General Haking, Commander XI Corps in France 1918, presented colours to A, B, C and D Companies of the 12th Battalion, the Gloucestershire Regiment. They were to mark the gallantry shown by the soldiers in fighting on the dates shown on the flags.
Small flags like these were used by troops on exercises to mark the tents occupied by each company.

W802-5 given by the Bristol Citizens’ Recruiting Committee

People bought phrase books for soldiers and sailors to raise money for war charities. Many troops would never have learned French or travelled abroad, so phrase books were very useful. Most of the inscription in this is unreadable, but someone sent it ‘with love’ to Albert Clark.

TD4972 given by Ruth Morgan

Petty Officer Thomas Bennett spent much of the war on submarine E8 in the Baltic, so shore leave would have been in Russia.

Loaned by Joan Seville

These were hand-made in France, and were very popular with soldiers and their families, and often in short supply. Leonard Hill wrote ‘I could only get two cards … please explain to May if she is disappointed’.

W2103-4 given by Muriel James