Chocolates for Soldiers

Not to be confused with ‘Chocolate soldiers’ a slang word for soldiers who were believed to be unwilling to fight, The Australian War Contingent Association distributed gifts to Australian soldiers overseas during the First World War.

The tin pictured, is an item from the Australian War Memorial collection. It contains the original Fry’s chocolates. Printed on the lid of the tin is the Australian Coat of Arms 1915, with the words -

TO THE AUSTRALIAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCE FROM THE AUSTRALIAN WAR CONTINGENT ASSOCIATION, LONDON. A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ONE AND ALL

The Australian War Contingent Association, based in London not only provided gifts at Christmas time, it also sought to provide other comforts such as personal clothing, excursions and hospital visits for wounded soldiers in hospital in England. This was not an easy task, as by April 1916 there were over 730 wounded Australians in 87 different hospitals in the Manchester district alone

After the evacuation of sick and wounded from Gallipoli, and the evacuation of all troops from the Peninsula, organisations like the AWCA found their services to be in very high demand. Between 1916 and 1919 there were never fewer than 50,000 Australian troops in Britain, not including those on leave.

Between 1914 & 1918 there were many other 'comfort funds' established in Australia to either send supplies or raise money to support those serving overseas. Hand knitted socks, Australian newspapers, writing paper, cigarettes, cakes as well as chocolates were packaged up and sent, often with messages of hope and courage.

Read more ... 

• 5592, George Samuel Deviney Papers, State Library of Queensland
• Report of the work done by the Queensland Soldiers' Comforts Fund, 1915-1919
• Guide to the Australian Comforts Fund Souvenir Collection, Australian War Memorial