Princess Mary Gift Boxes

Princess Mary gift boxes were sent as Christmas gifts to those serving in the armed forces in 1914. The initiative was conceived by Princess Mary and paid for by a public fund that she supported. Brass embossed boxes depicting a profile of the princess and containing a selection of items including a Christmas card, photograph of the princess, tobacco, cigarettes and stationary were sent out to sailors, soldiers and nurses. The boxes were not standardised as the cultural background of the recipient was taken into consideration. For example, nurses received chocolate instead of tobacco and Indian troops whose religious beliefs did not allow tobacco were given sweets and spices.

One of these two boxes still contains the mud from the trench in Flanders where it was discovered; the other shows the damage of shell-fire.