The centuries-long Navy rum tradition the Wrens were allowed to join on VE Day

Metro

08-05-2025

Something unheard of happened in Mabel Kidney's Navy barracks on May 8 1945 – she was given rum.
The Women's Navy veteran had never had a lick of the alcohol in her life before VE Day 1945.
But that all changed at the end of the Second World War, when she and her fellow Wrens participated in a renowned Navy tradition.
Mabel had joined the Women's Royal Naval Service, affectionately called the Wrens, when she was just 17.
'I felt I had to do something to help the war effort,' the now 99-year-old told Metro.
'I came from a Navy family, joining the Navy is what you did.'
Her life during the war had not been easy as a young teenager.
Mabel's hometown of Fratton was mercilessly targeted by the Germans looking to destroy a nearby dockyard before she moved to HMS Daedalus barracks in Lee-on-the-Solent.
When the whole country was going mad with celebration on May 8 1945, the vibe was different to begin with in her Navy barracks.
On the day Germany formally surrendered, HMS Daedalus was 'eerily quiet'.
She added: 'There was nobody out.
'We were all relieved more than anything else, because you never knew what Hitler was going to do next. Everybody felt relieved.'
Mabel's role was in the canteen and it was during food service when she was allowed to do something they had never done before – drink with the men.
It might seem unusual now, but sailors in the Royal Navy had a daily allowance of rum, called a 'tot' and equivalent to about two shots.
But on special celebratory occasions, the order was given to 'splice the mainbrace' and extra tot of rum was handed out.
And on the day of national celebrations, VE Day 1945, Wren's were allowed to get in on the fun.
'The Chief Wren put a mug on the counter for each of the sailors as they came along.
'Then the Wrens were given a tot of rum too. We had to split it between four of us.
'That was the first time I had rum, that day. We knew there was not going to be war on our land anymore.'
The day did then unsurprisingly pick up after that first alcohol beverage.
She remembers how 'you got drawn into a crowd wherever you were' in Portsmouth.
The veteran left the Wrens soon after, but ended up marrying a Navy sailor. She now lives at Admiral Jellicoe House care home run by The Royal Naval Benevolent Trust.
Mabel recalled to Metro how she witnessed the wild VE Day scenes from London on TV and radio.
'It was madness. Half were naked, half did not know what they were doing.
'There were sailors and servicemen with other countries, all mixed up there. Everybody was kissing and cuddling everybody.'
Joining the unhinged celebrations on that day, but from half way around the world, was D-Day hero John Roberts.
Now a 101-year-old Rear Admiral, the then 21 Sub-Lieutenant was in Montreal, Canada, when news of Germany's surrender in Europe spread.
John had been in one of the support ships for the Normandy landings, bombarding Sword Beach before the invasion began.
But he was in Canada training to be a pilot when all hell broke loose in Montreal – and when a fire engine swooped by at the perfect moment.
He told Metro: 'For two or three months we could all tell the Germans were getting beaten. I knew it was going to end quite soon.
'But when it came, Montreal was just as excited as London was.
'I hopped on a fire engine and I went around the town on it.
'Thousands of people were on the streets – all pointing and laughing at us.
'The firemen were happy we were celebrating with them. It was a great day.'
John and his other fellow Navy mates rode the fire engine for about 15 minutes when they were eventually kicked off.
The fun did not stop there, John added: 'I think we then went to the nearest bar.
'During the week when we were flying we did not drink at all, but being from abroad we had more coupons than other people.'
It might all seem like joyous celebration, but the World War Two veteran was actually very melancholy at points too.
'On VE Day I was very conscious of the numbers of people who lost their lives. Many people were sad, they could have lost a husband or a father.'
John himself witnessed an Norwegian destroyer be torpedoed before his very eyes during the D-Day landings, when half the ship's crew died.
He had an very close shave too: 'Soon after that we received a signal that a torpedo was approaching our ship, so we all braced ourselves, which meant that we bent our knees to absorb the shock of the impact.'
But the missile missed, and John was alive to think of fallen friends at the end of the war.
After the mixed emotions of that day, he was back to base shortly after to prepare to fight the Japanese.
The Allies battle against the Japanese Empire lasted three more months, until they surrendered in August 1945.
John stayed in the Navy until April 1978, by which time he had become Captain of the Ark Royal and had been promoted to Rear-Admiral.
The 101-year-old has regularly returned to the scenes of his former battles through the work of the Royal British Legion. More Trending
The charity runs countless events for veterans, and their Tea Party at the National Memorial Arboretum is likely to be the largest gathering of Second World War veterans on VE Day.
Mark Atkinson, Director General of the Royal British Legion, said: 'This is one of the last chances the nation will have to pay tribute to the bravery and sacrifice of the Second World War generation, and to thank the small number of veterans still with us today.
'Victory would not have been possible without the contribution of Allied Forces from the Commonwealth and beyond.
'By bringing the nation together to celebrate the entire Second World War generation on this momentous occasion, we can hear their stories and learn more about how that diversity of contribution from Commonwealth countries led to Victory in Europe.'
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