Post by Matt James on Apr 16, 2009 15:02:12 GMT
I started work as a telegram messenger boy at the age of 15 in April 1939 at Barrow in Furness, which was then in Lancashire, now in Cumbria.
My first weekly wage was 9 shillings sixpence, I was one of six messengers, and all on bicycles (double crossbars!) We were issued with new uniforms twice a year, 1st October with the winter uniform, and 1st April with the summer uniform. The shoes and boots were of such good quality my shoes lasted me through my service as a boy messenger, sorting clerk and Telegraphist, and into the Army in 1942. I finally ditched my shoes in the Western Desert in 1943!!
My worst experience was not only delivering telegrams with news of lost members of H.M.Forces, But also to relatives of workmen of Vickers Armstrongs lost on H.M.S.Thetis, whilst on sea trials in Liverpool Bay. The Thetis was actually built on the Mersey, but had personnel from Vickers, on board, nevertheless.
What a contrast between employment in the Post Office then and now!!
Passing the boy messengers examination gave one access to various employment outlets. Postman, Sorting Clerk and Telegraphist, PO Telephone Engineer, or the Telegraphist in the Royal Navy
Ensured a job for life providing you kept your “Nose Clean”!! Retirement at 60 with a free pension!
Other details I remember: Postmen were recruited on the ratio of two ex-service men to one civilian, so two thirds of postal staff were ex-service men or women and therefore readily accepted Post Office Discipline. Also, a Policemans wage was tied to a Postmans so didn’t get a rise until a postman did!
The generation of boy messengers, before my time ,performed rifle drill once a week, and were marched up to the local football field by the Head Postman (ex-sergeant Major, of course!)
Our terms of employment were excellently maintained by “sensible unions” I transferred to P.O.Telephones in 1969/70 and progressed through “corporation” stage to present day British Telecom, and retired at 60 years old with my free pension rights intact, and so far have enjoyed 24 years retirement!
Ralph Gibbs
My first weekly wage was 9 shillings sixpence, I was one of six messengers, and all on bicycles (double crossbars!) We were issued with new uniforms twice a year, 1st October with the winter uniform, and 1st April with the summer uniform. The shoes and boots were of such good quality my shoes lasted me through my service as a boy messenger, sorting clerk and Telegraphist, and into the Army in 1942. I finally ditched my shoes in the Western Desert in 1943!!
My worst experience was not only delivering telegrams with news of lost members of H.M.Forces, But also to relatives of workmen of Vickers Armstrongs lost on H.M.S.Thetis, whilst on sea trials in Liverpool Bay. The Thetis was actually built on the Mersey, but had personnel from Vickers, on board, nevertheless.
What a contrast between employment in the Post Office then and now!!
Passing the boy messengers examination gave one access to various employment outlets. Postman, Sorting Clerk and Telegraphist, PO Telephone Engineer, or the Telegraphist in the Royal Navy
Ensured a job for life providing you kept your “Nose Clean”!! Retirement at 60 with a free pension!
Other details I remember: Postmen were recruited on the ratio of two ex-service men to one civilian, so two thirds of postal staff were ex-service men or women and therefore readily accepted Post Office Discipline. Also, a Policemans wage was tied to a Postmans so didn’t get a rise until a postman did!
The generation of boy messengers, before my time ,performed rifle drill once a week, and were marched up to the local football field by the Head Postman (ex-sergeant Major, of course!)
Our terms of employment were excellently maintained by “sensible unions” I transferred to P.O.Telephones in 1969/70 and progressed through “corporation” stage to present day British Telecom, and retired at 60 years old with my free pension rights intact, and so far have enjoyed 24 years retirement!
Ralph Gibbs
