Princess Mary Christmas gift box

[1][2] Following the outbreak of the First World War in August 1914, the British Expeditionary Force was sent to the Western Front and was soon joined by troops from the Empire, those from India arriving before the end of the year.

[3] On 14 October 1914, George V's 17-year-old daughter, Mary, Princess Royal, launched an appeal to fund a Christmas gift for every member of the armed forces.

[8] Obtaining enough brass strip to make the boxes remained a continual problem, a situation not helped when a large consignment from the US was lost due to the sinking of the RMS Lusitania.

[5][14] It consisted of the box, Christmas card and photograph of Princess Mary,[5] but also, instead of smoking related materials it contained a packet of "acid tablets" (a type of sour lemon flavoured sweet) and a khaki writing case with pencil, paper and envelopes.

[5] Sikhs got the same without the cigarettes and a third gift for "followers"[note 1] consisted of a tin box of spices and a Christmas or New Year card.