curranl Posted 28 June , 2004 Share Posted 28 June , 2004 Hello All, While reading about Gallipoli and Palestine I was struck by the difference in pay for the private in the British Army versus their colleagues in the ANZACS. One got seven shillings a week, whereas the other got almost that much per day. Why was there such a difference? No doubt the Aussies and Kiwis will suggest they were better looking, braver soldiers with bigger calibre weapons! Did the difference in pay scales cause any resentment? After all, you stood the same chance of being killed or injured regardless of how much you were paid. Regards, Liam. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Desmond6 Posted 28 June , 2004 Share Posted 28 June , 2004 Liam - I'm guessing there are instances of the odd estaminet 'fall-out' over such an issue. It's human nature! There are various pieces of doggerel which I can vaguely remember about the 'poor bloody infantry' doing the digging while the 'RE get the extra shilling' - or words to that effect! I think Pioneers in the British Army were paid over and above the standard infantryman's rate. And, also from memory, a pre-war Mill worker in my hometown could earn an average of £2 per week at that occupation. Therefore volunteering for service could have a harsh financial impact on families. Separation allowances must have been vital to keep the wolf from the door. Hope this helps. Des Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curranl Posted 28 June , 2004 Author Share Posted 28 June , 2004 Hi Des, I can understand a specialist in the army getting a few extra shillings a week for being a Pioneer, Signaller, Miner or whatever. These, at least in theory, were more skilled than the regular Tommy in the PBI. The question really refers to the difference in pay for a private in the British Army vs his colleague in the ANZACS. I could understand a few shillings in the difference, but the gap in pay was enormous. I suspect that this must have caused some resentment. Unless of course the "bob" was a different currency from the regular shilling - I am assuming it wasn't. Regards, Liam. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Desmond6 Posted 28 June , 2004 Share Posted 28 June , 2004 Fair dinkum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarryBettsMCDCM Posted 28 June , 2004 Share Posted 28 June , 2004 Unless of course the "bob" was a different currency from the regular shilling - I am assuming it wasn't. I must be getting very Old!!! A "Bob" was the colloquial nickname for the Shilling,a "Tanner" was a Sixpence,Thrupenny Bit was Three pence not the attributes of a Page 3 Girl! & you could go out on a Friday night with Half a Crown{2s~6d} Have a Fish & Chip supper,Go to the Flicks,have a Pint of Mild & a Pack of 5 Woodbines & still have change for the Bus on Saturday Morning! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarryBettsMCDCM Posted 28 June , 2004 Share Posted 28 June , 2004 The 1918 RAF Muster Roll Pages give a wonderful insight into UK Rates of Pay for RAF Types, Labourer:~ 1s.8d. Storeman:~ 2s.0d. Rigger;~ 4s.0d. Rigger[L/M]:~5s.0d. Rigger[AM2]: 3s.0d Asst.Armourer{AM2] 1s.8d Batman. 1s.6d. Instrument Rep[AM1] 3s.0d. Etc; Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest stevenbec Posted 28 June , 2004 Share Posted 28 June , 2004 Mates, Nice to be a sniper. But the AIF was paid 5 shillings a day and if overseas paid 6 shillings a day with 1 shilling defered. Most soldiers attotted more money to their families as most soldiers only picked up around two to three shillings a day. I surpose the grass is always greener somewhere else. S.B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest stevenbec Posted 29 June , 2004 Share Posted 29 June , 2004 Just To add, The AIF was paid some five shillings a day at home and this went up to six shillings a day with one shilling deferred to end of service when overseas. This pay structure came about from the then present Milita pay scales in Australia. There were problems with our pay scales as we recieved letters of complaint from King George V and others to tell us about the excessive pay rate. There were also availible to the soldiers persions, deferred pay and seperation allowence. There was also a 50 pound annuity for widows and one quarter of that sum per child. The AIF/Australian Goverment was well ahead in looking after her soldiers both present and in the future. S.B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curranl Posted 30 June , 2004 Author Share Posted 30 June , 2004 Hi Steven, Thanks for that. On top of the far better pay, I think I am correct in saying that the Australian Army refused to shoot deserters, men who fell asleep at their posts, etc. Sounds like a better deal to me - I'll bet the British Army didn't allow men to transfer to ANZAC regiments; the proportions of men in each might have changed to the other way around! Regards, Liam. