Issue of daily grog (colour photo)

Issue of daily grog. The issue of a daily rum ration to ratings is a traditional part of life in the British Navy. The custom can be traced to the days when ship's water was usually undrinkable and beer turned sour aboard. Until 1740 rum was issued neat (half a pint for each man), but in that year Admiral Vernon prohibited this, and decreed that rum diluted with water should be served instead. From his habit of wearing a cloak of a coarse material known as grogram, Vernon was nicknamed "Old Grog," and this name has ever since been applied to the diluted rum. Nowadays the grog is served at 11 o'clock every morning; if a seaman so wishes, he may, however, receive cash instead. Illustration for one of a set of 50 cigarette cards on the subject of Interesting Customs and Traditions of the Navy, Army and Airforce issued by Lambert & Butler in 1939.