Back then a mid ranking officer made about 500 pounds annually and a "best" cost 100 pounds. The same rank officer now makes 55000 pounds and the "best" costs almost twice that, despite the introduction of cost cutting CNC machines. Something ain't right!
I look at the equation and think junior officers are obviously underpaid
In all seriousness though I would not be at all surprised if the relative pay of officers has declined relative to the pay of gun trade workers.
Also as someone else pointed out it wasn't until WWII and later that the British officer class ceased to be drawn from the gentry who might have alternative income.
Jeremy
