Flyingdutchman Posted September 28, 2005 Posted September 28, 2005 (edited) Gentlemen, here comes a scarce item. It?s an original Princess Mary Box from 1914 INCLUDING the cigarettes, the Princess Mary xmas letter and the tobacco ! This beautiful box reminds me always of the famous christmas truce in 1914. British soldiers changed these boxes and the cigarettes for german belt buckles. It?s pretty rare, because you find them normally without the content. I hope this is the correct section. But this box is definitely a part of the british equipment, isn?t it ? Unfortunately I?m a non smoker... Best regards;FlyingdutchmanFor more infos about the christmas truce 1914 please see:http://www.worldwar1.com/heritage/xmast.htm orhttp://www.firstworldwar.com/features/christmastruce.htmAbout the box:http://www.kinnethmont.co.uk/1914-1918_fil...as-box-1914.htm Edited September 28, 2005 by Flyingdutchman
Flyingdutchman Posted September 28, 2005 Author Posted September 28, 2005 letter...Thanks for patience !
Tony Posted September 29, 2005 Posted September 29, 2005 (edited) I think these tins are great, I also have one with a full opened pack of cigarettes and another with only 4 cigarettes. The packs of tobacco are never open but it's hard to find an unopened packet of cigs.I also have the bullet pencil set, they are much more common.Where did you find the Kitchener cigs?Tony Edited September 29, 2005 by Tony
Guest pikemedals Posted September 29, 2005 Posted September 29, 2005 hi tony, very nice the tin is in a outstanding condition.most i see have spit corners or well polish top.paul
Ed_Haynes Posted September 29, 2005 Posted September 29, 2005 These boxes are really nice, especially when with contents, and especially when you consider what the troops who got them were about to experience. Especially rare -- I have only seen one -- were the boxes given to Sikhs (who do not smoke) where the tobacco was substituted with chocolates (not such happy choccies after all these years, but ....).
Tony Posted September 30, 2005 Posted September 30, 2005 These boxes are really nice, especially when with contents, and especially when you consider what the troops who got them were about to experience. Especially rare -- I have only seen one -- were the boxes given to Sikhs (who do not smoke) where the tobacco was substituted with chocolates (not such happy choccies after all these years, but ....).Ed, There was a non-smokers tin, have a look at this thread http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=1491&st=0I don't know if Indians received their Christmas pressies. Were they in the line by Christmas 1914? As far as I know the bullet pencils were issued later in the year, if you look at the cards they read "Happy New Year 1915" instead of the Christmas greeting. The set with the lighter is even rarer.I don't know about chocolate but why not, the troops in the Boer War received a presentation tin with a lump of chocolate inside. I haven't looked at Flyingdutchman's links above yet, we might find more info there.I also have a Princess Mary Fund book which was sold on the home front, probably to raise cash for the tins and their contents.Tony
Tony Posted September 30, 2005 Posted September 30, 2005 Ed,Check out Flydutchman's link, there's info on the contents and it also says that Indians usually received sweets and spices.The Christmas Truce is very interesting too.Tony
Flyingdutchman Posted December 7, 2005 Author Posted December 7, 2005 Gentlemen,some news to add. I found a another nice box. This is the one with the new years greetings. Unfortunately no sweets.... Hope you like it.I wish you, fellow members, a merry christmas and a happy new year. Best;Flyingdutchman
Flyingdutchman Posted December 7, 2005 Author Posted December 7, 2005 Is there a name on the pencil holder card?TonyHi Tony,hard to say...Best;Jerry
Flyingdutchman Posted December 7, 2005 Author Posted December 7, 2005 Some goods to trade... What shouted Fritz at christmas 1914 ? ?You not shoot - we not shoot, englishman. Merry Christmas !`. Imagine. If Fritz and his new friends had said: We don?t want anymore...Best;Flyingdutchman
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