department (ISD), the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB), the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA), and the Singapore Customs. Personnel from the ISD and CNB do not don uniforms, however, a rank structure does exist in these departments. The ICA and Customs are uniform-wearing services with rank structures but regimentation is not a feature of these two services. For ease of reference, these agencies have been referred to generally as the "other enforcement services" and for inclusiveness, their flags have been included where information is available.

Singapore Customs is a department under the Ministry of Finance. The SCDF, SPF, SPS, ISD, CNB, and ICA are departments under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and are collectively referred to as the ‘Home Team’. MHA regards the SCDF, SPF, SPS, and CNB as the ‘Home Affairs Uniformed Services’ (HUS). To add on to the classification fluidity, with regards to the protection of Singapore’s sovereignty where "[t]here shall be … no relinquishment of control over the Singapore Police Force or the Singapore Armed Forces … ", the definition of Singapore Armed Forces in the article's context comprises the SAF as well as the SCDF (Constitution of the Republic of Singapore - Part III, paragraphs 6.1b & 6.2). Where mandatory National Service (NS) is concerned, conscripts can be posted to the Army, Navy, Air Force, Police, and/or Civil Defence forces for their NS duties.

The rank structures and insignias of these various services is presented and compared at the Military & Paramilitary Ranks of Singapore page. Military Defence and Civil Defence are two of the five components of "Total Defence" and is provided for by the military and paramilitary services of Singapore. Visit the Total Defence website to learn more.

The various national cadet corps to be mentioned on these pages constitute as only some of the many Uniformed Youth Organisations (UYO) that exists in Singapore. Only the national cadet corps have been included in these pages as they are associated with the main military and paramilitary organisations of Singapore (SAF, SPF, & SCDF). To be noted is that other UYOs also have rich flag histories and practices, some of which are international in practice. Much information and discussion on them is available at the FOTW web sites, for example the flag practices of St John’s Ambulance Brigade.

ii - General History of Singapore & Malaya:

Besides presenting the current flags of the various services in Singapore, also included are notes on historical flags of the services where such information is available. It is helpful and interesting to know the historical flags as they have influenced the present day flags in many ways. As such, a very general knowledge on the history of Singapore (and Malaya/Malaysia) would be very helpful. The chronology here only highlights the events of the colonial period up to independence and the major developments in the usage of symbols and flags that came along with these changes:

1798, 1819, and 1824: Penang (1798) and Singapore (1819) were established as British ports. Malacca was obtained after the signing of the Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1824.

1826: Formation of the British Straits Settlements, comprising the three acquired British ports. In 1907, Labuan was incorporated. On 1st April 1867, the Colony of the Straits Settlements became a Crown Colony, whereby it was governed directly from London rather than through administrators of British India under the previous arrangement.

The British Union Flag was the official flag of the Straits Settlements. The Straits Settlements also had a blue colonial ensign defaced with a badge. Its use spanned from 1826 to 1946 (World War II: Japanese Interregnum 1942 to 1945). The badge of the Straits Settlements was a red lozenge, charged with a white inverted pall - a heraldic charge in the form of the letter 'Y'. On each arm is charged an imperial crown. The badge was used for government purposes but was not officially authorised however. This blue ensign charged with this badge was used as the naval ensign of the Straits Settlements Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. This colony badge was used in the service badge of the Straits Settlements Police and the service badge of the Straits Settlements Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve.

In 1911, the Arms of the Colony of the Straits Settlements was granted. The Arms was comprised of a quartered shield bearing the following charges representing each settlement in the following order: 

First quarter: Singapore (a gold lion passant guardant on a white tower all on a red field), second quarter: Penang (an Areca palm - Pinang or Betel nut palm), third quarter: Malacca (a sprig of leaves and fruits of the keruing tree), and fourth quarter: Labuan (a depiction of a schooner headed towards Mount Kinabalu - or Borneo - at sunrise)

The crest for the arms is a gold demi-lion rampant guardant holding a staff from which flies a blue banner charged with three imperial crowns. The arms as illustrated here were shown in the Singapore Annual Reports with a red and gold mantling. The crest appears on a wreath of gold and red placed above a silver helm with a closed visor, a helmet used by esquires, gentlemen, and corporations. The arms, specifically the shield portion only, was used on the Regimental Colours of the Straits Settlements Volunteer Force. Occasionally, a simpler depiction of the achievement of arms was adopted showing only the shield and crest.

