At Christmas 1914, the first festive season of the Great War, the Lord Mayor and Sheriff of York sent decorated gift tins containing Rowntree's chocolate to all the city men serving in the armed forces. 255 messages of thanks, written during the first months of 1915, have survived and are now called the "Chocolate Letters".
The original documents form part of the City of York Council archives held at York Explore Library and within the set are illustrated postcards, succinct notes written by officers on headed paper, letters scribbled in pencil from men on the front line and brief poignant messages from prisoners of war.
In this book, which includes colour reproductions of seventy-one Chocolate Letters and many other illustrations, Rosemary Anderson discusses the fascinating insights into the social history of the Great War that these messages of thanks reveal. She also uncovers the biographies of many of the York men who wrote them, including twenty who tragically lost their lives as a result of their service during the conflict known today as the First World War.
- ISBN13 9780992857714
- Publish Date 31 October 2019
- Publish Status Active
- Publish Country GB
- Imprint Rosemary Anderson
- Format Paperback
- Pages 148
- Language English