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Toy Soldier Collector Rank & File Up Spirits

Rank & File

Up Spirits
Any new items from Rank & File are always of interest to toy soldier collectors as Peter Tarrant usually comes up with something out of the ordinary and these latest additions to his Royal Navy range do not disappoint. ‘Up Spirits!‘ focuses (if you forgive my somewhat ironic analogy considering the subject matter) on the former naval practice of issuing the daily rum ration, a custom which existed from 1655, after the capture of Jamaica, right up until 1970.

Prior to the mid 17th century the staple tipple of British seamen had been initially beer, and later wine but with the capture of Jamaica in 1655, a country famous for the dark drink, that all changed. Drinking water was impossible to keep fresh in casks; beer was issued at the incredible dosage of one gallon per day per seaman! With the expansion of British interests globally came increasing pressure to provide enough suitable fluids on long voyages and in hot climates and beer did not keep well. Wines and spirits became more common until rum was finally introduced and proved popular. Rum has always been synonymous with sailors and pirates alike. Pirates favoured something called Bumbo, rum based but lacking the citrus juice added by the British Navy to help prevent scurvy amongst its crews. Half a pint of neat rum was originally issued not once but twice a day in the Navy and wary sailors would check that their drink was not being watered down by pouring a small amount onto gunpowder, then setting it alight, which is where the term ‘proof’ comes from and is still used in alcoholic manufacture to this day. In 1740 the rum was finally watered down, for obvious health and safety reasons!

On the July 31, 1970, all that tradition came to an end. By this date the daily tot had dwindled to an eighth of a pint but according to Peter Tarrant an ex Navy man himself this drink was incredibly strong stuff and “Would leave you speechless for a minute or two if you weren’t used to it.” Peter added “If you were on watch at midday you received your tot in the afternoon. Senior ranks received a neat tot of rum while the others were given grog a third rum and two thirds water. Junior ratings under 18 years of age went without. If you did someone a favour you were often invited for ‘sippers’, this was literally a sip of rum to say thank you. If you were teetotal you got extra pay to compensate you, not a lot just a token amount, but most people looked forward to their daily tot. I left the navy in 1964, but it must have been a dark day when it ceased.”

Five figures and a half barrel, all expertly sculpted by Alan Caton, evoke a scene enacted in the British Navy for countless years, every day at midday all and sundry would queue for their tot of rum. Here we see two eager sailors being issued their grog by the Chief Regulating Officer. The list is ticked off by a Leading Regulator and all this being supervised by the Officer of the Day. These men work well visually as a unit and equally stand alone very well, something useful to remember as each individual then can be used in other settings. The time frame these five navy men occupy is 1950’s/60’s but I see no problem incorporating them into a WWII scenario.

Taking them in terms of rank, there are:

Officer of the Day, he is the essence of authority, smart and trim, a very tidy figure with great potential in a multitude of settings.
The bearded Chief Regulating Officer looks to be a stern individual, there is a good poise to this figure.
The Leading Regulator with his check list is another crisp clean figure, again useful in other settings.
The two ratings, one with his mug full the other about to raise his empty vessel for his daily issue. Two good sleeves rolled up work a day men who again have vast potential, think of them in other contexts, drinking any beverage.

In addition to the figures there’s also the half barrel where the precious spirits are stored. On the front in gold lettering are the words ‘The Queen God bless her’, the wood grain effect on the barrel is excellent. So to sum up ‘Up Spirits!’ top marks to Peter Tarrant’s innovation and Alan Caton’s skill for bringing us something truly out of the ordinary.

So a fascinating subject worthy of closer inspection, and if all of this has whetted your appetite this new set by Rank & File ‘Up Spirits’ can be yours for £49.95.

Review and photo by Dennis Diamond

Contact:

Rank & File
16 Oxbarton
Stoke Gifford
Bristol
BS34 8RP

Tel: 01454 777278
[www.tarrantstoysoldiers.com]

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