Paybooks (British)

[Andrew Upton]

That's interesting Terry as it seems some units still had the 'Small Book' until they were mobilised at which point they exchanged them for an AB64. Perhaps because it had the caveat and secondary title on the front of - For Active Service.

The AB64 was only supposed to be issued when a soldier was mobilized, as the cover says, for active service, and almost purely related to the issue of pay (how much was due or owed, where, when, etc). Up until the declaration of war in August 1914, units would keep sufficient stocks for each soldier and a small surplus in storage (alongside the partially filled in aluminium ID discs, which would be fully stamped and issued at the same time).

The Soldier's Small Book was a different kettle of fish altogether, and was issued to soldiers in peace-time (and, in theory, war-time, although this had practically died out by the end of 1915, men enlisting "for the duration" and the coming of conscription having essentially put paid to the need for a handy guide more suited for career soldiers). It allowed him to carry a concise record of his Army service, and assorted information that would prove of use during service, from details of his attestation, next-of-kin, fines, saluting, badges of rank, rifles and kit cleaning instructions, to assorted recipes suitable for field cooking, notes on marriage, civil employment after service, wills, and much more:

http://www.thefunkhole.co.uk/308600297

[FROGSMILE]

The AB64 was only supposed to be issued when a soldier was mobilized, as the cover says, for active service, and almost purely related to the issue of pay (how much was due or owed, where, when, etc). Up until the declaration of war in August 1914, units would keep sufficient stocks for each soldier and a small surplus in storage (alongside the partially filled in aluminium ID discs, which would be fully stamped and issued at the same time).

The Soldier's Small Book was a different kettle of fish altogether, and was issued to soldiers in peace-time (and, in theory, war-time, although this had practically died out by the end of 1915, men enlisting "for the duration" and the coming of conscription having essentially put paid to the need for a handy guide more suited for career soldiers). It allowed him to carry a concise record of his Army service, and assorted information that would prove of use during service, from details of his attestation, next-of-kin, fines, saluting, badges of rank, rifles and kit cleaning instructions, to assorted recipes suitable for field cooking, notes on marriage, civil employment after service, wills, and much more:

http://www.thefunkhole.co.uk/308600297

The will form (pages 12 & 13), details of NOK and some of the other personal information were also in the AB64, but as you say, such matters as how to salute and other ancillary subjects were not. As well as pay, all forms of stoppage, including fines, barrack damages, family allotments, etc. were also included (known as 'deductions' and shown as 'debts' in the AB64) so that it was a complete record of ingoings and outgoings. Ergo a soldiers due pay each week varied according to the debts recorded by his officer from preceding weeks. It was very much a live document.

[andy1972]

Is there any standing order that states it must be worn in the top right pocket?

[Andrew Upton]

7 hours ago, andy1972 said:

Is there any standing order that states it must be worn in the top right pocket?

 

Answered in the other thread linked below - best to only ask a question in one place rather than in multiple threads:

 

 

 

 

[battle of loos]

good evening,

 

there is my pay book owned by the 

 

LENHAM Charles A - 12th Northamptonshire

 

 

 

and its "artisanal" protection

 

 

regards

 

michel

[wainfleet]

An extremely complete and interesting example Michel, thanks for letting us see it. I note that he "refuses fourth inoculation" - never seen that before.

[KernelPanic]

Thanks Michel, Very interesting.

 

Just wondering. Was it required that an AB64 was surrendered upon demobilisation? Or could the soldier hang onto it?

[mark holden]

I have no official record to state that they were retained by the soldier but on evidence of the quantity that turn up for sale either with associated items or on their own I would say that the paybook was retained by the soldier on discharge. 

[Andrew Upton]

5 hours ago, KernelPanic said:

Thanks Michel, Very interesting.

 

Just wondering. Was it required that an AB64 was surrendered upon demobilisation? Or could the soldier hang onto it?

 

1 hour ago, mark holden said:

I have no official record to state that they were retained by the soldier but on evidence of the quantity that turn up for sale either with associated items or on their own I would say that the paybook was retained by the soldier on discharge. 

 

This is the cover of a typical late war production AB64:

 

 

But as already said, they turn up very frequently so the "demand" was probably very rare if any...

[Ron Clifton]

I imagine that any order or instruction to carry the paybook in the top right-hand pocket was to facilitate its quick recovery from the soldier's body.

 

As to retention after demobilisation, the man's local pay office would probably need to see it in order to balance his final account, but otherwise the Army would have no particular need to retain it.

 

Ron