Another untouched & original example of a

Great War

Princess Mary Gift Tin

Christmas 1914

for the 

Troops at The Front.

This one issued to 

11474 Corporal J Boyd

of the

Machine Gun Corps

complete with his 

Victory Medal 1914-18

and the surviving 

Princess Mary Photo 

that originally accompanied the tins

with their myriad contents at Christmas 1914

This attractive brass tin with various contents resulted from a

Public Fund backed by Princess Mary

as it was her wish that

"every sailor afloat and very soldier at the front"

should receive this gift in time for the

First Christmas of World War One in 1914"

Each tin had varying contents depending upon its recipient:

whilst every one contained a Christmas card from Princess Mary and her portrait phot0,

some tins carried a pipe & pipe tobacco, 20 cigarettes and a lighter;

whilst for younger soldiers or non-smokers other tins had sweets,

plus writing materials & a pencil fashioned from a Lee Enfield bullet case,

bearing Princess Mary's monogram.

The tin has a gorgeous patina, though sadly the lid has become detached,

(wonder if it could be repaired?)

 whilst Cpl Boyd's Victory Medal is in superb condition

and the wee Princess Mary photo

(measuring some 2.5" x 2")

is also in a great surviving condition, to all make

this is another interesting Christmas 1914 Princess Mary tin combo..!

 Thanks for looking..!