British red and blue flags not longer allowed to be hoisted except for some exceptions according to the Dutch newspaper Nieuwe Tilburgsche Courant dated 20 September 1939

An item dated London 19 September referred to an announcement of the department of publicity. During the duration of hostilities was it not allowed for merchant and other private ships to hoist the red and blue flags. However Dominion ships, stationed training ships and vessels of public services were excluded from this prohibition. The blue flag belonged to the reserve, the red one to the merchant marine.