As several posters have noted, the term “coffin nails” for cigarettes was well-known in the early years of the 20th century, and was in widespread use as slang in the British and Commonwealth armies by 1915.
The particularly foul, cheap, mainly working-class brand “Wild Woodbines” were known as “Gaspers” to my grandfather (Canadian Army 1915-18).
The military actively promoted smoking during both world wars, in fact during the Second World War, any Canadian citizen could send a soldier overseas 1000 cigarettes for $3.00 (excise tax was dropped for tobacco products sold to servicemen).
In POW camps in Germany and Poland, the British and Commonwealth prisoners used cigarettes as currency, for internal bartering, as well as with guards and the rare occasions when in contact with civilians. Large camps ran Co-ops, with the cigarette value of goods rising and falling with supply and demand. The smokes were supplied by the Red Cross, next-of-kin parcels, or special POW comfort funds in various Commonwealth countries.
It’s great to be a history bore!
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