Cigarette tin and card

Tin sent by Princess Mary to all soldiers and sailors serving overseas, contains a packet of 20 cigarettes and a Christmas card with an image of Princess Mary, Christmas 1914

Originally intended for those serving overseas or at sea as Christmas gifts in 1914, these brass gift tins contained cigarettes, a carton of tobacco, a photograph of Princess Mary, and Christmas cards from Princess Mary, King George and Queen Mary. There was also an option for non-smokers which include acid tablets and a writing set. For Sikh troops, they had sugar candy and spices.

As the fund still had money, the number of people who could get a tin was widened to include those serving at home, prisoners of war and those who had lost someone during the first three months of the war while serving. According to the Imperial War Museum, this meant that approximately 2,620,019 people could have a gift.

The Princess Mary Gift Fund received donations from all over the United Kingdom, totalling £162,591. Any remaining funds was given to the Queen Mary's Maternity Home for the wives and children of the Royal Air Force.