Mystery Object (locked version of Original)

Is it a from a memorial tin for chocolate for the jubilee of William and Mary?

 

WW1 Cigarette tin,given to every man in the trenches?

 

Hooray! Well I gave you that one!

Princess Mary was the 17 year old daughter of George V. In 1914, she wanted to give a Christmas present to every soldier and sailor on active service. The tins contained tobacco, cigarettes and a Christmas card.





My Grandad joined the Army in 1902 and I'm proud to say that he was one of the very few original "Old Contemptibles" to survive the First World War. He only survived because he was shot in both legs and taken prisoner.

 

Well done Pal

 

I've got one of those tins Hornbeam, it was my grandfathers, he recieved it when he was in the trenches. Its still got the cigaretts in it along with the cards, guess he didn't smoke.

 

You are so fortunate to have one boys!..I wish I had one in my collection. Great Uncle was KIA in the Somme but no one in the family knows if he ever had one.

 

When did he go on active service, Pal?

It was a brilliant idea and the young Princess wanted to pay for all the tins, cigs and chocolate herself. Her estate couldn't afford it and so a public subscription helped. The total cost was �£100,000 which was a lot in 1914.

The tins were valued and were a great morale booster. Particularly as the British Army suffered so many defeats in 1914. There were so few soldiers left that conscription began and a much larger army hastily recruited. There are soldiers' tales about how their tin saved their life by stopping a bullet - but they can't be true. I treasure my tin - and his medals

 

Just a boy!

 

19!!!! War's a terrible thing.

But the tins a fantastic heirloom.
Great stuff guys

 

Well done Paladin, and a moving story about the tins.
What a tragic war it was.

 

that was a foxy one Nick,as it happens the mail did an article on this subject a short while ago my grandfather also was out there and was one of the lucky ones to come home

 

Fancy a smoke anyone, I think the baccy is a bit dry now.
My grandad was in the cavalry, in India, as far as I know before WW 1. He survived and went on to become a painter and decorator, pity I never met him, he died a few years before I was born.

 

Ever been tempted to find out what a 92 year old cigarette tastes like, Pete? Probably no worse than any other cancer stick.

Still - my grandad started smoking when he joined the army aged 15 and continued until the day he died aged 86.

 

Yes you see if he hadn't started smoking he might have reached a hundred.
As for me I gave it up in 93 and not had one since, so should be good for a hundred at least,if not the "health police" will have some explaining to do.

 

Imagine if that happened now and Prince William decided he wanted to send 20 B&H to the troops in Iraq!