A counted cross stitch sampler likely to date from World War II or soon after. The quote is from an Empire Day speech by George VI, broadcast in May 1940. In the speech he refers to "our fighting men and those who love them; mothers, wives and sweethearts at home". It's interesting to see on this sampler that all the figures are women - caring for children, land girls, nurses, women in uniform - representing the many roles women played in wartime and for the war effort.
This is one of the few patriotic samplers to quote the monarch (use the tag quotes to find others I've done blog entries about). The quote says:
Keep you hearts proud
and your resolve unshaken,
and with God's helpWe shall not fail
and your resolve unshaken,
and with God's helpWe shall not fail
I wonder if this was a published design, intended to raise morale, or the work of a single needlewoman? Counted cross stitch is more unusual at this time than transfer designs, but with wartime shortages a printed chart in a magazine or newspaper would not require postage, transfers etc.
If you know any more about this design or its source, please do leave a comment.
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