‘Square stockings’ provided for servicemen away from home on Christmas Day
December 25, 2024
Operation Christmas Box is a registered charity which provides Christmas Boxes full of presents (affectionately known as the ‘Square Stocking’) to all those Servicemen and Servicewomen who are serving on tours of duty unaccompanied overseas away from their families and loved ones on Christmas Day, whether they are in the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Army or the Royal Air Force, and wherever they are in the world.
The initiative was inspired by the 1914 Christmas Gift Fund, established by Princess Mary, the 17 year old daughter of King George V. The charity does not receive any public funds, but relies on generous donations from members of the public and some key sponsors, including Airbus, MBDA and Kilfrost. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) supports the charity with advice and guidance on the number of boxes required and the contents. It also assists with the massive logistics operation it takes to deliver the boxes in time for Christmas Day.
This year’s recipients will include the Typhoon pilots and groundcrew manning the Operation Shader deployment at RAF Akrotiri.
