Cravan A cigarette tin with shot inside Binoculars, issued by the Ministry of War, inscribed inside with Lt. Arthur R. Mann le R.F.A., 38 Rue du Surmelin 38, Paris xx.
Arthur joined the Royal Flying Corps in 1914 on the Isle of Man and became a Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery in the Spotter Balloons. The Spotters were responsible for photographing the enemy layout. He was shot down, we think, in Verdun, N. France, although the date is unknown. Arthur's daughter-in-law has stated that he was shot down by the Red Baron, Manfred von Richthofen. She has retold how Arthur's parachute was then caught in a tree on his descent, and he was left dangling there by the Red Baron. Arthur also fought in the trenches as a Lft. in the Royal Artillery. As a smoker he carried his Cravan A cigarettes in a red metal tin. When Arthur was shot, the bullet bounced off this tin, and saved his life. Arthur also survived gassing, but this experience affected his long-term health badly. He died in 1953.

The Cigarette Tin that saved his life
Cravan A cigarette tin with the shot it stopped still inside
Saving Arthur Mann's Life
Trench Life
The cigarette tin that saved his life, and the shot that it stopped.
Damaged Cigarette tin
Photograph
Cigarette tin
Other
Arthur Mann's Binoculars
48.8687164,2.40459809999993
Binoculars, issued by the Ministry of War, inscribed inside with Lt. Arthur R. Mann le R.F.A., 38 Rue du Surmelin 38, Paris xx.
Binoculars
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