Christmas cards from the armed forces: First World War

Christmas Cards from the armed forces during The First World War 1915-1919. Aberystwyth Comforts Fund Papers, Christmas and New Year cards received by Sergeant Major Fear from troops and various regiments.

The Aberystwyth Weekly Comforts for Fighters Fund was established in 1915 to provide comforts for Aberystwyth men serving overseas during the First World War. It was founded by Regimental Sergeant Major Thomas Richard Fear, previously of the Grenadier Guards, following a request by a local soldier on behalf of Aberystwyth men for cigarettes to be sent to them whilst posted abroad. Initially, parcels were only sent to local soldiers on active service, but, as funds increased, the provision of comforts was extended to include the wounded.

Cake and chocolates for non-smokers were purchased locally. A card or letter of comfort from Sergeant Major Fear was placed within each parcel and, on occasions, newspapers such as the Cambrian News were included. In some instances, comforts such as socks, mittens and even boxing gloves were also sent. Particular efforts were made at Christmas to send special parcels of Christmas cake, plum pudding, chocolate and cigarettes to all men known to the Fund.-- Between twenty and fifty parcels were dispatched by the Fund every week.

Sending parcels to soldiers posted overseas gradually came to an end following the Armistice in November 1918. 

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