Unknown tapestry.

[frederickay]

I have made contact with a close family member and she has a treasure trove of unknown photos this one included . Could SKS tell me the significance of this sweet little tapestry . T.Y .

[Viktoria]

Not sure what RPA stands for ,but this item is very like the WW1 souvenirs ,made by French and Belgian women, sold to British soldiers to send back home to wives,mothers and family
Exquisitely embroidered by hand , they were usually framed and some still survive.
Have you anyone in your ancestors who served in WW1 ,not sure if this carried on to WW2 .
If it is WW1 is at least 103 + years old and looks in wonderful condition.
The little blue flowers are Forget me Nots, —- very poignant.
Treasure it .
Viktoria.
Just looked again, and what looked at first like a P now looks like an F, so Royal Field Artillery .
There are better experts than I on R,C so you might get a better answer.
Viktoria.

[Davedrave]

It is the RFA, the Royal Field Artillery:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Field_Artillery

The word above the gun is “UBIQUE” (“everywhere”).

[frederickay]

This is wonderful as it goes with the photo of the soldiers I put up earlier this week  . I did have a relative in the Royal Fusiliers but the photo we now think is of a group of men in the 506 Battery and from research my great uncle Arthur Earnest Wharton was in the 11th . He was killed in WW1 in France on 29 th April 1916 . He wasn’t a young man at the time . Thank you for any help . Fred.

[frederickay]

I thought you would be interested after Vicktoria reply . This is the back of tapestry . All very exciting and nteresting . Thanks . Fred

[Viktoria]

The backing is a postcard,like those we used yonks ago for brief messages.
 The hand embroidered fabric would be mounted on such cards ,perhaps by the women embroidresses or perhaps someone who had a small business making these lovely souvenirs ,buying the embroidery from the ladies who did it.
It is very very poignant .
Thanks for the extra info.
Viktoria,

[Viktoria]

Not sure of any major engagement in April 1916, The Battle if The Somme dd not start until July 1916.
However there was continuous fighting ,have you a place name where he was killed?
Viktoria.

[JenB]

There are some very similar pieces of embroidery here and on the next couple of pages
https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=822918.msg6862317#msg6862317

[frederickay]

This just says France . Not very helpful . But someone here will possibly know what battle was near Carnoy Cemetery . What I discovered today is that his brother Norman Lacey Wharton … who survived … was one regimental number different . So I wonder if they enlisted same day . All I can think of is their poor parents . They had lost children in infancy . It really was hard times . Fred .