This popped up on farcebook this morning. No provenance, no explanation as to how it comes from MTB 25 (which is incorrectly recorded as a Vosper in the description) and absolutely no damage of any kind, so it was never flown. Hmm. I smell something fishy. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Rare-Ww2-MTB-25-HMS-WASP-single-panel-linen-flag-navy-motor-torpedo-boat-25/203232217816?hash=item2f51958ad8:g:BjAAAOSwk2lf6jK-

What's that? Another ensign from HMS Wasp just sold yesterday? What are the chances? It's even the same size... https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WW2-white-ensign-flag-marked-9th-MTB-flotilla-HMS-wasp-London-1940-1-1-2-yard-/313356854433?hash=item48f58624a1%3Ag%3AYksAAOSw7cxf5Las&nma=true&si=3Zh4yyf3I0sP8MnA8h60Wil2PTI%253D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Here's a flag supposedly originally from MTB 579. Such an MTB never existed – the description is based on Fairmile ML 579 instead, and the circumstances of her loss make it extremely unlikely that anyone stopped to recover this signalling flag. https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auction-catalogues/east-bristol-auctions/catalogue-id-sreas10380/lot-58935bf2-d8e1-49e4-8a3a-ab5a0122758a#lotDetails

But incredibly someone saved 2! What dedication. This flag definitely isn't the same one as above, but they do at least get the pennant (ie ML, not MTB) correct. It's suspicious though as it's the same size as above and small craft tended to get one. https://www.building154.co.uk/product-page/rare-ww2-union-jack-torpedo-boat-flag-h-m-s-ml-579

Much less three! Different flag again, although ever so slightly larger (an inexplicable size difference for signalling). Does this smell like complete rubbish yet? Especially given the true circumstances of 579's loss... https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/24254/lot/1208/?category=list

On the 26th October 1943, ML 579 was dive bombed by a Ju 88. A direct hit turned the ML over immediately and she sank with the loss of her skipper, Lt James Bain, and two others. The idea someone visited the bridge to retrieve flags is, frankly, nonsense. https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/937351/JAMES%20BAIN/

The moral is, always approach these sorts of Second World War relics sceptically. @ReassessHistory can probably tell you more stories about fake artefacts than you want to hear!