1914 Princess Mary Christmas Tin – Harold Startin – Christmas Truce

Original 1914 Princess Mary Christmas Tin with exceptional provenance to Harold Startin, a veteran of the First World War and participant in the Christmas Truce at Ploegsteert.

Startin, Private 9654 of the 1st Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment, received this Christmas Box in the trenches at Ploegsteert in 1914. His own 1965 letter, included with the tin, confirms its history and states that it was issued to him in the trenches.

Startin later became Chairman of the Mid-Somerset Branch of the Old Contemptibles’ Association. His personal account of the 1914 Christmas Truce is also recorded in First World War research.

A remarkable and well-documented Princess Mary tin with direct provenance to a participant of the famous Christmas Truce.