John Wissmann grew up in Bell House in the early years of the 20 th century with his father, a German migrant, his mother, also with German connections, and his sister. On New Year’s Day 1914 he married Gladys Emily Jukes and later that year, within three weeks of WW1 being declared, he was fighting in France. He was killed in action on 15 September 1914, becoming Dulwich’s first casualty of World War One. He did not live long enough to receive one of these small brass boxes, given to his fellow soldiers that Christmas.

When WW1 broke out in 1914, Princess Mary, the 17-year-old daughter of George V, had the idea of giving every sailor afloat and every soldier at the front; a Christmas present. She originally planned to buy a small gift for each soldier herself but this proved impractical, so a fund was set up. The fund was a great success, raising over £162,000 with most of the donations being small sums sent by thousands of people across the country. The gifts were intended for all those serving overseas but were later extended to those serving at home, prisoners of war, and next of kin of casualties. This totalled over 2.6 million people.

It was proposed that each person receive an embossed brass box, 1oz of pipe tobacco, 20 cigarettes, pipe, lighter, Christmas card and photograph of the Princess. However, people felt strongly that non-smokers should receive an alternative gift. It was agreed that they would receive the brass box, a packet of acid tablets, a khaki writing case containing pencil, paper and envelopes together with the card and photograph. The Gurkhas received the original gift but Sikhs got a box with sweets, spices and the Christmas card. Other Indian troops received the box with cigarettes, sweets, spices and the card.

The Princess Mary Gift Fund Box became a treasured possession for many soldiers, even when the original contents had long been used. The air-tight box made a useful container for money, tobacco, photographs, and other items while on active service and many brought them back from the front to use at home. What would you keep in yours?

Anthony Harding, who lived in Bell House and built the large extension in the 1840s, is said to be the founder of the world’s first department store. Founded in 1789 on Pall Mall, Harding & Howell’s was a famous and successful store. The wives of the men made rich by the Industrial Revolution went there to shop, meet their friends and examine the latest fabrics to pass on to their dressmakers (no ready-made clothes in those days).

Anthony Harding’s shop even had a café and toilets, rare in those days and a useful attraction to keep women in the store. Harding sold silks, muslins, lace and gloves, furs, fans, jewellery and hats. One room had beautiful shawl materials hanging down from the ceiling.

Harding Howell store from Ackerman’s Repository

Some of Harding’s descendants have visited Bell House and told us that he liked to get drunk but lost the use of his legs after six bottles or so. His solution was to have a special chair made at Bell House so his footmen could carry him up to bed. We don’t have an image of the chair but can imagine that it must have been something like a baby’s highchair, with a piece of wood across the arms, like a tray, that would keep Harding from falling out when he was carried upstairs. Martyn, one of our volunteers, is going to convert this doll’s house chair, to show how it might have looked.

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