Princess Mary gift box 1914 belonging to Private Albert Haughton, 23rd Battalion, The Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment)

Haughton was only 17 in 1914 and therefore too young to serve overseas, so this box was most likely either given to him in Britain or brought back from the front by someone else.

The 23rd Battalion first went into action at Flers-Courcelette on the Somme on 15 September 1916. Six Commonwealth divisions were involved in the operation. Although Haughton's division (the 41st) eventually secured Flers, he was one of 32 soldiers from his battalion lost in the attack.