Rum issue in the Royal Navy had been a tradition for over 300 years. The daily ritual:
At six bells, the boatswain's whistle signalled
"Up Spirits" and the crew assembled for their daily "tot". The rum was poured into a special bowl inscribed to the Queen and tots were dispensed with great ceremony.
The sergeant of marines ladled out the authorized number of "tots"
supervised by the petty officer of the day. One eighth pint of rum for every
rating and petty officer on the ship aged 20 or more and not under punishment.
The few tots of grog remaining in the tub ('plushers') were poured into the "scuppers" visibly running into the sea. The petty officers were served first, and entitled to take their rum undiluted. The ratings drank their grog in one long gulp when they finished their work around noon.
C.P.O. and P.O. issue
Photographs from
P.O. John (Sky) Larken
Manxman 1952 - 1953
Bottoms up
Navy rum was 95.5 proof, or 47.75% alcohol; the usual ration was an eighth of a pint,
diluted 2:1 with water (3:1 until World War II).
Extra rum rations were provided for special celebrations, like Trafalgar Day, and
sailors might share their ration with the cook or with a messmate celebrating a birthday.
Rum issue was abolished on the 31st July 1970, known as "Black Tot Day". The decision did not exactly go down well on the lower deck and in the Chiefs and P.O.'s Messes.
Aft
Forward
