Lyte made the gift, his entire collection, in memory of his father, the Rev. John B. Lyte, and Anne S. K. Brown. Lyte was a lifelong friend of Mrs. Brown and it was she who urged him to collect. The two delighted in trading soldiers to fill in gaps in each other's collection. Lyte is a 1950 graduate of Brown University.

Most of the 600-plus pieces in the Lyte collection were made by the renowned British manufacturer in the early 1940s. Among the rarities are Australian infantry in service dress, a balloon and winch and the very rare French Foreign Legion.

All sets are in their original boxes, which greatly enhances their value.

Bert Caldwell, chairman of the Anne S. K. Brown Military Collection trustees hailed Lyte's generosity in making the gift, which he said "adds significantly to the large number of Britains already in the collection. It will allow us to make a major display of Britains in their original boxes and fill in a few gaps in Mrs. Brown's collection as well."

The gift was arranged through the efforts of Caldwell and Peter Harrington, curator of the Anne S. K. Brown Military Collection.

The new pieces have joined the more that 5,000 toy soldiers in the Anne S. K. Brown Military Collection.