ANZAC Q&A - WERE THE ANZACS ALLOWED TO DRINK ALCOHOL?

Image: Breaking up rum cases on North Beach on 17 December 1915 prior to the evacuation.

Q.   Were the Anzacs allowed to drink alcohol?
A.   Men were normally forbidden from drinking alcohol at Gallipoli, however, regulations allowed for a daily issue of rum, at the discretion of the unit commanding officer (CO). Rum could also be issued at the direction of the unit medical officer or the CO of a medical facility. The actual daily ration approved was 1/16th of a pint (28 ml) per man. In some units rum was a regular issue, in others it was seen rarely or not at all, depending on the whim of the CO.

This and other trivia questions are included in our best selling Great War Educards

Help pass the Anzac legend to the next generation with our fun educards. These questions and answers were created with the help of noted Australian military historian Graham Wilson.