A Solier's Pay

 

 

In July 1809 a private soldier under Wellington in the Peninsula drew wages of exactly a shilling a day------theoretically. Theoretically because 4 shillings a week were "stopped from his pay for food (whether he got any food or not), 18 pence per week were stopped for "necessaries" (laces, straps, buttons, pipe clay) whether he used them or not. Additionally nearly all soldiers paid "the sergeant's wife" six pence per week to do his laundry. This left the peninsular soldier with between 4 and 5 shillings a month to live it up – if he got paid at all.

In July 1945 as an apprentice seaman in the U.S. Navy in boot camp I received the kingly compensation of $21 per month no deductions. Actually I paid $6.40 per month for $10,000 life insurance but this was optional.

In July 1998 my grandson was a private in boot camp in the U S Marine Corps at Parris Island. He received $1024 per month (this may be a few dollars off but it was just over a thousand)

All three of the above were equivalent ranks.

I think all three of us were underpaid but that is an increase of about 400 times in 190 years. I believe a 10% increase was recently voted in the U.S. I would be curious to know if any of you know what a private soldier makes in the British Army now.