Memory lane

Well my paymaster used to also handle the currency exchange at Dusseldorf, not very long afterwards we had de valuation when it dropped to something like 8.50 (think I am right about the amount of 14.50 but could be wrong)

14.50 seems a little high Les.

Well I am of course willing to stand corrected, it's how I remember it, was a peculiar time, open to a lot of fiddling, some I am told made loads

I remember the exchange rate as being DM 4 to the Cdn dollar...pretty damn good rate!

Of course, inside of 6 months we stopped doing the exchange rate in our heads and just got used to the DM.

I don't now recall at all how much a 1/2 litre cost me....not a lot (well, not a lot per mug, got a bit pricey re volume drank!). I seem to recall getting DM 20 as an allowance from mom and dad as a teen and that lasted me pretty well, all in all. Able to head off to the gasthofs and still have enough to go out and buy an LP or two now and then. Hmmmm...but as I think of it, a 33rpm LP (remember those??) probably ran me about DM 20....I dunno -- it was over 30 years ago!!

I don't remember hurting for cash-on-hand, though. Certainly spent enough time at various favourite gasthofs so obviously money wasn't too much of an issue.

Stephen,

Changing the subject slightly, are the Saskatchewan Rifles 's & Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry still around ? Met them in Korea.

We once got into a bit of a scuffle with some lads from the PPCLI, they took offence at being called the ping pong champions of long island! touchy buggers.

Where did that happen Wilf ?

. . . and who won ?

Used one of my old Herfie glasses for my beer with Sunday lunch, down to my last two from the dozen I bought in 1972, sadly the half litre ones got broken at a party years ago. Secret of them lasting so long, only use them for Sunday lunch and make sure you do the washing up afterwards. Well we have to make sacrifices to preserve a bit of history don't we!.

Daveb,
Saw some Herfie beer in our local Tesco couple of years ago but none since.

jimsigs1 wrote:

Daveb,
Saw some Herfie beer in our local Tesco couple of years ago but none since.

Sainsbury were the last to import Herfie in crates, way back in the eighties, I rang Heforder Brewery last year and they told me they don't export, so all the odd places we see selling it are trying a bit of private enterprise. Great shame the Yellow Handbag site packed in, only problem was they would not deliver as far as Bristol. So I buy poor replacement and put it in the right glass so I can convince myself it tastes as good as Herfie used to, sad old bugger eh.....now bloody LIDL have stopped the potato salad, sad sad world these days. Bitburger is the only one I can get regularly(Tesco) and its not too bad but not a patch on fresh from the pump. Oh what I wouldn't give for a Cpls Mess with Herfie on tap, to think I left it all behind, better do a reunion trip this year while I've still got me marbles.

I can still buy the potatoe salad in my local Lidl. Also, I buy their Frankfurters (Twinners) and the german mustard. Great evening meal. Reminds me of the good old days in both Herford and Munster.
Can also remember standing by the little stalls in Herford Market square as a squaddie eating brackwurst with the mustard, freezing cold etc. That was in 1952. Where's the time gone.

My pay emoluments for 1953/54 £176:1s:6d. Income Tax payable £1 :3s :0d.

In 1948/9 DM 13 to the £

In 1959 A pint of beer...half Bass Mild, half Starkey Knight & Ford Beer...11p

In 48/50 was a brat in 15 BOD Glinde
1951 joined the RN.

Crumbs Granny, those were the days. When I joined as a boy in 1949, our pay was 10/6 a week, of which we were allowed 5/-. In BAOR 1950, DM12 was equal to £1.0.6d, so the rate didn't shift much from your 1948/9 to 1952.

Going by those posts the exchange rate didn1t change a great deal In 62 it was DM11 something to the pound.
Must have been when Wilson de valued that things went hairy.

Gordon,

I remember some sort of devaluation when I was in Singapore 1966-8. Because we lost out our LOA was increased. Cannot remember the details

Wilson devalued the pound..It just so happened it was the day Singapore switched to their own currency.No one really knew what was going on as the old straits money was still in circulation as well as the Singapore dollar.There were a few riots but nothing serious.The camp Taxi company at RAF Changi would only accept Singapore dollars untill it all panned out.Gits made a killing

jimsigs1 wrote:

Crumbs Granny, those were the days. When I joined as a boy in 1949, our pay was 10/6 a week, of which we were allowed 5/-. In BAOR 1950, DM12 was equal to £1.0.6d, so the rate didn't shift much from your 1948/9 to 1952.

When I joined in '57 boys were paid £2 pounds-something a week.
We got ten bob over the table the rest was put into credits and a compulsory deposit into a Post Office Savings Bank account.

When I mustered out I had eighty-odd quid in my hand. I'd never had so much money in my life !

That`s about the same as we had in 59 Brum

"Pay and book correct SAH"!

brum wrote:

jimsigs1 wrote:

Crumbs Granny, those were the days. When I joined as a boy in 1949, our pay was 10/6 a week, of which we were allowed 5/-. In BAOR 1950, DM12 was equal to £1.0.6d, so the rate didn't shift much from your 1948/9 to 1952.

When I joined in '57 boys were paid £2 pounds-something a week.
We got ten bob over the table the rest was put into credits and a compulsory deposit into a Post Office Savings Bank account.

When I mustered out I had eighty-odd quid in my hand. I'd never had so much money in my life !

About the same in 62, £3:00 per week. Deductions were 7/6d "Voluntary" Allotment, 2 Bob for haircuts (as many as you liked per week!!), 3 Bob for Regimental Mufti, remainder to Credits and POSB. Like Brum and Harold Wilson said, "We never had it so good".

Haircuts?????????We paid the barber not to cut it

I go back to have my haircut 3 times a year, apparently I'm still in credit!

That,s what i call a long time investment.bet you never run out of credit .

memories of haircuts .Blandford camp 1956 first haircut FREE come outside for haircut inspection and ordered back into barbers for another as it was not short enough but i think the barber was in league with the sgt as the next one cost 1/6p. happy days.