Book  (Apr 1993)  Page(s) 488.  
 
Red Ensign Hybrid Tea, medium red, 1947, 'Crimson Glory' x 'Southport'; Norman. Description.

Book  (1978)  Page(s) 97.  
 
In a tiny home greenhouse, Albert Norman put his mind to breeding roses: the first question he would ask was what colour? To which the answer was red. The next, what parents? He took the best dark red variety to seed and the best bright red colour to pollen, which gave him a cross of 'Crimson Glory' x 'Southport'.  Often this is shown in reverse order in the books, but my information was checked carefully with Albert Norman. I never discovered how many seedpods he had of the cross but I suspect from something he said it was only one. It yielded 'Ena Harkness', 'Red Ensign' and 'William Harvey', and thus an amateur gave a classic but deceptive example of how easy rose breeding might appear. 

Book  (1958)  Page(s) 319.  
 

Red Ensign. HT. (Norman; int. Harkness, '47.) Crimson Glory X Southport. Large (4-5 in.), dbl. (40-45 petals), high centered, very fragrant (Damask), crimson. Fol. dark. Very vig. (28) NRS Gold Medal, '43.

Book  (1953)  Page(s) 141.  
 
p141.  Mr. R. W. Smith, Ivanhoe, Victoria. 
Red Ensign  Planted two standards in June, 1951.  The growth has been good with healthy foliage. I would describe the color as bright red, a shade between Poinsettia and Crimson Glory. The blooms have a strong perfume, and although they are a good shape are inclined to open unevenly. The inner petals stick and leave gaps between the inner and outer rows. This rose also likes the warm weather, and has improved in the middle of summer. Ena Harkness, William Harvey, and Red Ensign are all of the one parentage. I would prefer the first two to Red Ensign. 

p42.  Mr. R. Evans, Wellington.
Red Ensign: Plant has flourished and it blooms well between December and March. Early blooms are inclined to ball. Perfume outstanding.

Article (magazine)  (Feb 1952)  Page(s) 104.  
 
Red Ensign a Seedling of 'Crimson Glory'. Hybrid Tea; Norman, 1948; 'Crimson Glory' x 'Southport'; Crimson.

Book  (1952)  Page(s) 55.  
 
Dr. A. S. Thomas.  Red Roses.  
William Harvey, Red Ensign and Ena Harkness are alleged to have all come from the same seed-pod, and be the result of crossing Crimson Glory and Southport... Red Ensign has a better stem [than William Harvey] and ideal formation, but the colour is less vivid and it blooms less freely...These three roses are "musts" in my garden. 

Magazine  (Feb 1950)  Page(s) 1. trimester, p. 13.  
 
William Harvey et Red Ensign ont le même pedigree. [as 'Ena Harkness'] ....Red Ensign est une autre rose très grande, mais d'une teinte plus cramoisie, elle a un merveilleux parfum.

Book  (1950)  
 
p107.  C. S. Heers.  Notes From Queensland.
We have seen some good blooms of Red Ensign... balled badly during the winter but is really first class in summer. It is highly fragrant and vigorous.

p138.  Mr. And Mrs. C. A. Homan.  The New Roses in Queensland. 
Red Ensign. Is of the same parents as Ena Harkness - but a very different rose. The growth is vigorous, tall and robust, and it blooms freely and is particularly healthy. The beautifully fragrant crimson red blooms are full, and of large size with splendid shape. A very promising rose. 

Book  (1949)  Page(s) 43.  
 
Dr. A. S. Thomas.  Let Us Take Stock - Old and New
Red Ensign  (3 plants, 1 year). Said to be from the same seed-pod as Ena Harkness, which is such a gem as a decorative. This is primarily a show rose. Crimson scarlet, a little brighter than Madge Whipp. By further comparison, Red Ensign's stems are stiff but less rigid and bulky and it is more lavish with its flowers. The petals reflex nicely. It does not fade or blue. Strongly perfumed. A definite acquisition.

Website/Catalog  (1949)  Page(s) 9.  
 
Novelty Roses 1949. Red Ensign (HT. Norman 1947) Large shapely, richly fragrant blooms of deep crimson scarlet borne on vigorous plants. The shape is slightly globular, with signs of balling in bad weather. They carry 50 petals; a very fine sort. 5/- each.