3. The King's Shilling (8 images)

Scenes from the Military:

Select coverage and features,
for Gannett's Military Times
2008-2011.

"....He's joined the army and marched awa',
He took the shillin'
He took the shillin' and marched awa',

Come laddies come, hear the cannons roar-
take the shlling an' we're off tae war."

Many years ago, the "King's Shilling" (or the "Queen's Shilling" as the case may be) was the payment...
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Scenes from the Military:

Select coverage and features,
for Gannett's Military Times
2008-2011.

"....He's joined the army and marched awa',
He took the shillin'
He took the shillin' and marched awa',

Come laddies come, hear the cannons roar-
take the shlling an' we're off tae war."

Many years ago, the "King's Shilling" (or the "Queen's Shilling" as the case may be) was the payment given as an earnest payment to recruits of the British Army and the Royal Navy of the 18th and 19th centuries. The expression "to take the King's shilling" meant that a man agreed to serve as a soldier or sailor.
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