The travels of merchant seamen

[kiterunner]

Interesting, Shona. I think my merchant navy ancestors and rellies were somewhat better off than them so I didn't realise.

[Merry]

Yes, very interesting - thanks Shona.

[Mary from Italy]

Originally Posted by tenterfieldjulie

Yes but maybe there wasn't enough washing to go around ...

I always liked the famous saying (I thought it was Dickens, but Google says not) that the natives of the Scilly Isles "eked out a precarious living by taking in one another's washing".

[Shona]

Just phoned my mum to ask her how she got any money when my dad was away at sea. She had a weekly allowance paid via the Post Office - a bit like drawing the Family Allowance. On a Thursday, all the wives would head to the Post Office with their books to get their money. If she needed any extra for clothes or shoes for me and my sister, she had to write to Dad, He would then ask the Navy for permission to put some extra money in the account for Mum.