Cigarette Lighter : Kaiser Wilhelm caricature

Brass coloured metal souvenir cigarette lighter designed as a caricature of the bust of Kaiser Wilhelm the second. The lighter body is the neck and head of the caricature, whilst the removable hat is the protective covering over the wick and ignition roller. The design is engraved into the brass coloured metal, with a two-sided face. One is engraved ‘AVANT LA MARNE,’ with a smiling Kaiser and the other is engraved ‘APRES LA MARNE’ with the down turned and tearful face of the Kaiser, in reference to the Battle of the Marne. The metal is worn around the base of the lighter, without any manufacturers’ details visible.

Lieutenant (Lt) James Henry Thomas enlisted with 4 Infantry Battalion on 27 January 1915 and embarked for service on HMAT A55 Kyarra from Sydney, NSW. Lt Thomas saw service in France from 15 December 1917 where he collected items from a captured German Officer. Lt Thomas returned to Australia on HT Wiltshire, 4 July 1919.