It was mentioned in several sources that the Singapore Municipal Commission used a device to represent themselves in the form of a lion statant with a coconut palm tree all on a green turf as illustrated here on the right. The origins and status of this badge is however unclear. It was referred to as the Crest of the Municipal Commission often but there does not seem to be any arms (shield and charges) for the Commission. Nonetheless, this emblem was also adopted in the badge of the Singapore Volunteer Corps from 1928 onwards. It was retained after the war as the crest of the new City of Singapore Arms granted in 1948 as shown below. The lion statant (both paws grounded) was however changed to a lion passant (a paw raised) depiction. The Singapore Volunteer Corps Regimental Colour of 1954 featured this device with the lion that was adopted remaining at statant position.

1942 - 1945: Second World War & Japanese Occupation of Singapore (Syonan-to)

The Japanese "Rising Sun" Flag was the official flag of Singapore and Malaya.

1946: Crown colony status for Singapore and the formation of the Malayan Union

The British returns and forms the Malayan Union (comprising of the four Federated Malay States, other unfederated states of the Malay peninsula and the Straits Settlements of Penang & Malacca). Singapore was excluded from this arrangement and was governed separately. The Malayan Union was reorganised later in 1948 to become the Federation of Malaya.

The coat of arms for the City of Singapore was granted by letters patent on 9th April 1948. It featured the gold lion passant guardant on a white tower as per the first quarter of the Arms of the Straits Settlements. There appears a gold chief partitioned by embattlement, on which is charged a pair of blue wings between two blue anchors, representing the trade hub role of Singapore. The Arms of the City used the crest of the Singapore Municipal Commission, a lion statant with a palm tree. On the new city arms' crest however, the lion was depicted as a lion passant (a paw raised) and not in statant (both paws on ground) position. There was also a yellow motto-scroll inscribed with "Majulah Singapura" ("Let Singapore Flourish") probably added later. This became the motto and title of the national anthem of the present Republic. The arms as illustrated here were shown in the Singapore Annual Report with an all-blue mantling, and an esquire's silver helm. The wreath for the crest was depicted in blue. The lion passant and coconut palm crest was used in the cap badge of the Singapore Fire Brigade and Auxiliary Fire Service placed on the traditional emergency services starburst and was used for quite sometime after independence as well. There were also instances where the Singapore Fire Brigade used a lion statant guardant (both paws grounded and head turned to face viewer) with the palm tree rather than the lion passant, notably for the badge on the fire helmet. The colonial prison service used as part of their badge the crest but replacing the lion passant with the lion passant guardant (a paw raised and head turned to face viewer) like the lion as depicted on the shield.

On 13th September 1948, a Royal Warrant was issued granting a coat of arms to the Colony of Singapore. The shield featured a gold lion passant guardant on a tower like those appearing on the first quarter of the 1911 Straits Settlements' Arms. The crest of the Straits Settlements was retained but the banner that was attached to the staff held by the gold demi-lion rampant guardant was changed to one with a red inverted pall charged with a single crown all on a white field (used as the new badge of the colony as noted in the following paragraph). The arms as illustrated here were shown in the Singapore Annual Reports with a red and gold mantling, and an esquire's silver helm. The wreath for the crest is gold and red. The lion on a tower was used in the cap badge of the Singapore Infantry Regiment upon inception before the present day armed forces badge was adopted. The colonial Singapore Civil Defence Corps also used the shield in their service badge. The various colonial arms of Singapore never featured supporters. The lion passant guardant on a tower appears on the gold buttons as used on the present-day military's ceremonial dress.

