| Erection of Flagpole |
| Introduction It is a practice to have a flagpole raised during a camp. Flagpoles are not always available at campsites, so it is necessary for instructors and cadets to improvise one from the available material at the campsite if necessary. Besides, the flagpole is yet another item in Campcraft Competitions that is held by the NPCC HQ once every 2 years. Aims and Objectives To provide learners with the basics knowledge of erecting a flagpole in the context of NPCC. Contents 1) Materials needed to erect a flagpole/ flag staff 2) Erecting Procedures 3) Securing a flag to a Flag Pole 1) Materials needed to erect a flagpole / flag staff 2 x long poles (with flaps at both ends and walls on both sides) 3 x iron pegs 3 x 5 m (0.5 inch) manila hemp / nylon ropes (Guylines) 2 x 3m (0.5 inch) manila hemp/nylon ropes (lashings) 1 x 1.5m black braided twine (whipping) 1 x pulley (optional) 2) Erection Procedure 1. Use round lashings to lash the 2 long poles together. The thicker pole will be the bottom of the flagstaff. The length of the overlapping portion should be least 1/3 the length of the bottom pole. 2. Use clove hitches to secure the 3 Manila hemp / nylon ropes to the flagstaff, between the 2 lashings. These will form the guylines of the flagpole. The clove hitches should be adjusted such that the working end is about 120 degrees to one another, leaving no gaps between each hitch. 3. If there is a pulley, use the twine to whip it to the top of the flagstaff. If there is no pulley, a loop can be improvised from the manharness knot. The free ends of the manharness knot are then whipped tightly to the top of the flag staff (refer to diagram). 4. Use a long piece of twine as a flag line, running it through the pulley loop. 5. Raise the flag staff with one person anchoring the base. 6. Hammer in the 3 pegs into position. They should be 6 to 8 footsteps away from the base and at an angle of 120 degrees to one another. 7. Adjust the flag staff until it is vertical then secure the 3 guylines to their pegs simultaneously using the guyline hitches. |
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