I occasionally had rum issued through the CQMS in the late 70s and 80s in arduous conditions (ie, when it was very cold and wet and windy).

My CQMS held some in Bosnia in 93, we drank it on parade back in Germany on our safe return. Not sure whether it was issue or local purchase, can't even remember how it was paid for.

As a Pl Comd we used to do 'gunfire' for the lads close to Christmas leave, a bottle of rum in a Norwegian of hot, sweet tea, served round the block while they were still in their pits. Usually followed by a blanket competition (chalk pictures hung up in the cookhouse) and the 2 Messes serving Christmas dinner to the lads in the cookhouse (and then often a food fight).

First and last official issue I ever saw, in the wicker covered jugs, was at Greenham Common in January 1984. Shitty weather and the fact that we had just come back from a tour in the much hotter place led the Sqn. Ldr. (Cav not Crab, before anyone starts) to authorise the issue.

Fucking awful stuff but got pissed for free on my 21st.!!!

A 'wobbly coffee' is always appreciated on arriving alongside after a particularly rough passage.

Originally Posted by bokkatankie

First and last official issue I ever saw, in the wicker covered jugs, was at Greenham Common in January 1984. Shitty weather and the fact that we had just come back from a tour in the much hotter place led the Sqn. Ldr. (Cav not Crab, before anyone starts) to authorise the issue.

Fucking awful stuff but got pissed for free on my 21st.!!!

Did you get a souvenir badge?

Originally Posted by Brotherton Lad

Did you get a souvenir badge?

No but the one's wearing the badge did enjoy our cheese on toast.

At a gunnery camp at Castlemartin in '85' our sqn got to sleep in marquees at the far side of the camp, as a result due to the inclement weather, the SSM arranged a rum issue.

Never having seen one before I expected pomp and ceremony ala RN, not a bit of it; SSM and the Q bloke roll up after evening scoff with a couple of boxes of Lamb's which is passed around until it was all gone, and happy little troopers trickled into their maggots.

G10 rum was issued during the Radfan and Borneo campaigns, usually at night, the Pl Sgt would collect the rum from the CQMS in a water bottle and distribute it to his Jocks, wasn't more than a tot per man - one gulp! I remember the Company Storeman and his Coy HQ old sweat cronies over indulging in it on a few occasions.
I recall rum issues during winter exercises in the UK during the 1960s. Didn't receive it in NI throughout the 70s and early 80s.

I was on board a RN warship in 1982 when the Mainbrace was Spliced - can't remember why!

We had a "Splice the mainbrace" on the flightdeck for the Golden Jubilee where rum was issued.

I remember in either '94 or '95 either the Naafi or naval stores were selling off their last stocks or a surplus of stocks of pussers rum and you had to put your name down and was only allowed one bottle. I was on the Brave then, dunno how other ships / bases went about it.

I understand the New Zealand Navy was the last Navy to issue a rum ration, maybe in 1990.
I bought two bottles of "British Navy Pussers Rum" in the British Virgin Islands in 1993, still waiting for a suitable occasion to deal to the last one.
47.75% Alc/vol (95.5 Proof) not sure if time improves it.

^. It would certainly be interesting to see how well it ages. Looks a lot darker than our "Bundy" rum. I assume it has a lovely "burn" going down the first shot?