A new badge to be used on the colonial ensign was thus granted as well. It was basically a revision of the Straits Settlements lozenge badge. The colour order was reversed - now bearing a white field with a red pall reversed, the overall shape of the badge changed from a lozenge to a disc, and the number of crowns reduced from three to one. The blue ensign with the new badge was used henceforth until 1959, when Singapore attained self-government status. The crowns featured on the colonial ensigns should have been changed from the previously used imperial (also known as Tudor) design to the current St Edward's design by order of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. The flag featuring the new badge was used as the naval ensign of the Malayan Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve and the Malayan Naval Force. The Marine Police also flew the blue ensign charged with this badge on their vessels. The colonial police force of Singapore accordingly updated their former Straits Settlements Police service badge upon the change of the colonial badge but only slightly.

On many government publications such as reports and commissions, the Royal Arms of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (the simpler achievement of Arms used by HM Government) was used like those seen on British passport covers today. The more complex Royal Arms, fully depicted with royal helm, crest, and mantling, is used by the sovereign. On the Arms for use by HM Government, these are substituted with a large St Edward's or Imperial/Tudor crown.

1957: Independence of the Federation of Malaya

The first version of the present-day Malaysian flag was adopted as the national flag for Malaya. The Malayan flag of 1957 to 1963 only had 11-points for the star and 11-stripes. The flag was however already in existence since 1950. Malaya also had their federal arms. The shield had six quarterings, one (further divided into four) for the four former Federated Malay States, one for Penang, and one for Malacca. A red chief is charged with five gold Malay daggers (the keris). said to represent the five unfederated Malay states. Tigers rampant were used as supporters of the shield of arms. The crescent and eleven-pointed star formed the crest. Singapore remained a British colony.

1959: Singapore attained internal self-government (known as the State of Singapore)

Singapore was allowed to have a new (the present) flag and coat of arms, which were adopted in December of that year (components detailed in Part ii of Chapter 2 below). The Singapore State Marine Ensign was tabled a year later in the Legislative Assembly. The British Union Flag & colonial ensign remained in use for certain purposes. (E.g. as the naval ensign and jack)

1963: Singapore was granted independence from the United Kingdom as a constituent state of the Malayan federation. British North Borneo (Sabah) and British Sarawak were also granted independence as part of the federation. The new federation was renamed Malaysia.

The Malayan Flag in use since 1957 was updated to one bearing a 14-pointed star and 14-stripes to denote the addition of the three new member states. Singapore's flag of 1959 became the sub-national flag of the Malaysian state of Singapore. The Malaysian Federation Flag became the national flag of Singapore. (See Malaysian flag at Section 2.3D.VI on this page). The federal Arms of Malaysia incorporated Singapore's arms - the crescent and stars on a red field - as one of the quarters on the shield. Sabah and Sarawak were also represented with their own quarters on the federal arms. There were now nine quarters on the shield.

1965: Singapore seceded from the Malaysian federation (Republic of Singapore)

The Singapore flag of 1959 became the national flag of the present republic. The coat of arms of 1959 became the national coat of arms / the State Arms. The Malaysian flag was not altered with the secession but the Singapore quarter on the Malaysian arms was changed.

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- Chapter 2 - 
The Military & Paramilitary Service, Unit, and Maritime Flags

i - General Overview

While the term "Flag" is the generic term used for all types of flags, it is necessary to distinguish the various types in Vexillology. Here, the commonly seen and daily-used flags of the services are presented. They are primarily adopted to be hoisted and displayed outdoors and consists of the following:

Service Flags are flags used to denote, differentiate, and represent the different services within the military or paramilitary groupings. These are flags flown on a daily basis by the respective services at their various installations alongside the national flag. A possible alternative would be to term them "Organisational Flags" (which would be rather general as it may include flags of any organisation) or "Command Flags" of which the latter is perhaps more applicable to the commands of the armed forces (e.g. Air Command, Maritime Command). 

Unit / Formation Flags are flags that represent the units or formations of a particular service. Usually flown exclusively at their own premises or camps, they are next in rank to the Service Flag. Alternative terms would include "Camp Flags". Some services are more profound in the use of such flags through official standardisation in their use, and certainly unofficial ones do exist too, adopted at the discretion of the units themselves.

