News — Princess Mary Gift fund

By Fergus Read for the Imperial War Museum What is the Princess Mary Gift Fund 1914 Box? The Princess Mary Gift Fund box is an embossed brass box that originally contained a variety of items such as tobacco and chocolate. It was intended as a Christmas present to those serving at Christmas in 1914 and was paid for by a public fund backed by Princess Mary.  Who might have received one of these boxes? It was Princess Mary's express wish that 'every sailor afloat and every soldier at the front' should have the present. The gifts were devised in October 1914...