German Compensation

Gold snuff box presentedby by the Federal Republic of Germany in 1953.

Just before the Second World War began on 3 September 1939, the 1st Battalion The Royal Irish Fusiliers was based in Guernsey. When orders forced a hurried move for the Battalion to England and then France, it was decided to leave the Regimental Silver in a bank vault in Guernsey. During the German occupation of the island many pieces of Regimental Silver were stolen and removed to Germany.

After the war, The Royal Irish Fusiliers recovered some of these items. Other items, such as a gold and diamond encrusted snuff box presented by Captain Robe from the proceeds won at the Mauritius Races in 1831, were never seen again.

In the post-war years The Royal Irish Fusiliers made many representations to the government of The Federal Republic of Germany to have their Regimental Silver traced and returned. By way of compensation, West Germany had this gold snuff box made and presented to the Regiment in 1953 during its posting to Berlin 'as a tribute to all the good work done by the British Army and the help it has given in Germany.