Comments: This brass box bears the profile of Princess Mary, her monogram and the names of the Allied countries during World War I. The idea for this box originated with Princess Mary, the 17-year-old daughter of King George V. The plan grew out of her compassion for the troops, many of whom would celebrate Christmas without gifts. In October 1914, the young princess established "Her Royal Highness the Princess Mary's Sailors' and Soldiers' Christmas Fund" and appealed for public donations. Her cause was generously supported by the Duke of Devonshire, Winston Churchill and Lord Kitchener. The churches assisted with collections. Even schoolchildren offered pennies to the fund. These contributions helped finance the manufacture and distribution of these boxes to all those in the service (as well as the wounded and disabled) on Christmas morning. The officers received silver boxes, while the more junior ranks were given brass ones. The box came packed with goodies, including chocolates, lemon drops, cigarettes or pipes, along with a Christmas card. The gift was a generous one, and helped dissipate, at least for a little while, the gloom of the war.

Comments: This tunic is made of heavy, woolen serge. The material is tough and sturdy--a winter-weight cloth. It was evidently a standard mass-produced tunic and was designed to be worn with pants; there was no allowance for the sporran as in the highland tunic below. This tunic has been extensively sewn and darned against both heavy use and moth holes. The buttons and hook and eye fasteners have been ripped out. The manufacturer's labels are barely legible. Although the unit and divisional patches have been removed, the sergeant's rank patch has survived. This patch is light khaki on dark and the ranks are of the British style, with four chevrons pointing down. Above the left cuff is another badge, a double strand of brass fluting under a single chevron. This tunic belonged to Sergeant Norman Kerr Cunningham, a travelling salesman from Antigonish. Judging by the handmade pennant, it is possible to surmise that Cunningham must have joined the 106th Overseas Battalion of the Nova Scotia Rifles. When the 106th Battalion was broken up for reinforcements, he must have made his way into the 6th Cdn. Mounted Rifles (6 CMR), where he remained until his release on 23 March 1918. Cunningham's demobilization card demonstrates that he was 5'7" and was 44 years of age when his war-time service terminated. The Museum also possesses Cunningham's cavalry pants, pennant, sewing kit, tool roll, light summer cap and heavy serge forage cap. The latter is made of resilient Olive Drab serge. It has a cloth-lined brow and is lined with a type of patent leather. There is an adjustable leather chin strap with corroded brass buttons. It is a typical soft serge cap with forage peak. The design was highly functional and was probably sturdy and bulky enough to keep the head warm through cold weather.

Comments: These service medals belonged to Sergeant Norman Kerr Cunningham of Antigonish, Nova Scotia. Born in 1875, this one-time salesman enlisted as a Canadian soldier during World War 1. Cunningham received three medals in recognition of his military service: the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and Victory Medal (1914-18). The first medal, a bronze four-pointed star surmounted by a crown, featuring a laurel wreath enclosing a scroll with 1914-15, the Royal Cypher GV and two crossed swords, was awarded to "all who saw service in any theatre of war against the central powers between 5 August 1914 and 31 December 1915." There were 71,150 Star medals with their customary red, white and blue ribbons issued to Canadians after this award was authorized in December 1918. This medal was always accompanied by the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

The British War Medal was awarded to 427,993 Canadians, "to all ranks of Canadian overseas military forces who came from Canada between 5 August 1914 and 11 November 1918, or who had served in a theatre of war." This round silver medal features the profile of King George V with the words: GEORGEIVS V BRITT:OMN:REX ET IND:IMP. The reverse shows St. George with a short sword, astride a horse trampling the Prussian shield and skull and cross-bones. The Sun of Victory can be seen in the distant background. The ribbon consists of seven stripes, coloured variously blue, black, white, and orange.

