The rum ration (also called the tot) was a daily amount of rum given to sailors on Royal Navy ships. It was abolished in 1970 after concerns that the intake of strong alcohol would lead to unsteady hands when working machinery.
Ratings were instead allowed to purchase beer, and the amount allowed was determined, according to the MP David Owen, by the amount of space available for stowing the extra beer in ships
I’ll bet there was a LARGE difference of opinion on that amount.
I came across a bill of lading for a British ship of the line, maybe late 1700s, early 1800s. The amount of booze per person was astounding, by any current standard of comparison.
Here’s an article from Smithsonian: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/reasons-why-royal-navy-bribed-sailors-booze-180964223/
As Winston Churchill reportedly commented, the traditions of the Royal Navy could be summed up as “rum, sodomy and the lash”.
When Admiral Nelson was killed, they placed his body in a cask of rum to preserve it for the trip back. By the time the ship returned to dock, all the rum was gone. After this, taking a measure of rum became known as “tapping the Admiral”.
“a drop of Nelson’s blood” is a common refrain in English sea shanties.
In some of my favorite books, the Aubrey-Maturin series, Dr. Maturin has an asp preserved in alcohol and the seamen sneak in and drink it off!
“Oh a drop of Nelson’s blood wouldn’t do us any harm!” “And we’ll all hang on behind” “As we roll the old chariot along”
I think my favorite version of that song is David Coffin’s crowd sing - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49FWp7WLYKw
Always props to grey hat w/ green button down hitting the high harmony!
I am a member of The High Desert Seamen, a group that sings sea shanties and wassailing songs on 12/24 each year. Roll The Old Chariot is one of our songs. We add new verses in every year. David Coffin, in this viddie is truly inspiring. He has much to teach us all.
He’s been very active on tiktok too, singing different versions of these old songs, taking requests, and singing with others. I don’t know anything about his personal life, but in shanties he’s awesome.
My top shantyman, though, is Tom Lewis. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqUNwvOLzpk
Your group sounds awesome! I have always loved shanties and sea-songs; I should look for a local group that takes random idiots.
I love this so much. The first time I saw this version I watched it ten times in a row and cried a little.
Group singing like this is really powerful. I’m glad you liked it!
They… drank dead man rum???
half a pint of rum per day
woof
