The house flag of Monarch Steam Ship Co. Ltd.

A red swallow-tailed burgee bearing a white-bordered blue cross and a disc in the centre with the white letter 'M'. The flag is made of a wool and synthetic fibre bunting. It has a cotton hoist and is machine sewn. The disc is printed. A rope and toggle are attached.

The Monarch Line was founded in 1902 in Glasgow as part of Raeburn and Verel Ltd. Raeburn and Verel’s origins date to 1873, when William Raeburn and Captain Dunn started a shipping company called Raeburn and Dunn. John Verel replaced Captain Dunn in 1880 and the company was subsequently renamed Raeburn and Verel. Their steamers travelled to American, Far Eastern, South American and European ports and by 1900 the company operated around 12 steamers. In 1902 Raeburn and Verel formed the Monarch Steamship Company Ltd. with a new steamer called the ‘British Monarch’. During this time, William Raeburn played an important role in the shipping industry in West Scotland and contributed to some of the shipping legislation which passed, including the Merchant Shipping Act and the 1906 Workman’s Compensation Act. He died in 1934.

The company lost six ships during World War I and in 1921 had four remaining. Again in World War II the company suffered losses, this time four ships to torpedo attacks, and after the war they were left with five ships. The company was taken over by Harrisons Ltd. in 1960 and its last ship was sold in 1973.