Last modified: 2010-11-13 by ivan sache
Keywords: customs | anchor: fouled (white) | letters: df (white) | canton: france |
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![[Customs flag]](../images/f/fr~cust.gif)
Customs flag - Image by Željko Heimer, 27 September 2001
According to Album des Pavillons [pay00], the customs flag, in proportions 1:2, is a green swallow-tailed flag with a small Tricolour flag in canton and in lower fly a white anchor with a red cable surrounded with initials "DF" in white.
This flag is never used as an ensign. The French Customs
boats, marked "DF xx" ("DF" for "Douanes françaises", "xx" being the
series number of the boat), fly the French civil ensign at the stern,
while the customs flag is flown from the starboard yardarm.
The website of the Mediterranean Maritime Prefecture shows a photo of
DF19 Cers (named after a coastal strong wind of Languedoc) flying
the two flags.
Željko Heimer & Ivan Sache, 17 January 2010
Quoting the Customs website:
Although the douaniers (customs officers) participated in combat under the Revolution and the Empire, it is only in 1831 that was created officially for the war period, a military corps of Customs.
Since the celebration of 11 July 1880 at Longchamp, the Customs battalion is in possession of their flag which participated in the Victory parade on 14 July 1919.
The guard of the emblem, ever since in service, had been conferred to the National Brigades College at La Rochelle.
The website shows a small image of the flag's obverse which suggests that this flag follows the pattern used by the military, naval, air force, police service, penitentiary department, and fire service ceremonial colours. For the Customs battalions, on a square tricolour is the text RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE above the unit name BATAILLONS DES DOUANES and the wreaths of olive and oak leaves at the corners.
Herman Felani, 22 March 2009