Presentation Tin

In November 1914, Princess Mary, the daughter of King George & Queen Mary created a Christmas fund to provide everyone serving overseas on Christmas day with a ‘gift from the nation’. These brass embossed boxes were frequently kept by soldiers as souvenirs. The original contents varied, although all contained Christmas card and a picture of the Princess. Men on active service received a combination of pipe, lighter, 1 oz of tobacco and twenty cigarettes in distinctive yellow wrappers. Non-smokers and boys received a bullet pencil and a packet of sweets instead.