Australian War Contingent Association gift tin with contents : Lance Corporal H Inglis, 3 Light Horse Regiment, AIF Accession Number: REL/21753

Description

Australian War Contingent Association gift tin with original chocolate contents. The rectangular gift tin is made of lacquered tin-plate and has a hinged lid printed in black with the Australian coat of arms in the centre and '1915.' on either side. Beneath this are the words 'TO THE AUSTRALIAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCE FROM THE AUSTRALIAN WAR CONTINGENT ASSOCIATION, LONDON. "A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ONE AND ALL."'. The tin contains its original contents of Fry's chocolate in two layers of six bars. The top of each bar is impressed with 'FRY' and there are remnants of the lead foil wrapping on the chocolate. With the gift tin is a novelty postcard from J. S. Fry & Sons, Ltd. and an envelope addressed to 'Mrs J M Inglis Milne Street Kadina South Australia'.

Contextual Description

The Australian War Contingent Association in London produced gift tins such as this which were distributed to Australian soldiers to celebrate the Christmas and New Year period. This particular tin was given to 153 Lance Corporal Herschel Inglis who sent it home to his mother, Mrs J M Inglis, in Kadina, SA. Inglis, a 29 year old miner, enlisted with A Squadron, 3 Light Horse Regiment on 21 August 1914. In October he sailed from Adelaide aboard HMAT Port Lincoln, arriving in Egypt in mid December. Here, 3 Light Horse Regiment joined 2 and 3 Regiments to form 1 Light Horse Brigade which was deployed to Gallipoli without its horses, landing there on 12 May 1915. While serving on the Gallipoli Peninsula Inglis was hospitalised suffering from influenza and inflammation of connective tissues. In September 1916 he transferred to 12 Battalion and proceeded overseas to France and the Western Front. In May 1917 he received a gun shot wound to his right leg and was evacuated to England for treatment. In November Inglis completed the 14th Rifle Course at the School of Infantry and went on to conduct further training in England before travelling to France and rejoining his unit in July 1918. He was discharged on 22 January 1919.