The Kings Schilling

[Norm Cromie (RIP)]

The Kings Schilling

On September the 12, 1939 I was carried away by all the news and photos in the Toronto Daily Star. Stories of the first world War and all the exciting news of the declaration of the new war with the Germans. Being a history buff I felt this was an opportunity for a great adventure. So I rushed down to the old University armories and decided I had better get in this war now. There were predictions that it would all be over soon and I was afraid I would miss it all. I was impressed by soldiers rushing around with riding breeks, bandoliers and spurs and decided that the artillery was for me but I never got passed the weight requirement. I then raced over to Young St. where they were recruiting for the airforce, they took my name and told me they would call me as they were already filled up. I left for home very depressed that I was going to miss the war. The following afternoon on the 13th of September I went back to the armories were there was a turmoil of men in uniform and civilians milling all over the place. In the midst of this a 48th Highlander Sergeant Major in full Scarlet dress uniform was barking at the top of his voice, come on gentlemen for your King and Country who will have the Kings Schilling which he held up in his right hand. Which probably was not a schilling but a Canadian quarter. I seized the moment and timidly came forward and said, I will Sir. In a flash he escorted me into the armories and before a recruiting officer. To my stunned amazement he said you will make a fine soldier gave me over to a corporal and loaded me onto an open bed truck with a dozen or so other bewildered looking civilians and we were quickly driven to Grace Hospital were an MO told us to undress, had me bend over cough once put me on a scale and said you’ve passed. Being a skinny underweight kid I am sure he used the old butcher thumb trick. Back to the armories signed attestation papers swore my allegiance to King and country and on June the 1st 1945 I was discharged from the army. My fear of missing the war was certainly unfounded. Is there anyone, any history buff who can enlighten me on the true story of The Kings Schilling recruitment?

[Dana Nield]

Hi Norm,

Thanks for sharing your story. Did you ever serve with Guy Brennan while in the 48th? Anyhow, you inspired me to do a search and I found the following from the BBC:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/beyon...7_prog8b.shtml

Making History
Taking the King's shilling
Richard Callaghan, Curator of the Redoubt Fortress Museum at Eastbourne, Sussex, told Making History of the origins of an old tradition of enlisting in the services.
Taking the King's shilling was like the handshake before an official contract. It was the way the army got men to join and probably goes back to the end of the English Civil War and the creation of the British Standing Army. By the time of Wellington a daily wage was still only 2p, so a shilling would be a useful bounty for joining the army. When a man actually joined up he was given a substantially larger bounty although the cost of his uniform was taken out of it.

Some incentive to join up was necessary because the army was not liked - it was often said that the red uniform attracted only whores and lice. In some parts of the country it was better paid than the main occupation - for instance, the weavers in the north and north-west were very lowly paid - so the recruiting parties concentrated on poorer communities.

The navy had a different system. Men were impressed for the service, though only rarely. Enlistment would be voluntary, then if numbers were low, each county was asked to provide a certain number of men. If that failed to yield the quota, men between 15 and 55 were regarded as fair game for the Press Gang.

The bounty for joining the army for life was £23.17s.6d, and it turned into quite a lucrative business for recruits. One man was hanged in 1787 for enlisting, taking the bounty, escaping and re-enlisting no less than 47 times.

Sometimes the King's shilling was hidden in the bottom of a pewter tankard, which led to the tradition of some tankards having glass bottoms. But there were other ways of recruiting men. For example, Lady Jane Gordon, the wife of the Colonel of one of the Scottish regiments, toured Scotland putting the shilling between her lips. Any young lad who wanted to join could have a shilling and a kiss.

Officially the practice of taking the King's shilling ended in 1879, but there are some instances where the charming old tradition was continued as recently as the 1940s.


Further reading
David Ascoli, Companion to the British Army (Harrap, 1983)
David Chandler and Ian Beckett, editors, The Oxford Illustrated History of the British Army (Oxford University Press, 1994)
Correlli Barnett, Britain and Her Army (Cassell Military, 2000)
Antony Makepeace-Warne, Brassey's Companion to the British Army (Brassey's UK, 1995)


Place to visit

The Military Museum of Sussex
Redoubt Fortress, Royal Parade, Eastbourne, East Sussex BN22 7AQ
Tel: 01323 410300
Website: www.eastbournemuseums.co.uk/redoubt

[Jon Skagfeld]

Norm:

Please note correct spelling.

