Kevin.
Well I do take your point about the flags. It is about personal association of course but I doubt if the 'infidel' will agree with you abut the lack of a troubled association with the Cross of St George. Was this not the symbol that 'The Crusades' were fought under? That was a little more than a 18-30's holiday trip to North Africa.
It was not an exclusive English planned trip I accept. It was hardly a hopeful start to joint European ventures either.