The dear sadly departed MGM Lion was perfectly correct.

Cyril Tawney also now sadly departed did not own the expression.

"(Insert whatever) on a raft" - is "whatever" on TOASTED Bread OR ON FRIED BREAD.

Oh by the way all those who purport to have been ex-submariners particularly those on the diesel-electric boats that Cyril served on must know that when alongside ANYWHERE you messed ashore or on your Depot Ship - NOT on your own boat.

At sea, particularly on exercise while submerged the Skipper would do anything rather than waste battery power, so your diet was either Corned Beef and Onion Sandwiches or Herring in Tomato Sandwiches - Nothing was cooked.

"Dabtoes for'd and the Dustmen Aft" - describes typical messing arrangements on any small ship [Destroyers down] Dabtoes or seaman's messes were normally found for'd under the focsle, while the Dustmen or the Stokers were back aft. Applicable to submarines as the seamen messed for'd in the torpedo compartment and the Stokers messed aft nearest to the engines.

A Rabbit was something obtained in a foreign port to bring home as a present. While something that was "Ferreted" was something "acquired" by fair means or foul from within the dockyard or from another ship - [Best example of this I ever heard of was by a young Midshipman who was given the job of "Boats Officer" on his first ship. While in Portland during "Work-Up" he "borrowed" the ornamental Dolphins from Flag Officer Sea Training's Official Barge as he thought that his Captain's Barge had greater need of them - The Shit Storm this caused was epic and highly amusing, especially when he had to get them back and reinstalled without getting caught].

A "Homer" was something that you managed to get the dockyard to do for your ship off the books [On the sly] normally paid for with Duty Free Spirits or with Duty Free Tobacco.