Scratch built cigarette box, the lid carved with the Bagdad Bell and Black Watch scroll above. Inscription inside reads "LATVIAN MADE IN DUISBERG". "TO CPT DONALDSON FOR DUTYS REMEMBERENCE 8.2.49 30.9.49 "LATVIAN GUARDS SQUAD".
These squads were recruited form ex members of the Latvian Legion 15th Waffen-SS Division deemed not to have been responsible for any atrocities. Supervised by British officers there main duty was guarding POWs. At Duisberg the home of the merged 1BW & 2BW there was a large Displaced Persons Camp. Cpt Donaldson was ex 2BW.
The Bagdad Bell was a war trophy of the 2nd BW, they were the first unit to enter Bagdad in March 1917. The bell was captured by the advanced guard at Samarra Railway April 1917.
