Supply Reserve Depot Jar (Rum Jar)

[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.