Hi Does anyone know if tradesman in a battalion were paid more than a regular rifleman ? Thanks in advance Craig
Craig, I’m not sure about the British Army........but in the Canadian Army not always.......first, you had to be qualified in the “trade”, such as an armourer, or if you where in the Pioneer Platoon, one of the trades positions in that platoon. Next, even if you had the official training and had received the qualification, their had to be a “war establishment position” in the unit for the specific trade. Unfortunately, even in War, (or peace), Armies still must follow the budgets allocated to them by the Politicians.....this mean’t that their had to be a War Establishment position for the trade in the unit, in order to be paid for the position. In the Canadian Army “General Instructional Background for the Young Soldier” dated 1942, the rate of pay for a PRIVATE was $1.30 Cdn per day And if a man was a “qualified tradesman” (had passed appropriate army tests) , and was covering a established position in the unit for that trade, he received and additional 25 cent, 50 cents or 75 cents per day, depending on the trade level of his qualification. So, you could be a “qualified carpenter” in a unit, but if their was no establishment for that position, you didn’t get paid for it.......EVEN if you still did the work........YES, if they read your records and find out that you have training in something, you can believe they would still have you “help out” doing work that you weren’t paid for. Benefit for the soldier, it usually got him out of “other duties”........so while his mates were off humping 100 pound packs for 30 miles then digging a hole and living in it, you could stay behind and fix the CO’s jeep, or help build a new temporary “Senior NCO’s bar” etc etc and go to bed in your cot every night. Again, this was the Canadian Army during WW2, The Organization of a British Infantry Battalion 1938 to 1945 http://www.bayonetstrength.uk/BritishArmy/BritInfBn/Org of the British Inf Bn 1938-45.pdf
Thanks Temujin for the reply The reason I ask is because my father had an annotation in his service record "granted SSP" which I have been advised is "Special Proficiency Pay". Pre war he was a tailor and I know there is no position for this in the W/E. He told me he was utilised at Btn HQ in this role. He was also trained as a signaller (Wireless OP) so is this the more likely reason. His Company went to North Africa 1942 as part of Blade Force, but he remained behind and didn't go until the rear guard element of the Btn departed in early Dec 1942. There is nothing else in his service record to suggest why this could be, Regards Craig
Hello Craig, Here are the rates of pay from a 1941 Royal Artillery booklet. The same booklet lists the qualifications for Special Proficiency Pay: (a) 3 years’ service as a man. (b) W.P.P. must already have been granted. (c) Special recommendation of C.O.— ability must be of standard above that of W.P.P. [W.P.P. – War Proficiency Pay] The exchange rate for the pound sterling fixed by the Canadian government for the duration of the war ($4.43 buying and $4.47 selling) makes the Canadian private’s pay of $1.30 equivalent to 5/10, almost three times that of a British private! Richard p.s. One of the qualifications for WPP is that "Man must not be above the rank of Lance Sergeant nor a tradesman".
Thanks for the reply Richard I have just looked at his service record, no mention of W.P.P., but he was granted SSP on 02/09/42 exactly 3 years after being "called to the colours" (he was T.A. pre war) on 02/09/39 Craig
