Supply Reserve Depot Jar (Rum Jar)

[Flying10uk]

This item may be very familiar to some UK and Commonwealth forum members but perhaps less familiar to some of our US forum members, an SRD Jar, commonly known as a Rum Jar. These were in common use from at least the WW1 period until after WW2 and well into the 1950's, at least. This particular example has an uncommon and I believe original style of metal handle attached. Although often referred to as "Rum Jars" they could also be used for any liquid and of course once empty were recycled. I assume that they were only used for liquids intended for human consumption. As I understand it the ones in Royal Navy use were encased in a wicker type basket.

[Sapper740]

I've been looking for one of those Supply Reserve Depot stoneware jugs for years without luck. Nice Find! The troops jokingly referred to them as "Soon Runs Dry" or "Seldom Reaches Destination" jugs and often incorrectly as "Service Rum Diluted" which it wasn't. It was full strength undiluted Rum although many mixed it with water to produce 'Grog'. Yes, that is a rare wire handle as most had the typical stoneware handle. There were two other stoneware designed SRD jugs but I've never seen pictures of them outside of David Gordon's excellent series of books.

[browningautorifle]

"Service Rum Diluted" which it wasn't.

I remember the old stuff we used to have issued, came in bottles by then of course. It was overproof as there are three grades, "Underproof", "Proof" and "Over proof". USA calls them 80, 90 and 100 proof. The stuff they issued was undrinkable as far as I was concerned, even with mix. We'd even try coke to mix and it would ruin good coke, turn the bubbles brown. If you drank it alone it would give you gastritis that lead to heartburn. Later we started buying local purchase which eased the supply system and we had Captain Morgan's dark which was do-able. I talked to the old guys that remembered the issue. If there was an enemy push coming the CQ would come by with a little wood cask and throw one in the trench for two men. It simply removes fear, also clouds judgement to the point there is none. One man told me clearly, there's no way quicker to get killed than to be drunk in combat. Ours was issued at a rate of two ounces per man per day during winter conditions. Again, we also taught not to take alcohol during sub zero conditions as it gave false body readings of the effects of cold on the body. Sapper will remember this stuff too I think... The jugs are very collectable over here as are the little wood casks I spoke of, which resemble a miniature hogshead. I haven't seen many, I guess since they were wood they went into the fires. The jugs are scarce.

[Aragorn243]

That is pretty cool. The US has similar jugs but not for the military. They were in common use for civilians before my time. My parents have one that's probably 5 gallon size. As a kid, I remember taking the cork out of it and smelling it. It had a strong smell similar to pickles. I've always wanted one but they are rather expensive if in perfect condition and who wants a busted one.

[Sapper740]

Jim, you might remember in the early to mid Seventies when the CF stopped issuing rum rations and the federal government sold its not insignificant rum reserves to the various Provincial Liquor Control Branches. B.C.'s LCB diluted the rum to 50% ABV instead of the regular 80 Proof or 40% ABV. They put the rum in 40 oz. bottles, slapped a cheap blue label on them and sold them for $4.25 limit two per person. My father was a confirmed Scotch drinker and didn't want his so he gave them to me so I had 4 bottles of the stuff. It wasn't good rum but it did the job.

[browningautorifle]

It wasn't good rum

You got that right... That must be why we went to LPO Captain Morgan's. I don't recall buying any of that, I drank Wisers' delux back then anyway... We never stopped issuing, it was always available during sub zero weather in the field at a rate of two ounces per man per day. CQs changed that saying to "an ounce per man per day", wonder why? It took until I was posted to Wainwright teaching recruits in winter to find out it was two ounces.

[Flying10uk]

who wants a busted one

I have found some broken remains of one during some recent gardening and if I can find some more of it I'll attempt to glue the pieces back together.

I do have a "civilian version" of the SRD Jar which has been in my family for many years.

[browningautorifle]

I'll attempt to glue the pieces back together.

That should prove interesting...

[Flying10uk]

Here is my civilian version of about the same size and which would have originally incorporated a handle which has long since broken off. This has probably been in my family for around 100 years and for many years it was used to store deionized water for topping up batteries but for the last 50 + years it has not been used.