Unused and a real rarity the history of the National Union of Railwaymen Orphan Fund dates back very early. Railwaymen would contribute from their wages, those who paid in would know that if they died from accident, ill-health or old age, their children would receive some financial support from the Union until they reached age 14. The the numbers of workers killed in accidents were quite high back then due to a lack of health and safety in place. In 1916 alone, an estimated 2,253 children were supported by the fund at a cost of over £12,750 to the union. As this was quite a burden on the union financially,  charitable collection tins like this were used to help the fund for orphaned children.