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Australian War Contingent Association Gift Tin - 1915

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Overview

The rectangular gift tin is made of lacquered tin-plate and has a hinged lid printed in black with the Australian coat of arms in the centre and '1915.' on either side. Beneath this are the words 'TO THE AUSTRALIAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCE FROM THE AUSTRALIAN WAR CONTINGENT ASSOCIATION, LONDON. "WITH EVERY GOOD WISH TO ONE AND ALL. 1915"'.

Historical information

During the First World War the Australian War Contingent Association in London produced gift tins such as this which were distributed to Australian soldiers to celebrate the Christmas and New Year period.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-32-99-988

Inscriptions and markings

The tin originally contained Fry's chocolate in two layers of six bars. The chocolate would have been wrapped in lead foil with a yellow, orange and black paper label reading 'FRY'S ROYAL CHOCOLATE 300 GRANDS PRIX, GOLD MEDALS, ETC. Makers to H.M. THE KING, H.M. THE QUEEN and H.M. QUEEN ALEXANDRA.' In the top left corner of the label would have been the British royal coat of arms, and in the right Queen Alexandra's coat of arms. 'BY APPOINTMENT' printed below each coat of arms

Contextual Information

This gift continued the example of gifts to deployed troops started by Queen Victoria on 1 January 1900 during the 2nd Anglo-Boer war. The practice of sending Christmas gifts to deployed troops is a tradition that continues through to today.

Australian Army Museum of Western Australia

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