Do you and Art Johnson know each other?

I well remember University Armouries. 5 Column RCASC, 29 Field RCA (or was it 42 Medium?) Syd Byatt-QOR RSM, Bill Elms-48th RSM and Area Sgt Maj. Did my Senior NCO Course there with "Squeaky" Edmonds, RCR, in the early 60s.

Remember Don Fletcher, 48th Pipes and Drums?

[Norm Cromie (RIP)]

Hi Jon

Thanks for correcting my spelling. When you reach 82 you become a hammock with one tree. Yes I know Art Johnson well. I served with him in the Friday night soldiers after the war for a couple of years. I cannot remember the drummer you mentioned but the name squeaky Edmonds rings a bell with me but I would probably have to see a picture of him to fully renenber him. As far as Bill Elms goes our relationship went back to 1939 I am sorry to say he passed last on year.

Jon, Syd has just had a rough 16 months with an artificial knee they couldn't get the infection under control. I believe they finally decided to take it out and fuse the joint. He moved into the Margaret Birch wing of Centennary Hospital yesterday and hopes to be able to get down to Florida before the spring.
Norm you may remember Syd's father Joe he was a 39er.

[Norm Cromie (RIP)]

Jon: you mentioned you knew Bill Elms. Here is a little bit of old history and if I am not correct I am sure there will be some old 39ers out there that will put me straight. At Aldershot during January 1940 we were aroused each morning very gently with revelry being played by either the pipes or the bugle. On one occasion we were stunned by I believe Bill Elms waking us up with a real swing version of revelry. A Captain Brown had paid Bill a few pence to do so. Col. Haldenby was mad as hell. I believe Bill was driver for Haldenby but his driving days were quickly over. Bill I believe at the time his nickname was jeep, why I do not know. I don't think you will find this in the daily history of the regiment. If there are any old 39ers out there of the regiment I would appreciate it if they correct me.

Hi Norm, as you well know I'm not a 39er but I believe another bugler Frank Dow was known as the jeep and I have no idea why. He went on to become an officer in the Ordinace Corps and stayed in the army after the war. I believe that Frank was the son of Johny Dow who was the Steward in the Sergeants mess for awhile. Jimmy Raffan of the Pipe Band is still around I'll see if I can get a message to him for verification.

[Norm Cromie (RIP)]

Hi Art....You are probably right it was Frank Dowe please forgive an old man's memory. Some of that old Italian vino is formenting my brain. There was another bugler that I knew named Seggie. I still remember him as a ruddy faced chap who had a great personality. Always laughing at everything. I wonder if he is still out there somewhere? Do you know if Dowe is still alive?

[Jon Skagfeld]

Originally posted by Norm Cromie
Jon: you mentioned you knew Bill Elms. Here is a little bit of old history and if I am not correct I am sure there will be some old 39ers out there that will put me straight. At Aldershot during January 1940 we were aroused each morning very gently with revelry being played by either the pipes or the bugle. On one occasion we were stunned by I believe Bill Elms waking us up with a real swing version of revelry. A Captain Brown had paid Bill a few pence to do so. Col. Haldenby was mad as hell. I believe Bill was driver for Haldenby but his driving days were quickly over. Bill I believe at the time his nickname was jeep, why I do not know. I don't think you will find this in the daily history of the regiment. If there are any old 39ers out there of the regiment I would appreciate it if they correct me.

Futher to the Elm' family, Bill's son, Geordie, is Commanding Officer of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada. He commanded the unit for a Trooping and presentation of new colours by none other than HRH. Ceremony was held in Vic Copps' coliseum in Hamilton, Ontario. That was in October 2002, part of HRH Golden Jubilee.

Geordie was posted to Pakistan as Military Attache last August he is also responsible for Afghanistan. This is his second tour in Pakistan he was there as part of a UN force years ago regarding a border dispute.