Beer has been banned on British warships as its stowage occupies too much space -- in the ship, not the sailor.
"Beer?" said the tar,
Leaning against the bar.
"Since they left beer ashore
The rollin' billers ain't no more
Me spiritcheoll 'ome.
Beer is wot I craves;
An' I got so perishin' dry
I ketch meself 'avin' a try
To blow the blinkin' foam
Off-er the wild, wild waves."
First published in The Herald, 20 October 1937
Author reference sites: C.J. Dennis, Austlit, Australian Dictionary of Biography, Australian Poetry Library
See also.
