Embroidered 'Souvenir of Egypt' cloth : Private J T Hancher, 5 Battalion, AIF

Cream cotton sateen embroidered cushion cover edged with cream cotton lace threaded through with pink ribbon. The cover is embroidered in machine chain stitch in brown, mauve, red, light and royal blue, green, pink, white and metallic tread. In the centre, within a diamond shape, are the flags of Great Britain, France, Australia and Egypt. There are four sprigs of pink flowers around this within an oval of repeat wave pattern in pale blue. Outside this are pink and mauve flowers with 'Souvenir of Egypt' in pale blue at the top, and '1915' in the same colour at the bottom. Each corner has an overall mauve pattern and a red crescent and three stars edged with metallic thread.

Associated with the service of 1552 Private John Thomas Hancher who served in 5 Battalion, AIF, during the First World War. Hancher was born in Victoria in 1892. He worked as a farm labourer at the time of his enlistment on 3 December, 1914. He sailed for Egypt on the troopship A32 'Themistocles' on 22 December, 1914. From there he proceeded to Gallipoli where he was killed in action on 8 May, 1915. He is buried at Redoubt Cemetery at Cape Helles.