Souvenir from Egypt

This embroidered silk cloth ‘souvenir of Egypt’ was sent home during World War I. This type of cloth was a very popular souvenir during the war.

The cloth of Queen Alexandra’s 2nd (Wellington West Coast) Mounted Rifles, is attributed to 11/1815 Trooper Harold George Hanman and is machine embroidered in chain stitch. It includes a special embroidered message “To Mother With best love” and “From Harold” and was sent home to his mother.

The World War I era rectangular red sateen cloth has a narrow has a narrow white, gold and blue machine laced border.

Harold was a framer from New Plymouth who left New Zealand bound for Egypt in 1915, aged 26. He was discharged from service on 21 May 1916 due to appendicitis. He died in New Plymouth on 15th January 1963 aged 73 years.

Find out about our other museum artefacts and recent acquisitions.