Maritime Flags consists of flags developed for use at sea. They include the Naval Jacks (in some countries, Coast Guards and civil vessels have specially designated jacks for themselves as well), the various ensigns, and pennants. These are additional flags flown by the maritime-based services on their vessels. Indeed the maritime world has contributed much to the flag scene. Maritime Flags itself can stand as an individual category of flags to include all the various Ensigns, Signal Flags, Burgees, Pennants, etc. In general, countries usually would have three basic ensigns; for civilian vessels (the Civil Ensign), government service vessels (the State/Government Ensign), and naval vessels (the Naval/War Ensign). Where military and paramilitary/enforcement services are concerned, the ensign, the jack, and the commission pennant are of concern, in addition to the use of Signal Flags (for internal and external visual communications), and in many countries, the use of distinguishing flags for the Flag Officers (Rank Flags). 

Distinguishing Flags refers to flags that are used to denote and differentiate officials/offices. The officials can be from government agencies, ministries (Ministers, Secretaries, etc.), and the military as well (for appointments such as Chief-of-Staff, Commander-in-Chief, etc.). A popular subset of distinguishing flags is Rank Flags. Used by quite a number of military forces across the world, rank flags correspond to the rank of an officer and is used to denote the officer's presence. Rank flags are generally restricted to the ranks of Generals, Marshals and Admirals of the Army, Air Force, and Navy, where appropriate. These officers are also referred to as 'Flag Officers' thus. There are no rank flags in Singapore. However, there are distinguishing flags for the military Chief of Defence Force and Chief of Navy. (See Section 2.3C) 

ii - The Armorial Bearings of Singapore

Please also note that the frequently used term 'Crest' to refer to the respective emblems and to refer to the State Arms is not correct. A full achievement of arms consists of the shield, supporters, compartment, scroll, helmet, mantling, and crest. A crest is an armorial device by itself appearing above the shield placed on a wreath often above a helmet. The objects appearing on the shield are known as charges. Heraldic badges are generally free-standing devices that may feature the charges that appears on the arms or the crest with which it is associated. The English College of Arms in London has provided a labeled illustrated image with regards to a full achievement of arms on their website. The College of Arms is the heraldic authority for grants of arms in England & Wales and the Commonwealth where necessary.

The present arms of the Republic of Singapore do not feature the heraldic devices of helmet, mantling, nor any crest. In the present achievement of arms of the Republic of Singapore, there is the Arms comprising the shield (or the escutcheon) with a red field and bearing the following charges all in white/silver - a crescent placed beneath five 5-pointed stars arranged in a circle; for the supporters, a lion rampant guardant on the dexter (left of viewer, right of bearer) representing Singapore and a tiger rampant guardant on the sinister (right of viewer, left of bearer) representing historical ties with Malaya; for the compartment, water spurts, and completed with the scroll bearing the motto as per the colonial arms of the City of Singapore, "Majulah Singapura" translated from Malay to English as "Onward Singapore". The armorial bearings of Singapore cannot be called a crest. Crests were however a feature on the various arms of colonial Singapore as illustrated earlier (the lion rampant guardant holding a staff from which flies a banner and the lion passant with the palm tree). The term "Arms" in the strict sense refers to the shield portion with its charges, this being the primary heraldic device without which the other augmentations (scrolls, crest, supporters, etc.) cannot exist. Today, "Arms" is also frequently used to refer to the entire achievement of arms to include the other components (crest, supporters, helm, mantling, compartment, and scroll). 

ii.a - The National Coat of Arms as used in the various service and/or unit badges/insignias

The Arms of Singapore have been incorporated by the services (and formations/units) into their badges/emblems to symbolise themselves as being part of the State. The use of the Singapore coat of arms by the various Singapore services as part of their badges however vary and can be as simple as only the crescent and stars charges without the shield (Prisons' service badge namely), to the basic Arms, i.e., only the shield and charges (in the civil defence, police, and immigration service badges for example), to the current complete achievement of arms (in the air force and naval unit/formation insignias for example), as well as other intermediate options (slightly modified as used on the Singapore Armed Forces badge or partially incomplete as used by Singapore Customs as examples). In the course of these pages, I have attempted to use the appropriate specific description where possible ranging from "State shield" to "full State arms" for instance. 

iii - The National Flag / The State Flag

The current Singapore national flag, as highlighted earlier, was adopted in December 1959 upon Singapore becoming a limited self-governing territory known as the State of Singapore. It is the flag for use by government department/services and for civil use on land. It is also the Naval Jack of the republic's navy. There were times in the past that it appeared in the ratio of 1:2 but at present, the adopted proportions is 2:3.

