HMS Alliance - passing the time - Gosport 29 8 2017

I was surprised to see cigarettes and matches in the messes, but naval personnel have had tobacco and cigarettes as a ration until fairly recently. There is a request in Hansard, Parliament's record of proceedings, from Naval Officers to the Government for less tight restrictions and the need to deal with various anomalies in 1951, which includes a Surgeon Lieutenant Commander recommending smoking as a benefit to health!