Collecting box for the St Dunstan's charity, used in Douglas in the early 1920s
Date made: early 20th century
Description: One of the lasting legacies of the First World War was the number of men who returned from it with life-changing injuries. Large numbers of soldiers had been partially or totally blinded, and with no official organisation responsible for the welfare of these men, it fell to the charity St Dunstan's to help them to re-adjust to society once more and live as independent a life as possible. St Dunstan's was completely reliant upon voluntary donations, and this collecting box was used in Douglas in the immediate post-war years. Official neglect of disabled veterans was an ongoing cause of bitterness among ex-servicemen the 1920s and 30s.
Measurements: overall: 14 x 21 x 7 cm
Materials: tinplate
Object name: collecting box
Collection: Social History Collection
ID Number: 1986-0077