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The Christmas Gifts
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It was anticipated that the majority of eligible recipients would receive an embossed brass box, one ounce of pipe tobacco, twenty cigarettes, a pipe, a tinder lighter, Christmas card and photograph but quite early on Rowland Berkeley reported that he had received strong representations that an alternative gift should be made available for non-smokers. After some discussion the Committee agreed that non-smokers should be regarded as a special group and decreed that they should receive the brass box, a packet of acid tablets, a khaki writing case containing pencil, paper and envelopes together with the Christmas card and photograph of the Princess.
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The Committee was also obliged to consider the tastes of other minority groups and it was recognised that if the dietary rules of various religious groups were to be respected, changes would have to be made in the gifts intended for Indian troops. In due course, 'The India Committee' (comprising 5 senior Army officers with great experience of working with Indian soldiers) came up with the solution. The Gurkhas were to receive the same gift as the British troops; Sikhs the box filled with sugar candy, a tin box of spices and the Christmas card; all other Indian troops, the box with a packet of cigarettes and sugar candy, a tin box of spices and the card. Authorised camp followers, grouped under the title of 'Bhistis' were to receive a tin box of spices and the card.
The Committee had also to consider the appropriate contents for the gift to members of various military nursing services. The smokers' and non-smokers' gifts were both deemed unacceptable for nurses at the front in France who were instead offered the box, a packet of chocolate and the card.
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