How did they "Wire money home" ?

Discussion in 'USA' started by Owen, Apr 10, 2009.

  1. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    My turn to ask a silly question.
    Just reading MY WAR by Tracy Sugarman.
    En Route to England from the USA one of his men won $2700 by running a non-stop crap game on board the Queen Mary.
    As Sugarman was the man's Officer he "wired the money home to his mother" for him.
    How would he do that exactly ?
     
  2. Slipdigit

    Slipdigit Old Hickory Recon

    The cash itself doesn't actually make the trip back home.

    I'm guessing that they went to a Western Union telegraph office or the office of the equivalent telegraph service available. The sender (one who is doing the "wiring") gives the cash to the office, filling out the necessary paperwork and paying a service fee. The office then sends a message to the persons that that is to receive the money. When they get the notification, they go to their local telegraph office and sign for the cash or a check and they then have the money.
     
  3. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    Ah right cheers Jeff.
    So all Sugarman needed was the soldier's Mother's name & address, no need for Bank details like you would do today?
     
  4. Slipdigit

    Slipdigit Old Hickory Recon

    Ah right cheers Jeff.
    So all Sugarman needed was the soldier's Mother's name & address, no need for Bank details like you would do today?

    Yes to both parts.

    Depending on the amount, we can still wire money across the country now, although many towns and small cities no longer have a Western Union store, it is part of another business. And they don't send it by telegraph. It is a quick way to send money to someone. I had a cousin use the service a few years ago when his car broke down out west. He had the cash in hand within an hour of it being sent.

    Western Union - Send Money - Money Transfer - Transfer Money Online - Find Location
     
  5. chrisharley9

    chrisharley9 Senior Member

    Just had a look at the list of local WU offices - most of them are places I would not been seen dead in
     
  6. Ron Goldstein

    Ron Goldstein WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Owen

    With ref to:
    En Route to England from the USA one of his men won $2700 by running a non-stop crap game on board the Queen Mary.

    I am reminded of when my unit was shipped from Sousse to Sicily in July '43 I witnessed a game of "Brag" in which the BMA money in the pot was equivalent to over £150, a huge sum in those days but meaningless when you consider none of us knew what would lay in store for us once we had reached Sicily.

    Ron
     
  7. Steve G

    Steve G Senior Member

    Just had a look at the list of local WU offices - most of them are places I would not been seen dead in


    Sounds about right, Chris.

    Locally, the Post Office is the WU site. Nothing wrong with that. But this is rural Eire. So, I sent my sister, over there, £50. First delight was that it cost me a tenner to do so!

    Then it Really kicked off at her end. I'd ~ stupidly ~ assumed she'd need to go to the main Post Office, across the road from her. No. She had to trapse to the other side of town. To the only shop in the town centre which now sells fags. (WTF?!) There she had to wait about an hour, in a queue of rank 'Chav' types to get to the till ..... and be told they wanted to see her Passport! (No mention of this at my end).

    Day or two later, she was back. Passport in hand. Same proceedure. Guess what? They came up with some other excuse not to give her my money.

    She told me this and I told her to forget it. I hit a few keys, on this thing, and told her to go to her bank and draw my fifty quid from there. I'd Thought WU would be quicker and less hassle.

    My fifty quid? Gone, mate. I slung away my reciept, never dreaming I'd need it. Even if I had it, I wouldn't have been arzed to pursue it, given their attitude.

    Never Again!
     

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