Good day all!

as some may know --

I am actually coming to the end of a lengthy on/off project... 2013 -- 2022 ( !! )

14 pages of pain ... can be read at the link below--or skip fwd to page 13....

viewtopic.php?f=59&t=154091


The SMS VULKAN, as in 1919---in the process of being towed away
from the mouth of the Elbe River ( Hamburg) to Harwich in England for breaking up/scrapping.
( war reparations-- ( and vessel obsolete/ superseded -ergo no interest to the English or the Germans...

So --to the question of flags...--

Both ocean going Tugs , one German RETTER ( 1885 ) and one ex-Dutch SCHELDE 1906 are in the employ of the 'Sea -transport department' of the Imperial Navy-- but neither vessel is offensively or otherwise armed --

.==> what Ensign--if any would they have flown ? Naval ?
.......==> indeed were any ships of the Navy flying their ensigns at this time?

I would think --that the VULKAN herself-- would not fly a Naval Ensign?
==> --having already been discarded by the Navy for breaking--and in any case being towed and not under her own power...?

I have only 1 x image of the Schelde (i) ( ex Dutch ) in 1918-- there is a 'flaglet' hoisted off the gaff--
but it appears to be very small and not of the size I would expect of an Ensign?

I have had a couple of suggestions on the MW forum -- but with knowledge -- more is always more!! and I thank you in advance for any further insights ! Regards Jim Baumann