I just stumbled across this web page http://www.skysurfer.co.uk/armour.htm it includes a shot of his Fathers payslip for his six years war service. £82 12 shillings. Not enough is it.
At the time, that would have been about $350 total. A US PFC's salary for that time period would have been well beyond $2000, not counting other pay adjustments, such as combat allowance, etc. Give some credence to the under paid/over paid claims by each nation we discussed earlier.
This statement has nothing to do with service pay 45 pounds is the War Gratuity which was paid on demobilisation.This varied according to rank.Officers were awarded a larger gratuity than NCOs and rankers.Gratuities were often used by exserviceman to start up businesses, particularly if the sum was considerable. Post War Credits were repaid to anybody, military or civilian who had paid wartime Emergency Income Tax.The Government promised to return some of this tax as Post War Credits as soon as possible after the war. Civilians had to claim their Post War Credits and many missed out but claimed them well after the war.
not that its that relevant but here is the 1940 rates of pay for the Irish Defence forces: Rates of Pay for the Irish Military, dated to 1940 for service in "The Emergency". - IMO Discussion Board
Just digging into the archives to find that I received a War Gratuity of 22GBP at the rate of 10 shillings per month and the Post war credits of 32.13GBP to make a grand total of 54.13GBP (USD243.59) to go mad on... a new tailor made suit cost me 25 guineas ( USD 112.26).....so it didn't go too far ! ... and an offer to take up shoe and boot repairs for free !
