WWI Princess Mary Christmas Brass Tobacco Box Gift Fund 1914
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Product information
British WWI
Princess Mary Christmas Gift Box 1914
Measuring 13cm by 8.5cm by .5cm
This book contains a fabric hand written cloth
Decorative brass tin or box sent by Princess Mary to members of the serving British, Colonial and Indian Armed Forces for Christmas 1914. Over 426, 000 of these tins were distributed to those serving on Christmas Day 1914. The tins were filled with various items including tobacco, confectionary, spices, pencils, a Christmas card and a picture of the princess. The idea was the initiative of Princess Mary, the 17-year-old daughter of King George V and Queen Mary. Princess Mary organised a public appeal which raised the funds to ensure that 'every Sailor afloat and every Soldier at the front' received a Christmas present. Due to the strong public support for the gift, which saw £162, 591 12s 5d raised, the eligibility for the gift was widened to include every person wearing the King's uniform on Christmas Day 1914 about 2, 620, 019 servicemen and women.