Monday 22 December 2014

Christmas 1914 for Australian troops



They thought they would be home for Christmas...

For most of Australia's troops, Christmas 1914 was spent in Egypt, New Guinea or in training camps in Australia. The first AIF arrived in Egypt in November 1914 and were camped near Cairo. Others were in German New Guinea, which had been captured in September.

Source: Australian War Memorial, Image PS0677
At home, concerned ladies put together "comfort packages" for troops in New Guinea. One soldier encamped at Fort Lytton near Brisbane requested that the ladies also send these care packages to the troops at that camp.
Overseas, Princess Mary, daughter of King George V and Queen Mary, organised a Christmas gift for all members of the British, colonial and Indian Armed Forces for Christmas 1914. This initiative had strong financial support from the public and more than 2,620,000 were distributed.
The gift was a rectangular brass tin with a decorated hinged lid. It contained tobacco, lollies, spices, pencils, a Christmas card and a picture of the Princess. Once the goods were consumed, the troops used the tins for storing other items. Today, they are collectors items.
What would you have sent in a comfort package to the armed forces in World War I?

Source: Australian War Memorial http://www.smythe.id.au/letters/14_10.htm

Sources:
'First World War', Australian War Memorial, <http://www.awm.gov.au/atwar/ww1/>, accessed 29 Nov 2014.
 'Princess Mary's Gift', Nundah & Districts Historical Society Inc Bulletin, Dec 2014, p. 4
'Christmas Cheer for the Troops' The Brisbane Courier, 1 Dec 1914, p. 6.
'Princess Mary of England', The Queenslander, 19 Dec 1914, p. 21.
'Australian occupation of German New Guinea', <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_occupation_of_German_New_Guinea>, accessed 29 Nov 14.
'Letters from Bert, 27 Dec 1914', Australian War Memorial, <http://www.smythe.id.au/letters/14_10.htm>, accessed 29 Nov 2014.

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