British navy in wartime during World War I

Officers of the Ward Room in a battleship drinking to the King. This toast is given every evening after dinner in British Warships, and is drunk sitting, by permission of William IV. The reason of the permission was that on one occasion when the King was dining in the Ward Room, he rose to return thanks after the toast, and bumped his head, owing to the narrow space between the decks in those days. Many officers take advantage of the present King's permission to drink the toast in water.