Have just spotted this tread and it brought back some memories. I came to Hammersmith in the 60's and can well remember going to Wimpeys office in The Grove where you would get a travel voucher to what ever site you fancied in the country. In those days you stayed in makeshift camps on site.
I remember working for an English subbie who was totally amased that "the Paddy Labourers" could spend £49 from Friday night till Sunday night and £1 would do for the rest of the week.

A Murphy ganger who was once asked why only £3 sub for the breakfast replied " An empty sack cant stand and a full sack cant bend"