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Tizer
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27/07/2010
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10:05
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If my calculations are right this Saturday will be the 40th anniversary of `Black Tot Day'. There will be a celebration (if that's the right word) on Friday at the first of this year's Portsmouth Navy Days. Perhaps it will be on TV. Now, we have plenty of ex-navy men on OGFB so who's going to tell us about Black Tot Day please?
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gus
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Posted - 27/07/2010 : 10:56
On July 31, 1970, Britain’s Royal Navy officially stopped its daily ration of rum to crewmembers aboard naval ships, ending a centuries-old tradition.
*When that terrible day of 31st July 1970 finally dawned, the navy determined to make it a day to remember and according to the Portsmouth Evening News ‘sailors said farewell to the last issue of Nelson’s Blood, (as rum was known in the navy), by conducting mock funerals and wearing black armbands...The annual Christmas pudding stirring ceremony in HMS Bellerophon was brought forward today so that the usual four pints of rum could be included in the 150lb mix.’
Gus
http://www.flickr.com/photos/angusbrennan/
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thomo
Barlick Born Old Salt
2021 Posts
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Posted - 27/07/2010 : 14:02
Well done Gus, I think that says most of what there is, and I think we can leave the "Chapter and verse" bit to others. Rum was introduced into the Navy many years ago because it encourages hunger and given that the food was poor and often "alive" it probably did the job mentally as well as physically. The sometimes fielded myth that British Tars fought so fearlessly was that they were often drunk, this is not true, they were damned good at what they did. The original Rum was given neat, it was Admiral Edward Vernon who introduced the watered down version, "Grog" named after the coat he favoured wearing, lime juice or other citrus fruit juices were added to make the foul water more palateable thus Vernon is credited with the reduction of scurvy at sea. Some view it as one of the first steps in the de-anglification of Britain. The loss of the tot was not a popular move, it had added something to look forward to each day during long spells at sea. The only vessels that still carry a fair amount of Rum on board are "Boats" Submarines. Boats have precious little space for stowage so the Rum comes in blocks much like the jellies we are all familiar with and is treated likewise and diluted accordingly. When I was a kid and there were no sweets we would often suck a jelly cube, one of the rum ones would no doubt kill you very quickly! Bremerhaven in Germany, we went there on the Cruiser Blake for a few days. When we arrived the Bergermiester of the town came aboard and his people set up a stillage on the foredeck upon which was placed a barrel of good Jamaican Rum, all off watch personel got a glass and those who could not attend were given a half bottle later, I took mine home and opened it later with friends, on the bottle was written this, "To mark the passing of neat rum being issued on the orders of Admiral Vernon, it is hereby ordained that every British Sailor entering the Port of Bremerhaven shall be entitled to a good gulp of true Jamaican Rum"!!! the words aviation and spirit come to mind, pale in colour but with a kick like a carthorse. Terminology associated with rum in the Navy: Neaters, gulpers, sippers etc, and "Up spirits" this latter being the "Pipe" that was made at the time to issue the rum, no doubt that like many sayings that are of Naval origin this one led to "Keeping your spirits up". Well the suns over my yardarm now so its time for a wet!!!
thomo |
Tizer
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Posted - 27/07/2010 : 16:46
I knew we would have the right people out there to explain! I'm intrigued by the `rum in blocks' Thomo - how did they get it to be a solid block? Was it really like a jelly cube?
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Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart
36804 Posts
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Posted - 28/07/2010 : 06:11
Wine gums on steroids.....
Stanley Challenger Graham
Barlick View
stanley at barnoldswick.freeserve.co.uk |
frankwilk
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Posted - 28/07/2010 : 06:18
Le fanu only lived for a few months after stopping the issue, serves him right a few used to say !!! Flight deck of the Argonaught was my last tot .
Frank Wilkinson Once Navy Always Navy |
Slyworme
New Member
33 Posts
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Posted - 06/10/2010 : 14:03
I'm too young to have experienced all this  - though we did have an up spirits for a couple of special occasions - Royal Weddings, Royal Divorces, etc.
We also had a nice tradition of football - Chief's Mess against Wardroom at Christmas - where the Mess Pres would bring out a couple of bottles of Pusser's Rum at half time...
...the second half was always memorable due to the number of people being sick on the touch line!
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gus
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Posted - 06/10/2010 : 21:05
Pussers Rum , lovely stuff, they sell this at the Green street working mens club in Barnoldswick, now this does warm the cockles of your heart ..
Gus
http://www.flickr.com/photos/angusbrennan/
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Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart
36804 Posts
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Posted - 07/10/2010 : 06:56
Doc bought me a bottle. It comes out on really cold days for use in the coffee. Quite a glow! Only other rum I know that compares is 'Havana Club', which is the original Bacardi. The rotgut sold under the Bacardi trade name doesn't compare. Find some and try it.
Stanley Challenger Graham
Barlick View
stanley at barnoldswick.freeserve.co.uk |
Tizer
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Posted - 07/10/2010 : 11:34
A friend of mine was in the navy at the time of the Korean War and he drinks Wood's Rum - I think that's the right name.
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Stanley
Local Historian & Old Fart
36804 Posts
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Posted - 07/10/2010 : 16:43
Massey's at Burnley used to a good Navy Rum.
Stanley Challenger Graham
Barlick View
stanley at barnoldswick.freeserve.co.uk |
Doc
Keeper of the Scrolls
2010 Posts
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Posted - 07/10/2010 : 22:33
quote:
Tizer wrote:
A friend of mine was in the navy at the time of the Korean War and he drinks Wood's Rum - I think that's the right name.
Woods rum is OK but I find it a bit harsh, I like the Pusser's rum made to the original recipe/blend, it's smooth-ish going down then once it hits your stomach, it sends it's warm glow all around your body - Ahhhh lovely.
I haven't had a slurp for a while now but I've got half a bottle in the cupboard, I must go and check that it's still ok ![Wink]( "Wink")
I missed the Rum ration when I was in the navy, I joined up in 1975 a few years to late, but like others, we still had a few samples on special occasions - Spithead Fleet Review was my first taste.
TTFN - Doc
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catgate
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Posted - 07/10/2010 : 22:45
In the late 40s/early 50s there was a group of lads in the Settle area that used to drink Lambs Navy Rum and Bulmers Cider (a measure of rum and a bottle of cider). It was very palattable......and rather potent if a few were taken.
Every silver lining has a cloud.
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frankwilk
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Posted - 08/10/2010 : 07:28
This thread remnds me to much of how Time has moved on. I remember the the last tot in Sembwang Dockyard when I was on the Argonaut, and that was 40 years ago. Problem is it seems like it was only last year !!!
Frank Wilkinson Once Navy Always Navy |
40th anniversary of Black Tot Day
