Princess Mary Gift Tin

In 1914, Princess Mary organised a public appeal to raise funds to provide all servicemen and women with a Christmas tin. The tins went to members of the British, Colonial and Indian armed forces, they were also given to widows and parents of those who had been killed.

The first tins were given out for Christmas 1914 followed by New Year 1915 and continued to be distributed until 1917. Due to shortages of materials, the later tins were of an inferior quality to the earlier ones.

Some objects that were found in the tins were:

– Christmas or New Year card
– Photo of Princess Mary
– Packet of tobacco
– Packet of cigarettes
– Confectionary & spices (Indian troops)
– Pipes
– A bullet to hold a pencil
– Chocolate.