Marble Box

This marble box from World War II is a notable addition to the Museum’s Social History Collection. The box belonged to Sister Bessie Wylie and its lid is inscribed with various place names where New Zealander’s fought during the war. However, what makes the box really interesting is the inscription near the edge of the lid that reads, ‘From B.C.F.’. Bessie is said to have been one of the nurses who attended to the renowned New Zealand commander Bernard Freyberg after his plane crash in 1944. Although it is now impossible to confirm perhaps the initials B.C.F. on the lid mean none other than Bernard Cyril Freyberg.