A brass gift box with an embossed hinging lid which was presented to WW1 sailors and soldiers for Christmas 1914. The gift was at the initiative of HRH The Princess Victoria Alexandra Alice Mary the daughter of the then King George V and Queen Mary. This box is empty however the full story of the box and contents can be found at the following url < http://collections.iwm.org.uk/server/show/ConWebDoc.994/setPaginate/No >The lid is embossed with the bust of HRH Princess Mary in a wreath with the letter "M" to either side and the following words "IMPERIUM BRITANNICUM" and "CHRISTMAS 1914" and has the country names "FRANCE", "BELGIUM", "JAPAN", "RUSSIA", MONTENEGRO" and "SERVIA". box, ww1, brass, wwi, gift box, princess mary s gift box, present, christmas present

World War 1 Australian Bombardier with the Royal Field Artillery189 A brass gift box with an embossed hinging lid which was presented to WW1 sailors and soldiers for Christmas 1914. The gift was at the initiative of HRH The Princess Victoria Alexandra Alice Mary the daughter of the then King George V and Queen Mary. 189.1 Small card with paper insert 189.2 Three medals with coloured ribbons, one medal has a small metal badge attached. Items belonging to Bombardier G.S.Hunt, 57473 in the Royal Field Artillery, WW1.The lid is embossed with the bust of HRH Princess Mary in a wreath with the letter "M" to either side and the following words "IMPERIUM BRITANNICUM" and "CHRISTMAS 1914" and has the country names "FRANCE", "BELGIUM", "JAPAN", "RUSSIA", MONTENEGRO" and "SERVIA". 189.1 Front of card a crown with M underneath with 1915 under that. Inside Wreath with sword through it and the words With best wishes for a victorious new year from The Princess Mary and friends at home. 189.2 WW1 Campaign Medals / ribbons 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.brass, hunt, g.s hunt, christmas, 1914, princess mary, bombadier, ww1, world war 1, army, royal field artillery, 1914 star, british war medal, victory medal

Both William Weire and Frederick Strange were originally sentenced to be transported to Van Dieman’s Land from England making the painting likely to be a portrait of a convict by a convict. Gaining his ticket of leave for good behaviour in 1841, Strange became recognised for his portraiture and landscapes although he also remains known for his mysterious demeanour. He rarely signed his works which is the case with the portrait of William Weire. Having served his time, William Weire was granted unconditional freedom and successfully worked his way into influential local Launceston business and society circles ahead of leaving for Geelong in 1848 and being made the first Town Clerk for the newly formed Town of Geelong Council in 1850. He oversaw an incredible period of the earliest development of the Town of Geelong including the first migrant arrivals and the dramatic change that came with the discovery of gold in Victoria in the 1850s. The ex-convict turned Town Clerk was to read the formal welcome address to HRH Alfred the Duke of Edinburgh and Princess Alexandra on the occasion of Geelong’s first royal visit. The portrait of William Weire was originally gifted to the City of Geelong by the Weire family in 1961.convict, geelong, town clerk, frederick strange, william weire