Words On Brass Box

[ordbrae]

I will be grateful if any one can tell me what the words on the lid of the boxes given to servicemen on Christmas day 1914

[sandyRoe]

https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/princess-mary-gift-fund-1914-box-and-contents
Here's an image of one of the boxes. Sorry, I can't see the inscription

[Captain2]

Are these the boxes that you are referring to, ordbrae?

https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/princess-mary-gift-fund-1914-box-and-contents

[Toorak]

I don’t think there was an inscription on the box itself but, rather, a message was contained inside:

https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/christmas-ww1

[Mamyalynne]

The outside of the box was decorated with an image of Mary and other military and imperial symbols and a cartouche bearing the words 'Christmas 1914'.

[jno]

it does say Christmas 1914 at the bottom but I can't read the other bits of text.

[jno]

the words down the left say France, Belgium and Serbia. Down the right: Japan, Russia, Montenegro. At the top, Imperium Britannicum (British Empire)

[jno]

sorry, that should be Belgium, France and Serbia.

[ordbrae]

I have one given to my wife's uncle who was killed in ww1. The box was returned to his mother along with a scroll containing condolences,his Gordon Highlanders cap badge and a small prayer book.
The words on the lid are mostly unreadable,except for two. One along the bottom reads "Christmas 1914 and the other "Belgium" a third reads "France"the remaining five are unreadable due to wear.
My wife inherited the box and contents from her father the deceased was his eldest brother.
The box,contents and scroll are a poignant reminder of ww1.

[jno]

the words are as I've given them

[Buenchico]

A clearer illustration:
https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/fwr-blog/live/queen%20mary%20xmas%20box%203.jpg