A Second World War period souvenir embroidered cushion cover for the Royal Engineers, dated 1940 and marked Palestine. The cover is constructed from a black velvet ground featuring central high-relief embroidery. The central motif is the badge of the Royal Engineers, featuring the Royal Cypher of King George VI GVI R at the centre, enclosed by a garter bearing the motto HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE. This is surmounted by a Tudor crown and flanked by laurel wreaths, with a scroll below embroidered with ROYAL ENGINEERS. To the top left, the location Palestine is embroidered in white script, and to the top right, the year 1940. The central design is framed by stylised floral sprays in white, green, and red. The cover is finished with a pale blue-grey silk fringe. The reverse is backed with a cream-coloured linen or cotton fabric. In the top corner of the reverse, there is a handwritten mark in black ink reading 28944P, likely representing a partial or full service number of the soldier who owned the item. Such items were popular sweetheart souvenirs purchased by British servicemen stationed in the British Mandate of Palestine during the early years of the war.
Dimensions: 16” x 16”
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