A Soldier’s Pay Book was the record of how much he earned and how much he was paid. These were not the same thing. The authorities believed that a soldier on active service should not have too much ready money. Most of the earnings were deferred, sometimes until the end of the War. The Pay Book had to be produced in order to receive money. Given the importance of the book to the soldier, it was also used to record other vital information: next of kin; vaccinations; inoculations; eye prescription; and equipment issue. It also provided space for the soldier’s Will. This artefact is part of the archive of James Steele, Royal Artillery (Field) who served in Malaya from January 1941-February 1942, when interned as a P.O.W at Changi until his release in October 1945.