The flag is an equal horizontal bicolour of red over white. The canton is defaced with a white crescent and five 5-pointed stars. Officially, the colour red represents brotherhood whilst white represents peace and virtue. The crescent represents a young nation on the ascent while the five stars represents the ideals of peace, equality, justice, prosperity, and progress.

The national flag is the basis of the Singapore Armed Forces flag and the canton of the national flag appears as the canton of all the military service flags. The military State Colours (Page 2) are also based on the national flag. The terms 'National Flag' and 'State Flag' are in Singapore's context synonymous for there are no separate flags for use specifically by the State (Government) or by civilians on land, as is the case for certain countries.

iv - The Presidential Standard

The Presidential Standard is simply an enlargement of the canton of the State Flag. It is displayed where the President is in attendance notably when he is in residence at the Istana, at National Day Parades, and at Singapore Armed Forces Day Parades.

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2.1 - Singapore Armed Forces

The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) is the collective term of all the three component services under its wing. Sometimes, it mainly refers to the land forces (Army) instead of the three services and as such, the SAF emblem is used by the Singapore Army, or more appropriately perhaps the Army badge is used as the SAF badge for the Army existed prior to the SAF. The three component services are governed under a single legislation called the Singapore Armed Forces Act.

2.1A - The Singapore Armed Forces Tri-Service Flag

The SAF Flag is the national flag proper with the SAF emblem charged in the lower fly. As this flag represents of all the SAF services, the Joint-Service or Tri-Service flag rather than just simply a service flag is perhaps a more accurate description of the flag.

This flag must be flown second to the national flag at all military installations followed by the appropriate service flag in third position. It is to be displayed from sunrise to sunset. The proportion of the flag is 2:3. The SAF Flag was inaugurated on SAF Day Parade of 1st July 1989.

Where it is necessary to display all the service flags of the armed forces together, the tri-service flag will still take precedence over the individual service flags. The service flags of the Army, Navy, and the Air Force in that order will come after the SAF Flag. This order is adopted, as it is reflective of the chronological order whereby each service was established in Singapore. 

There was one special occasion when the SAF Tri-Service Flag was seen hoisted alongside the Police and Civil Defence service flags. It was during the Joint Passing-Out Parade Ceremony for National Service recruits from the military, police, and civil defence forces. Such an event took place in 1992 at SAF's Nee Soon Camp, commemorating 25 years of National Service in Singapore. On a photograph from the event, the national flag, the SAF Tri-Service flag, the Police and the Civil Defence service flags were seen hoisted together, in that given order. The other service flags of the armed services were not hoisted however. (See also Section 2.5A.I, Singapore Police & Civil Defence Forces Joint Installation)

2.1A.I - The Singapore Armed Forces Emblem

The SAF emblem and its symbolism from Mindef's website: "The SAF [emblem] is emblazoned on the State Flag. The SAF emblem comprises the State Arms (but without the scroll bearing Majulah Singapura), encircled by the inscription of the SAF in the national language (Malay) - TENTERA SINGAPURA. This symbolises the protection and preservation of the values of democracy, peace, progress, justice, and equality represented in the State Arms. The guiding principle of the SAF is reflected on the ribbon - YANG PERTAMA DAN UTAMA (translated from Malay as "First and Foremost") signifying victory and merit in all endeavours. The laurels ... are a symbol of honour, glory and excellence - aims that the SAF strives towards." Apart from the absent motto-scroll, the national achievement of arms' original water spurts compartment has also been replaced with palm fronds.

