Christmas At War

Family | Food | Gifts | Entertainment | Goodwill


		Gifts were often difficult to obtain - in times of deprivation even the smallest gifts were cherished. Our collections contain stories of Christmas Day being improved with the most unusual of gifts - such as a tin of Brussels sprouts! Many gifts were homemade: such as knitted socks, clothes and toys - often from recycled materials, such as dolls made from old stockings. In 1941 the Ministry of Supply decreed that "no retailer shall provide any paper for the packing or wrapping of goods excepting food stuffs or articles which the shopkeeper has agreed to deliver" - this lack of wrapping paper made it difficult to keep Christmas presents a surprise.

		Click on image for larger version Admiralty Christmas Party for Allied Naval Officers' children. Father Christmas presenting Winston Churchill's grandson with a gift. A13308. © IWM.


		Alfred Baker Served as a gunner with the Royal Artillery in the Far East (1941-1942) and was a prisoner of war at Changi and Rabaul (1942-1945). In 1943 Mr Baker was moved to the Tobira Plantation, or 'Death Valley' as it was known. Conditions here were so appalling that within a year most of the prisoners had died. Here he describes a gift of a horse's head; given to the POWs by the missionaries on Christmas Day 1943. Listen to sound extract \| Read transcript

		Click on image for larger version A set of farm implements made during the Second World War by an 11 year old boy for his sister, who had gone off to join the Women's Land Army. A corn drill, a hay sweep for a tractor and a tractor trailer - all handmade from recycled materials and treasured for over 50 years before being donated to the museum. (EPH 1439 - 1441)
		top

Click on image for larger version

Christmas gifts were sent from school children
to soldiers and sailors during the First World War.
W L Britton 77/175/1 Department of Documents.

The Navy Thinks of Christmas. Leading Stoker
A Smith of Doncaster making woollen dogs as
Christmas gifts. 1943. A19529. © IWM.

The Navy Thinks of Christmas. Marine J Lynch
of Newport building his first dolls house, complete
with furniture. 1943. A19527. © IWM.