CHRISTMAS is coming at The Fusiliers' Museum! Volunteers have been working with the First World War Collection, and have taken a real interest in a 1914 Christmas gift box, donated by Sgt Jefferey in 1933.

The Christmas gift box, embossed with Princess Mary's image, is one of the most famous mementos of the war.

Princess Mary was the third child of King George V and Queen Mary. The 17-year-old princess had wanted to pay for every soldier and sailor to have a personal gift for Christmas out of her personal allowance. This was viewed as impractical, and so she lent her name to the Christmas gift fund, set up on 14th October 1914. The fund would provide all those in the British Army and Navy, as well as all Indian troops with a gift. The public were invited to donate financial contributions to the fund. The fund was to provide gifts from the nation', and the total raised was £162,591 12s 5d.

The brass box was the main part of every gift, along with a Christmas card and photograph of the princess. The contents of most boxes was pipe tobacco, a pipe, cigarettes and a tinder lighter. Non-smokers were given acid tablets and a writing set. Nurses were presented with chocolate, and spices or sweets were offered to various religious groups of soldiers with certain dietary rules.

Troops at the Front in France were among those who received their gifts first. The distribution put a great strain on army postal services, along with many letters and parcels sent in the fortnight before Christmas. Over 355,000 gifts were delivered before Christmas Day, and were greatly appreciated. It was reported that during the Christmas Day unofficial truce, British soldiers on the front line exchanged tobacco for German cigars.

Many recipients wrapped the box up and sent it back home to wives and families. Many gift boxes are in public and private collections today. However, boxes with their original contents are rare, and that is why the gift box in the museum is such an important and interesting part of the collection.

The museum is still relying on Bury Times readers with the Support our Brick Sponsorship scheme. The money raised will provide stack-bonded red bricks for the wall of the museum. To buy a brick clip out the coupon from this newspaper or visit the stand in the Mill Gate Shopping Centre.