While this SAF emblem is the common and Army exclusive emblem, the Republic of Singapore Navy and the Republic of Singapore Air Force have their own service emblems. They are not used on the Navy and Air Force service flags but they appear on their respective State Colour. (Refer to Page 2, Sections 4.2B and 4.2C)

There are varying depictions of the SAF emblem. The one appearing on the SAF Tri-Service flag as above and the current SAF State Colour (Refer to Page 2, Section 4.2A.i) is the most current and most used variant. It is also used on the current Army service flag (See Section 2.2A on this page). The one appearing on the former Army service flag (See Section 2.2B on this page) and the former Army Unit & Formation State Colours (Refer to Page 2, Section 4.2A.II.a) was another variant with distinctly thick green palm fronds. This version was to a great extent derived from the one appearing on the Regimental Colour of the 1st Singapore Infantry Regiment (1SIR) which defines the wreath clearly as palm leaves and is depicted in green. The Regimental Colour of the 1SIR was the first instance where the SAF emblem was used on a flag. The Colour was presented to the regiment in 1961. (Refer to Page 2, Section 4.1D)   

2.1A.I.a - A Special Mention on the SAF Military Police Command Badge

There is one special badge in the SAF that deserves special mention, that of the SAF Military Police Command (SAF MPC). Worn exclusively by the military policemen on their white helmets and berets, their badge is a combination of the emblems of the SAF and the Singapore Police Force. Their cap/helmet badge has the elements of the SAF badge as shown above but without the lower blue motto-scroll "Yang Pertama dan Utama". In the place of the SAF motto-scroll is however the exact blue scroll and ribbons from the lower half of the badge of the Singapore Police Force (Refer to Section 2.5A of this page). 

Instead of the inscription "Polis Repablik Singapura" as per the Police emblem, the one on the badge of the SAF MPC reads "SAF Military Police". The badge is however not to be confused with the Military Police Command unit insignia which is the basis of their Regimental Colour (Refer to Page 2, Sections 4.3B.I and 4.3B.II). This unit was formerly known as the SAF Provost Unit (SAFPU), prior to 1st September 2006.

I find this union of emblems very symbolic and interesting. However I am uncertain why this is so. The most probable reason I would say is their policing duties. As the police force of the SAF, I suppose this union was adopted. The Singapore Police Force was also considered as part of the armed forces during Singapore's early days as a republic, administered together with the armed services, under the then Ministry of the Interior and Defence.

2.1B - The SAFTI Military Institute Formation Flag

The tri-service training institute of the SAF is known as SAFTI Military Institute. It is the only  establishment of the SAF to have a formation flag hoisted on a pole alongside the military service flags. The flag is made up of a plain red field on which is charged the SAFTI M.I. insignia; a torch and a broadsword in saltire, flanked on its left and right by green palm fronds. A blue scroll appears beneath and is inscribed with the motto of the institute: "To Lead,  To Excel, To Overcome", in yellow text. The flag is in the proportions of 2:3.

The SAFTI M.I. formation flag is flown last alongside the service flags of the three services in this order: the national flag, the SAF flag, the Army, Navy, and Air Force service flags and followed by the SAFTI M.I. flag. SAFTI M.I. is a special establishment as it is the "Home of the Officer Corps". This is manifested by the fact that they are the only unit/formation entitled to a unit/formation State Colour at present (Refer to Page 2, Section 4.2A.II.c). The current Regimental Colour of SAFTI M.I. is similar in design to the formation flag (Refer to Page 2, Sections 4.3B.I & 4.3B.II).

Multi-organisation installations are interesting cases where one can observe how the flags of various organisations are arranged when they come together. SAFTI M.I. as can be seen is one case where the military services are concerned. Also of considerable comparative interest is the home services equivalent, the Home Team Academy, a case which will be noted in section 2.5D.

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2.2 - Singapore Army

The basic component any military is the land forces. The Singapore Army thus provides the landward defence of Singapore. The Singapore Army comprises various formations and units notably the Infantry, Commandos, Guards, Armour, Artillery, Engineers, Signals, and Logistics.

