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HMS Belfast Russia-Britain VE Day Celebration on the Thames - with a Tot

Russian veterans of the Arctic Convoy from the north Russian town of Archangelsk and British veterans of the Arctic Convoy from the Royal and Merchant Navy will celebrate their VE Day together in London on May 9th.

In an official awards ceremony, hosted by Russian news agency Interfax, to be privately held on HMS Belfast, the 60-year anniversary Victory medal, known as the "Russian Arctic Medal", will be presented to a number of British veterans in the presence of HRH Prince Michael of Kent, HE the Ambassador of the Russian Federation, Yury Fedotov and a number dignitaries. HRH Prince Michael of Kent will deliver the official commemorative message from HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. A special medal will be handed to HMS Belfast to be held in her care, honouring all crew members who are no longer with us. The Royal Signals Band will perform military music during the event, ending with the last post and followed by a minute silence. The Russian and British anthems will be accompanied by a gun salute by HMS Belfast from her 4-inch guns. The long abolished naval tradition of Pusser's Rum "Up Spirits!" will be re-enacted on the armours deck to complete the ceremony.

The VE Day event on 9th May 2008 will start at 15.00. After the ceremony, the party will move on to the touring boat Miyuki, which will take the veterans on a Thames cruise. The Tower Bridge will open in honour of the veterans. At 18:00, a larger celebration party will continue on The London Regalia by London Bridge. Russo-British City community will celebrate the victory of the allies.

HMS Belfast played an important role during the Second World War. She played a key role in the sinking of the German Battle Cruiser Sharnhorst and, took part in the Artic Convoys. Belfast opened fire on the D-Day beaches at 05.30am, 6 June 1944, supporting the landing of British and Canadian troops on Gold and Juno beaches and played an integral part in Operation Overlord, the campaign, which ultimately provided the turning point in the Second World War and led to victory in Europe. Picture above, re-enactors taking a break by the 4inch guns on HMS Belfast during a week of D-Day activities.

Black Tot Day

The history of rum in Great Britain's Royal Navy was largely that of social change, both in England and the Royal Navy. From 1650 throughout the 18th century, shipboard life was incredibly difficult. The daily issue of Pusser's Rum was the highlight of the day. Then, too in those days, battles were fought "eyeball-to-eyeball".

The mental alertness and courage required to pack a cannonball into a muzzle loader were far different from that required to operate the modern weapon systems of today. Thus in 1970, the Admiralty Board decreed that there was no place for the daily issue of rum in a modern navy, and so ended the daily issue of Pusser's Rum in the Royal Navy on July 31st, 1970.

This date since then, is referred to "Black Tot Day". The rum issue, one of the longest and unbroken traditions in seafaring history, ended as the last tot of Pusser's was drunk on board Their Majesties Ships. "Round the world" in every ship of the Navy, glasses were raised in their final salute. 'The Queen'!", they said, and it's no exaggeration to say that at that moment many a strong man shed a tear at the passing of a tradition so old and fine, that was to be no more.

April 30 2008 10:58 AM | Permalink

Tags: HMS Belfast, VE Day,

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