This is, of course, the commonest meteorological condition, rain - and the worst for men at war, for they can wrap up and layer against the cold, but a wet uniform remains so until the sun dries it out, which is never entirely successful, or base is again returned to and the fire is lit, but that can be several hours, or days away.
Our original World Tobacco Issues Index tells us that this set measures 63 x 36 m/m, and is a numbered set of 50 cards, similar to Wills` "War Incidents" W/113.2.
This set was issued by Wills in several different versions, but the ".2" means that it is similar to the second series. I am unsure why British American Tobacco did not issue the first Wills set too though. I am wondering if the first one was all British incidents and the second was more or entirely overseas incidents which included Australia and New Zealand where this set was issued. Does anyone know?
Those Wills versions were many and varied. W/113 tells us they are
Size 64 x 38 m/m. Fronts lithographed in colour; backs with descriptive text.
1. 1st 50 subjects - issued, 1916Australian Issues - Backs per Fig.65A-B in brown.
A. Wills "Wills Specialities" advertisement
B. Wills "Havelock" advertisement
In both A and B there is much variation of colour of backs, which vary from light to dark brown"Scissors" Issue -
C. Backs per Fig.65C in redGeneral Overseas Issue -
D. Backs per Fig.65D in brown (anonymous issue)2. 2nd 50 subjects - issued, 1917
Australian Issues - Backs per Fig.65X-Y in green
X. With "Wills`s Specialities" advertisement. Two grades of board, a) white b) cream
Y. With "Havelock" advertisement.
In both A and B there is much variation in colour of backs, which vary from light apple to dark myrtle green.General Overseas Issue
Z. Backs per 65Z in blue (anonymous issue)A series similar to Z was issued by B.A.T. with "Teal Cigarettes".
Now there are two things I must mention.
The first is that the block here is really small and is unreadable once scanned. But these blocks were not only used once and I am pretty sure I will find it in another book or magazine, then I can include it.
The second thing is a "spot the deliberate mistake in the above list". This reads "In both A and B there is much variation in colour of backs, which vary from light apple to dark myrtle green" when it ought to read "In both X and Y". But the names of those colours are great fun, and so typically Antipodean that they must have been supplied by a collector from thereabouts. I suspect this to have been Mr. J. R. Murtaugh, whose name appears in the credits of those who had "assisted in the compilation of the five Wills sections"