The End of an Era
Black Tot Day occurred on 31st July, 1970. It was the last day of the officially sanctioned rum ration in the Royal Navy that dated back to 1665. It was poured as usual at 6 bells in the forenoon watch (11am) after the pipe of 'up spirits'.
This is a photograph of the day the rum tub died.
Old lags will remember that the tot was abolished for junior rates on the last day of July 1970.
This is a picture taken by me at HMS Terror when the tub was made to walk the plank!
The audience were witnesses to the end of the tot and comprised a mixture of officers, senior rates and junior rates with their wives and girlfriends.
Ray Whitehouse