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeppoSapone Posted 30 June , 2004 Share Posted 30 June , 2004 ...you could go out on a Friday night with Half a Crown{2s~6d} Have a Fish & Chip supper,Go to the Flicks,have a Pint of Mild & a Pack of 5 Woodbines & still have change for the Bus on Saturday Morning! And you tell that to the young people of today, and they won't believe you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Talbot Posted 30 June , 2004 Share Posted 30 June , 2004 Hi All Whilst both armys were paid in shillings .... was this british shillings? both countrys used the old LSD system but the exchange rate must have been different. ie how many NZ shillings could you get for a British Pound? Just a thought that may explain the vast difference Yours Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarryBettsMCDCM Posted 30 June , 2004 Share Posted 30 June , 2004 Hi All Whilst both armys were paid in shillings .... was this british shillings? both countrys used the old LSD system but the exchange rate must have been different. ie how many NZ shillings could you get for a British Pound? Just a thought that may explain the vast difference Yours Chris @ that time the currency was based on £ Sterling so an Australian,NZ,or UK £ was the same value,you'd still get 20/~ to the £,as the currency was based on the .925,Silver Standard until 1921,Soveriegns were minted in Australia for UK Usage,it was only when they converted to $$ the exchange rates changed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarryBettsMCDCM Posted 30 June , 2004 Share Posted 30 June , 2004 ...you could go out on a Friday night with Half a Crown{2s~6d} Have a Fish & Chip supper,Go to the Flicks,have a Pint of Mild & a Pack of 5 Woodbines & still have change for the Bus on Saturday Morning! And you tell that to the young people of today, and they won't believe you! Wotz a Half ~a~Crown??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Talbot Posted 30 June , 2004 Share Posted 30 June , 2004 Hi all a Half ~a~Crown is a coin with the face value of 2 shillings and sixpence or 12 1/2p in current UK decimal currency. The coinage at the time went as follows a pound was made up of 240 pennys. A farthing = 1/4 of a penny, copper coin A halfpenny = 1/2 of a penny, copper coin A penny = 240th of pound A Thupenny = 1/4 of a shilling, at this time a small silver coin but latter a multisided brass coin. A Sixpence = 1/2 of a shilling or 1/40th of a pound, again a silver coin. A Shilling = 1/20th of a pound, again a silver coin. A Two Shilling Piece also known as a Florin, yet again a silver coin. A Halfcrown see above, also a silver coin. A sovereign, Gold coin with the face value of 1 pound Confusing aint we glad we went decimal Yours Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terryb95 Posted 30 June , 2004 Share Posted 30 June , 2004 I think that you will find that there was an exchange rate prior to us changeing to decimial currancy. It was based on the value of gold Terry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnreed Posted 14 July , 2004 Share Posted 14 July , 2004 My wife's grandfather was an RE Tunneler and he was paid a princely sum of 6 shillings a day, he survived the war. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryn Posted 15 July , 2004 Share Posted 15 July , 2004 Regarding the pay of the Anzacs: Major-General Bridges, the 'father of the AIF" (died of wounds off Gallipoli) "advised that the pay for privates in the new force, when abroad, should be higher by one-quarter than the pay - 4s. a day - of the citizen force in Australia. It was eventually fixed at 5s. a day "active" pay and 1s. a day "deferred" (that is, to be paid to them on discharge). The pay of Australian soldiers and sailors in peace-time was calculated to yield them the same return, when their rations and lodging were taken into consideration, as the average Australian worker obtained in the shape of wages; six shillings a day, although generous, was not high by that standard. It was, however, the highest pay given to a private in any army. The New Zealander received five shillings. The American private received the equivalent Of 4s. 7d. The British infantry private at the beginning of the war was getting one shilling a day (at