Black Tot Day 50th Anniversary - 31 July 2020

On 31 July 1970, the final day of the rum ration, it was poured as usual at 6 bells in the forenoon watch (11am) after the pipe of 'up spirits'. Some sailors wore black armbands, tots were 'buried at sea' and in one navy training camp there was a mock funeral procession complete with black coffin and accompanying drummers and piper.