The earliest known surviving example of a Royal Navy submarine Jolly Roger, flown from HMS E54 during the First World War, is installed as part of a Jolly Roger display at the Royal Navy Submarine Museum in Gosport — The Jolly Roger is the earliest known surviving example from a Royal Navy submarine. (Picture: PA)

Naval History

Jolly Roger flag from First World War to be hoisted at Royal Navy Submarine Museum

A Jolly Roger flag from a First World War submarine is to be displayed the Royal Navy Submarine Museum in Gosport.

The antique from HMS E54 is believed to be the oldest surviving flag of its kind.

The Jolly Roger, which was flown from the vessel in 1916, will be going on display from 27 April.

Curators aim to tell the history of the Jolly Roger, which originated in the Royal Navy but became more closely associated with pirates.

Symbols were added to each submarine’s flag with different meanings depicting the wartime successes of each boat.

A dagger would indicate a secret mission, while a bar demonstrated the sinking of an enemy merchant ship.

Jolly Roger close up — The flying of the Jolly Roger is a Royal Navy tradition despite the flag being more closely associated with pirates

Alexandra Geary, the artefacts curator at the National Museum of the Royal Navy, said: "Each action a submarine carried out had its own symbol.

"These symbols would either be painted or sewn on to a bit of black material.

"Visitors are intrigued by our Jolly Rogers and enjoy deciphering their meanings. They give a fascinating insight into the often secret and mysterious world of the submariner under the waves and out of sight."

The tradition continued with HMS Conqueror flying a Jolly Roger during the Falklands War in 1982 and the crew of HMS Otus raising their flag on return from the Gulf War in 1991.