the end of the war, to induce him to remain in the army of occupation, his pay was raised to three shillings). On the other hand, to Australian soldiers who were married there was at first given no separation allowance for their families, such as is paid to married officers and men in the British Army. Instead, they were obliged to sign a declaration agreeing to allot not less than two-fifths of their active pay to their family. In 1915 a separation allowance was instituted, but it was paid only in the case of soldiers receiving less than eight (later ten) shillings a day. Of the officers in the Australian Imperial Force, the pay was not particularly high. While the lieutenant (with £1 1s. a day while abroad) and the captain (with £1 6s.) received more than the corresponding officers in the British Army at the beginning of the war, Australian brigadier-generals (£2 12s. 6d.) received less than those in the British Army, and in higher ranks this difference increased." (Bean, History of Anzac, Vol 1 p42-2). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrKender Posted 16 July , 2004 Share Posted 16 July , 2004 The short answer is that for a shilling a day you get "all found". The Australian pay rate relects the fact that you have to pay for your food. (A consequence was that of course some preferred a liquid diet when available., contributing to a reputation for hard drinking!). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrKender Posted 16 July , 2004 Share Posted 16 July , 2004 The short answer is that for a shilling a day you get "all found". The Australian pay rate reflects the fact that you have to pay for your food. (A consequence was that of course some preferred a liquid diet when available., contributing to a reputation for hard drinking!). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HIGHSPEN Posted 16 July , 2004 Share Posted 16 July , 2004 I started my two years National Service in the R.A.F. at the princely sum of ONE SHILLING PER DAY. AND that was in 1951!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curranl Posted 16 July , 2004 Author Share Posted 16 July , 2004 Hello All, Thanks for the contributions. I'm still curious to know if there is any evidence of resentment from the British side. Was there any push from the other ranks for better pay, especially since they seem to have been poorly paid compared to workers at home, never mind the ANZACS? Regards, Liam. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petrick Posted 17 July , 2004 Share Posted 17 July , 2004 Yep and when they had their six bob and went ot leave to blighty, they ............Had to exchange their foreign courency to british money. Welcome anzacs to the commonwealth, we'll wan't you to fight but don't want your colonial money Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest stevenbec Posted 17 July , 2004 Share Posted 17 July , 2004 I should add that in the AIF a 2/AM (second grade aircraftsman) was given eight shillings a day. We could try to measure sizes all night but does that get us anywhere. I didn't notice any animostity to us when in the UK during the times I was a aussie soldier on exchange in the UK or with Brit forces in Bosnia. Although some squadies wanted to know how much I was paid. S.B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaeldr Posted 18 July , 2004 Share Posted 18 July , 2004 Yep and when they had their six bob and went ot leave to blighty, they ............Had to exchange their foreign courency to british money. Welcome anzacs to the commonwealth, we'll wan't you to fight but don't want your colonial money Don’t take it personally Petrick, the English have always been funny about other people’s money. From personal experience, even in the 1960s, shopkeepers in Newcastle upon Tyne would only give you value equal to 19 shillings and 6 pence for a Scottish pound note Regards Michael D.R. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryn Posted 18 July , 2004 Share Posted 18 July , 2004 The Anzacs (and here I'm referring to Australians, though it was the same for the New Zealanders), did not have to pay for their food out of their six bob a day. The line in the Bean explanation, 'when their rations and lodging were taken into consideration', means that, when added to the worth of rations and accommodation supplied by the army, the six bob a day brought soldiers to roughly equal the average wage of a civilian. They had a reputation for hard drinking because they were hard drinkers, but also, of course, because they could afford to be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now