Smokes for the Troops - Tobacco Funds during WWI with Dr. Jean Wang

# Smokes for the Troops - British and Canadian Tobacco Funds during WWI with Dr. Jean Wang

Join the British Empire Study Group on Thursday, June 12th at 6 pm (ET) 23:00 (UTC)
In World War I, decades before the health dangers of smoking became recognized, newspapers and organizations such as the Over-Seas Club in London set up charitable funds to send cigarettes and tobacco (“smokes”) to British Empire troops fighting overseas. Smokes bought by donations were sent to the front with the aid of military authorities and allowed to enter duty-free.

For soldiers, smoking could relieve stress and boredom and boost morale. The smokes sent overseas represented a piece of home and were a reminder to the men that they were not forgotten by the people they were fighting for. Providing smokes for the troops was considered patriotic and a way for people at home to contribute to the war effort. Every parcel of smokes sent to the front included a postcard addressed to the donor. The postcards returned via military post gave civilians a tangible connection to the men serving overseas, and the messages of thanks stimulated further donations.

In this presentation, Jean will discuss the reach and impact of British and Canadian WWI tobacco funds through study of reply postcards sent back from the front.

This is an interesting story about WWI
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/9717218430596/WN_4BbsdVZOTjGKNMjsbJjshQ

This is a free and open event (no fees or membership). All are welcome, and you are encouraged to share this webinar.

A discussion will follow the presentation, where all comments are welcome.

Closed captioning and Computer language translation are available.

ABOUT: Dr. Jean Wang

Jean is the Membership Director of the Philatelic Specialists Society of Canada, the Royal Philatelic Society of Canada delegate to the FIP (Fédération Internationale de Philatélie) Thematic Commission, a Director of the Royal Philatelic Society of Canada and the Vincent Graves Greene Philatelic Research Foundation, and a Trustee of the American Philatelic Research Library. She served on Canada Post’s Stamp Advisory Committee from 2018 to the present and was this year elected as a Fellow of the Royal Philatelic Society of Canada.

Registration: **https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/9717218430596/WN_4BbsdVZOTjGKNMjsbJjshQ**https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/9717218430596/WN_4BbsdVZOTjGKNMjsbJjshQ