Someone Actually Bought 103-Year-Old Chocolate Bars From WW1

Nine First World War chocolate bars that were sent to a soldier in the trenches have been sold at auction. 

The 103-year-old Cadbury's chocolates were sold alongside the personal effects of Leicestershire Regiment soldier Richard Bullimore.

British troops in France were each sent a Colonies Gift Tin of 10 bars during the first Christmas of the 1914 - meaning just one of Mr Bullimore's bars was eaten.

The chocolates, along with a collection of medals, letters, cigarettes and other items were sold for £3,050 at the auction on 6 June.

Paul Cooper, of the Scunthorpe-based auctioneers, Eddisons CJM said:

"Even the container is rare, but to find the chocolate still inside is just unreal.

"The chocolate actually looks in pretty good shape, although I have to admit that I wouldn't be tempted to give it a go, even if the experts say that actually chocolate seldom becomes really dangerous over time, but it does lose its flavour and texture.

"Richard also received a Princess Mary tobacco gift box containing cigarettes, tobacco and matches and almost all of the contents of that are still there. Just three cigarettes are missing."

Mr Bullimore was awarded several medals, including the Distinguished Conduct Medal for conspicuous gallantry during a clash in no-man's land in the Ypres salient in July 1915.

By then a Corporal, he was leading a reconnaissance patrol of five men that surprised a larger enemy force.

Despite being outnumbered by more than three to one, his patrol attacked with grenades, inflicting a number of enemy casualties.

He then covered his patrol as it withdrew and carried one of his own men who had been wounded back to the trenches.

After suffering head shrapnel wounds and recovering at home, he re-joined Leicestershire Constabulary in 1919 - having previously signed up just weeks before the war.

A successful career saw him rise to the rank of Superintendent before he died in January 1967.

Would you eat 103-year-old Cadbury chocolate? Let us know in the comments.