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General => Armed Forces => World War One => Topic started by: bjo on Sunday 18 November 18 00:28 GMT (UK)
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My Grandmother's letter states that she will get £35.15s a week for losing her husband in 1917 at Flanders. Something very strange there as I am sure that that amount would be an absolute fortune. Obviously an error somewhere.
What would a war widows pension be ?
Thanks
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It says a remarriage gratuity so perhaps a one off lump sum but an ongoing weekly sum for the children.
It shows her as Mrs Winter formerly ?Orslen
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War widows in receipt of a pension would receive a gratuity of one year's pension if they remarried - the remarriage gratuity. As the same time their widow's pension ceased. It seems that the pension for her children by the deceased serviceman would continue. The form shows (not at all clearly) a £35 15s one off payment of the gratuity plus 5/- a week for her child. From these figures is seems she had been on a pension of 13/4 a week.
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Hello
Where it refers to the Remarriage Gratuity at £35. 15. 0. [£35. 15 shillings & 0 old pence]. The "a week" should have been struck out.
The 5/- was 5 shillings for the child dependant.
British War Widows Pensions usually stopped at remarriage.
For our younger readers.
5/- [5 shillings] for child, in British currency now would be 25 pence (excluding inflation).
1 shilling was "12 d" (12 pence) before decimalisation and 5 pence after, or as we called it for a while 5 new pence.
20 shillings was a British £1.
Mark
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Thanks for the replies folks.
It makes sense, as my Grandmother remarried in 1918.
Thanks again
Brenda