Saddest day in the Royal Navy 31/July 1970 the end of the ToT

[Bill Cameron]

A matelot’s farewell to his tot….

You soothed my nerves and warmed my limbs
And cheered my dismal heart,
Procured my wants, obliged my whims
And now it’s time to part.
‘Mid endless perils of the deep
And miseries untold
You summoned sweet forgetful sleep,
Cocooned me from the cold.

Ten years ago, the “pound o’ leaf”,
That cast its fragrant spell
About the ship, expired in grief
And sadness of farewell
Though guests might find the pantry bare,
Whene’er they choose to come
Your hospitality was there:
A tot of Pussers rum.

Two hundred years and more you filled
The storm-tossed sailor’s need.
Now you’ve been killed by spite distilled
From jealousy and greed,
And petty clerks with scrawny necks
Who never saw a wave,
Nor felt the spray nor heaving decks,
Consign you to your grave.

Alas! However I protest
To save myself from hurt,
They tell me that it’s for the best
To keep us all alert.
And so the time has come, old friend,
To take the final sup.
Our tears are shed. This is the end.
Goodbye, and bottoms up!

[Richard Quartermaine]

I wonder if the stokehold and galley on the old SS&A coal burners got their ToT in the tropics whilst there were still coal fired ships in the fleet. As galley boy on the Raranga in 1947 I took my enamel mug along to get mine.
Richard

[John Arton]

Back in 68 on CPR's Beaver boats we got a bottle a crossing during winter months. Usually was good stuff as well but cannot remember the brand
rgds
JA

[Dennis McGuckin]

Don't recall a rum issue on CPR.
Did with P&O. Also got a bottle each Friday with Furness Whithy.

[Ivan Cloherty]

Only thing we got free on the ships I sailed on was B O T Lime Juice, and then we had to use it for cleaning the taffrails

[Stan Carter]

the only free tot's i ever received was during tank cleaning.
regards, stan

[Doc Vernon]

Well at least the Lime Juice we got kept us from getting all dehydrated through those hot and humid days in the Tropics!
Cheers

I still like the Lime Juice! Its a refreshing drink in the Summer!

[eric fisher]

Lime juice takes the lead out of your pencil. Used in the old days for vitamin purposes. They plied me with it when I was 17 and I found that I wasn't performing very well when we reached Durban months after leaving Loch Ewe in 1943. Eric

[gray_marian]

#7 'Lime Juice! Its a refreshing drink in the Summer!' Add vodka & gingerbeer Doc and you have my favourite cocktail...Moscow Mule

[Doc Vernon]

Funny that Eric
I have heard of that .but I must say that with all the Lime Juice I drank and believe me it was a lot,i never had any problems in that department at all!
Possibly a very strong constitution??
Used to love a dash of Lime with a Lager Beer!
Cheers

PS Marian I also used to drink Vodka Lime and Lemonade! That was lovely!