Although several land units existed in colonial Singapore, the use of a distinctive service flag for the land units then was very unlikely. This is because the British Army did not really have a distinctive service flag, and units and formations would prefer only to display the Union Flag when necessary. However, the use of unit-based flags (today the ceremonial colours, guidons, and standards) by the Army formations is more profound and complex as compared to the other military services as will be observed on Page 2.

2.2A - The Singapore Army Service Flag

The current Army service flag has a yellow field with the canton (1st quarter of a flag's layout) from the canton of the national flag, and the SAF emblem charged in the lower fly (4th quarter of a flag's layout). 

The service flag shown here is the current version. The former service flag (as presented below) was inaugurated on SAF Day of 1980. It was formally approved in December 1979 at the Army Conference. The flag must be flown in third position and preceded by both the national flag and the SAF Flag at army installations. It is displayed from sunrise to sunset at the various army installations and the proportion of the service flag is 2:3. 

The yellow field was chosen to differentiate the army from the other services as yellow is the colour of the field of Singapore's first very own Regimental Colour, that of the 1st Singapore Infantry Regiment (Refer to Page 2, Sections 4.1D or 4.3B.I)

2.2B - Former Service Flag

The SAF emblem used on the current service flag is now equivalent to the SAF emblem on the SAF Joint-Service flag as shown previously in 2.1. The SAF emblem that appears on the former Army Flag is slightly different from the one that appears on the SAF Joint-Service flag and current Army service flag. Notably, the wreath is green & thicker (likely palm fronds) and the emblem features an additional red ribbon. 

This former emblem version is highly likely to have been derived from the badge appearing on the Singapore Infantry Regiment's Regimental Colours as was detailed in 2.1A.I earlier. This flag was often shown in the earlier years' Recruit's Handbook issued to newly enlisted conscripts (for National Service).

The history of the SAF emblem traces back to 1961, when the 1st Singapore Infantry Regiment held a ceremony for the change in their beret badge. Singapore was a self-governing British colony then. (Refer to Page 2, Section 4.1D)

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2.3 - Republic of Singapore Navy

The maritime defence of Singapore is undertaken by the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN). They were formerly the Singapore Naval Volunteer Force (1966-1967), Sea Defence Command (1967-1968), Maritime Command (1968-1975), and the Republic of Singapore Navy since 1975. However, their history can be linked to the colonial period as will be discussed in Section 2.3D. 

2.3A - The Republic of Singapore Navy Service Flag

The RSN service flag is white and the red canton is from the canton of the national flag. The lower fly is charged with a red stylised 8-pointed cardinal device (termed 'Mariner's Compass'). This flag is derived from the Singapore Naval Ensign. Ensigns are a special category of flags flown at sea for status differentiation - merchant or civil vessels, military service vessels or non-military government service vessels.

2.4 - Republic of Singapore Air Force

The maintenance of the republic's aerial defence is the responsibility of the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF). From 1968 to 1975, they were known as the Singapore Air Defence Command (SADC).

2.4A - The Republic of Singapore Air Force Service Flag

The current RSAF service flag is light blue with the canton of the national flag for its canton, and the RSAF roundel charged in the lower fly. The roundel of the RSAF shows a red lion-head symbol with five distinct mane partings. This current version was adopted in 1990.

The lion-head symbol accordingly, is a representation of courage, strength, and resolve and its five manes have a meaning equivalent to the five stars of the national flag, i.e., peace, equality, justice, prosperity, and progress. This roundel was also once used on the RSAF Service-Regimental Colours (Refer to Page 2, Section 4.3A.III.b).

The flag, as per the Army and Navy service flags, must be flown in third position and preceded by both the national flag and SAF flag. It is displayed from sunrise to sunset at their installations. The proportion of the flag is 2:3.

Light blue is the colour most commonly used to represent air forces worldwide. It was also in most probability the influence from the colonial administrators, for the UK was the first to introduce the air force ensign to Singapore.

2.4B - The Former Service Flags (1968* – 1973) and (1973 – 1990)

The RSAF had two former service flags prior to 1990, which respectively followed the histories of the air force roundels.

