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Princess Mary gift tin
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Princess Mary gift tin
Princess Mary gift tin, with sweets, for non-smokers, 1914.Printed on inner sweet block: ?Her Royal Highness The Princess Mary Christmas Fund 1914?.Associated with World War One (1914-1918).Indian and British troops serving on the Western Front in 1914 received Princess Mary boxes from the Royal Family. These were metal cases engraved with an outline of the princess and filled with chocolates, sweets, cigarettes and tobacco. Great efforts were made to distribute the gifts in time for Christmas, and huge demands were made on an already stretched postal service. More than 355, 000 boxes were successfully delivered before 25 December. The boxes also included a picture card of Queen Mary and a copy of George Vs greeting to the troops which stated May God protect you and bring you safely home?. Date: 1914
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Media ID 14395160
© The National Army Museum / Mary Evans Picture Library
Associated Block Fund Gift Highness Serving Smokers Sweet Sweets
EDITORS COMMENTS
This charming photograph captures the spirit of generosity and goodwill during a time of great hardship and uncertainty. The Princess Mary gift tin, depicted in the image, was a cherished memento for non-smoking soldiers serving on the Western Front during World War One in 1914. Her Royal Highness Princess Mary, daughter of King George V and Queen Mary, initiated the fund to provide a small token of comfort and cheer to the British and Indian troops who were away from their families during the holiday season. The tin, printed with the inscription "Her Royal Highness The Princess Mary Christmas Fund 1914," was filled with sweets and chocolates, providing a welcome respite from the harsh realities of the battlefield. The inner sweet block, visible in the photograph, bears the same inscription, adding to the historical significance of the tin. Despite the challenges of wartime logistics, more than 355,000 boxes were successfully delivered before Christmas Day, bringing joy and morale to the troops. Each box contained not only sweets but also a picture card of Queen Mary and a copy of King George V's greeting, offering words of encouragement and hope for a safe return home. The Princess Mary gift tin remains a poignant reminder of the enduring spirit of compassion and unity during times of adversity.
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