The Victory Medal (Inter-Allied War Medal) was awarded to 351,289 Canadians, including "all ranks of the fighting forces, to civilians under contract, and others employed with military hospitals who actually served with a unit in a theatre of war between 5 August 1914 and 11 November 1918." It was also given to "members of the British Naval mission to Russia 1919-1920 and for mine clearance in the North Sea betwen 11 November 1918 and 30 November 1919." Patterned after a French medal of 1870, this circular, bronze-lacquered copper medal features the winged figure of Victory, with her left arm extended and her right hand holding a palm branch. The reverse side consists of the words "THE GREAT/WAR FOR/CIVILIZATION/1914-1919" encircled by a wreath. The ribbon has nine stripes, coloured variously violet, blue, green, yellow and red.

The tradition of awarding medals has an interesting pedigree. In early wars, soldiers enjoyed the rewards of pillage as recognition of their contribution. However, the development of military honours evolved with "increased discipline within armies" and restrictions on plunder. According to Hugh Halliday, "Soldiers were discouraged from seeking their own rewards; the state, however, substituted some of its own." Medals are usually awarded for "distinguished and valiant service". Some of these honours are particularly prestigious, such as the Victoria Cross, the Star of Military Valour, the Medal of Military Valour and the Medal of Bravery.

Comments: This tunic is made of a heavy, woolen material, probably woolen serge. As a standard tunic, it was designed to be worn as part of an ensemble. It was cut specifically to fit a kilt (trimmed and rounded in front to accommodate a sporran). The tunic was also intended to be tight-fitting around the shoulders and waist and tapered at the rear. The breast pockets appear to be of the cargo type, but they lack the side walls and size to be useful. The high stiff serge collar with its hook and eye fasteners is unlined. On the shoulders are stylized rifle patches, supposedly to serve as a protective layer against the recoil of the service rifle, but these are ill-placed, too small and too thin. Like many uniforms of this period, the tunic was ceremonial and traditional in design. Attempts were made to render soldiers' attire more utilitarian, but the end result was more stylish than practical. This tunic shows evidence of wear and tear. It is extensively moth-holed and hand-darned. The unit, rank and divisional patches have been removed, but the epaulet brass and collar dogs have survived. The latter read "Nova Scotia Highlanders Overseas" around the battalion number '85'. This is surmounted by the King's Crown on a field reading "Canada", and the central target floats above the scrolled battalion motto "siol Na Fear Fearail' (literally "A Breed of Manly Men"). The entire badge is mounted upon the Maple Leaf. The brass buttons are stamped on the front with a prominent 'Canada' emblem surmounting a target with a crown on top. The border is a Scottish style chieftain's belt with the motto "Honi Soit Qui Mal Y Pense". In the center is a maple leaf. This tunic was worn by Angus Steven (Dux) MacKenzie, one-time machine gunner with the 85th Highland Battalion of Infantry.

The highland kit also included a Balmoral made of heavy woolen serge material. Although the Balmoral itself is quite large, the wearer must have had a small head for the ties in the rear are cinched tightly. The Balmoral would have been primarily ornamental as it was intended as a distinctive headdress to identify members of the Battalion. It is heavily padded and quilted and would have provided some protection against the cold, at the cost of being miserably hot in summer.

Comments: This loom-woven kilt with its 23 pleats is made of heavy wool. The tartan is Argyll and Sutherland. Although the kilt lacks any identifying marks about the manufacturer or place of origin, the single webbing fastener on the right hand side is a good indicator of its age, for modern military kilts have buckles with leather on either side. The kilt was originally part of the Highland kit worn by Angus Steven (Dux) MacKenzie who served with the 85th Battalion of Nova Scotia Highlanders. He was later a coal miner in Dominion, Cape Breton, and owned a small grocery store on the Merigomish road during the Depression. This kilt was actually the second issued to MacKenzie. His previous kilt was so infested with vermin that it was burned during a hospital stay in Great Britain. The kilt was fitted to be worn high around the midriff; the more modern versions are worn just above the hips. It was reputed to be murderously hot in summer and drafty in winter. Furthermore, even after the addition of a leather apron, the open-legged kilt was ill-suited to trench warfare.