Nelson & His World

On this day, 40 years ago in 1970, the rum ration ended after its first introduction into the Royal Navy in 1655. The issue had, of course, survived its first 'watering down' by Admiral Vernon in 1740 into 'grog'. The reason put forward for its complete disappearance was that the tot was not in keeping with the operations of a modern navy, where men have to handle increasingly sophisticated equipment and weapons systems.

Not surprisingly many seamen hailed this decision as a pernitious evil – and presumably called it many other things as well! However, I believe it was replaced by a 'tot fund'. Read more, as under:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/ne ... 859506.stm

Perhaps PN or Robbie, or any other member who has served in the RN, may like to comment?

Kester

I read the other day that to coincide with the anniversary the Navy's last remaining stocks of rum are to be sold off.

Sorry I don't know more than that - there may be more info somewhere on the www.

MB

Ah yes - here it is.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/ ... ottle.html

But it's the supplying company that is selling the rum - not the Navy itself.

So regretably no contribution towards paying off the National Debt.

MB

Thanks Mark,

At £600 a bottle, I don't think I'll be helping much with the coffers either!

Actually, I did come across a dedicated site somewhere. I'll see if I can find it.

And here it is:

http://www.blacktot.com/

A very informative and (hic) well put together site too!

I do certainly remember withdrawal of the tot - there was certainly a feeling of loss of tradition and some resentment; being given a free drink at lunchtime was a small 'perk' that no one else enjoyed. There was a lot of ritual surrounding the issue - each messdeck sending one man with a fanny (thats a metal container) to draw the issue for the mess, carefully doled out in copper measures overseen by the Officer of the Day and the Master at Arms from a large half barrel.

As time passed though, we got over it. A 'tot fund' was set up to dish out grants to ships and shore establishments for funding sports and leisure projects.

And as for the alcohol? After the withdrawal of the 'tot', senior ratings were allowed to have a bar in the mess, at which they could purchase both beer and spirits (limited to 2 pints and a double measure per day)and junior ratings given an allowance of beer (2 cans a day if memory serves me).....so instead of imbibing a tot of rum, petty officers and chief petty officers could enjoy a pint with a gin / whisky / vodka etc., whilst the lower deck had couple of cans of beer.

However, I may say that many followed the practice of not drinking at sea - if a junior rating you still drew the cans of beer, just stored them up for when the ship was alongside, and could then enjoy them, whilst senior rates (who had to account for all spirits sold), did something similar, claiming to have drunk their allowance but actually saving it up for when in harbour.