ARMY PAY DEPARTMENT AND ARMY PAY CORPS
Before the establishment of the Army Pay Department in 1878, the financial side of the soldier's service was administered almost without system, this being carried out for the greater part according to the whim or skill of each commanding officer. So many people "had a finger in the pie" in handling the soldier's pay that the wonder is that any ever reached him at all, whilst the loss to the nation was enormous. After the abolition of the system under which each Colonel paid his men or did not, as he thought fit, Army Agents were made more or less responsible for paying the troops, and these appointed their own paymasters in each regiment. This system was open to abuse, and the troops suffered until the whole system of pay was taken over by the War Office and the Pay Department established. This Department also took over the payment for all the needs of the regiments and corps, and so well has it arranged its duties that every man in the army is now sure of every penny due to him, whilst the nation has been saved vast sums by preventing fraud and overcharging.
Nicknames: "The Quill Drivers" and "The Ink Slingers."
Uniform, Blue.
Facings, Red.
Head-dress, Helmet.
Cap, Red.