FARNHAM Territorial Army’s A Company has been presented with a rare piece of the unit’s history from the First World War.

Fred Perkins, a veteran of the D-Day landings, presented the 3rd Battalion the Princess of Wales Regiment with a framed embroidery that was hand-stitched by his stepfather.

The embroidery is of the colours of the 2nd Battalion of the Queens Royal Surrey Regiment, which is one of three Surrey and Hampshire regiments from which Prince of Wales regiment inherited its traditions.

Albert Hall completed the intricate work as a way of passing time while imprisoned by the Germans.

Speaking about his father, Mr Perkins said: “He was captured in 1915 and was a prisoner for three years. He must have had a lot of time to fill.”

Accepting the colours, Major Marcus Butlin, A Company’s commanding officer, said the “very dear” piece of unit history would be given a good home at Farnham and would serve to remind soldiers of the traditions they have inherited.

Lieutenant Garth Pratten, the company’s Australian exchange officer and a military historian in civilian life, said: “It is great that we can preserve items like this.

“The children and grandchildren of veterans often don’t realise the significance of these things and unfortunately they often end up in dumps or junk shops.”