‘A smoke to “Tommy” is half the battle’ Sergeant Watkins, 1915

W.D. & H.O. Wills tobacco company successfully bid for the contract to supply the British Armed Forces with tobacco. They produced huge amounts of cigarettes, pipe tobacco and cigars for the soldiers, Prisoners of War and wounded men in hospitals. Wills were already a large employer in Bristol. Tobacco was imported from America and made into cigarettes in factories taking up five blocks on East Street and Raleigh Road in Bedminster.

One of the factories was converted to make shells, at the height of the drive for munitions.

The owners and staff contributed funds to the war effort, and several thousand men who worked for Wills joined up.

Printing companies like Mardon Son & Hall and Robinsons produced cigarette cards during the war, many with military themes.