The first (SADC) roundel was a circle divided concentrically into 3 (shown on the extreme left). It was simply red-white-red and was used from 1968* to 1973 on the very first RSAF service flag and their aircrafts during that period.

The RSAF roundel was changed in 1973, to a design of a red and white yin-yang symbol with stylized red and white rays issuant from the top and bottom of the yin-yang symbol. This roundel was used by the RSAF aircrafts and on their second service flag from 1973-1990.

* The first roundel was in use since 1968. However, it is uncertain if the flag was adopted exactly in that year. The flag however did exist it seems and one is now displayed at the RSAF Museum together with the 1973 to 1990 version.

2.4C - Colony of Singapore & the Royal Air Force

As with the case of the Navy, the British set up their Royal Air Force (RAF) stations in the colony of Singapore. And as such, they flew their air force flags in Singapore, notably the RAF Ensign. It was this RAF ensign that obviously influenced the design of Singapore's air force service flag and indeed many others around the world too.

The RAF ensign is light blue, featured the Union Flag in the canton and the RAF roundel in the centre-fly (as opposed to lower-fly on the RSAF service flag). The RAF roundel is a circle concentrically divided into three parts comprising of blue-white-red (outermost to innermost) portions. The RAF ensign is in the proportions of 1:2, like the Union Flag itself. The term "Ensign" while mostly associated with the maritime flags (State-Civil-Naval Ensigns) can also be used to refer to flags in general as can be observed here. The RAF has chosen to refer to their service flag as the RAF Ensign since its proposed days. The RAF Ensign was officially adopted in May 1921 after some strong opposition by the Royal Navy. For a more complete and detailed history of the RAF Ensign, see the FOTW : UK Royal Air Force page for more information.

In line with the established order of precedence of the British armed forces, the RAF Ensign is flown third when flown together with the flags of the other services. The services flags were flown together at the Queen's Birthday Parades in colonial Singapore for instance. It is preceded by the Royal Navy's White Ensign and the Union Flag representing the Army elements. It is then followed by the service flag of the colonial Singapore Police Force. Photograph references listed under the Royal Navy entry above. (See section 2.3D.I above)

The British maintained the Air Bases in Singapore even after independence up until 1971, when they withdrew their troops from Singapore. The Air Bases were then handed over to the Singapore Air Defence Command. There was no mention (as far as I am aware) of the RAF handing over the Air Bases to the Malaysian Government of 1963 to 1965. RAF stations in Singapore included RAF Tengah, RAF Changi (also Headquarters RAF Far East), and RAF Seletar. There was also the temporary existence of the Malayan Auxiliary Air Force in the region. Singapore was part of the RAF's geographical command called the Far East Air Force. (Refer to Page 2, Section 4.1E)

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2.5 - Singapore Police Force

The Singapore Police Force (SPF) is responsible for the general security of the State, which includes the maintenance of law and order, the preservation of the public peace, the prevention and detection of crime, and apprehension of offenders. This is inclusive of our maritime security, undertaken by the Police Coast Guard Command.

2.5A - The Singapore Police Force Service Flag

The Police service flag is in their corporate colours of navy blue, with the SPF emblem rendered in white in the centre. The actual coloured Police emblem has the red State shield within the blue and white garlands of paddy-sheaths held together with blue ribbons. A blue scroll appears below, with the name of the force in the national language (Malay), "Polis Repablik Singapura" translated as Republic of Singapore Police. Apparently, another variant of the Police service flag has the shield white and the stars in blue. Both versions are official designs.

The flag is flown in second position to the national flag. It is displayed from sunrise to sunset at their installations. The proportion of the flag is 2:3. There are unit flags in the SPF, although their use in public is rather uncommon. The idea of a police badge placed on a plain blue field for a service flag was in use since at least the post-war period.

As mentioned under Section 2.1A.I.a earlier, part of the scroll and ribbons also appear on the badge of the SAF Military Police Command. The Central Narcotics Bureau, a separate department under the Home Affairs ministry, also incorporates elements of the police badge in the CNB service emblem, in particular the natio