Second World War Cigarette tin

During World War Two, British servicemen were issued with seven cigarettes - 'fags' - a day as part of their composite - ''compo' - rations. A tin of fifty would provide for a rifle section for a day, or one man's weekly ration. Tins were marked with the name of the tobacco companies like Player's and H.O.Wills who supplied the contents. Tins might also bear the phrase 'NAAFI Stores for H.M.Forces'. The NAAFI - Navy, Army, Airforce Institutes - is the official retail and recreational organisation for the British forces. Quality varied, Wills Woodbines being strong and fairly popular, Victory Vs smoked if nothing better was available. Troops serving alongside United States units might trade for 'Lucky Strikes'. Smoking was thought to calm the nerves in tense situations. Wounded men would be given a fag. Nicotine also staves off hunger pangs when other rations are unavailable.

Lit cigarettes are visible from a long distance at night and anyone near the battlefront had to be wary of giving their position away to enemy observers and snipers. As troops advanced they used their issue cigarettes as currency with local populations deprived of tobacco for years. The First Battalion, The Royal Norfolks, were part of the Third British Infantry Division advancing through Belgium. Supplies from the D-Day beaches became extremely stretched and some of the division were issued with captured German rations including little cigars. The British said that within a few days they smelt like the enemy. Smoking was not then generally thought to be harmful to health. In any case, there were many more immediate dangers to life and limb.