Identity discs : Sergeant P H F Elsum, 2/21 Battalion

Pair of aluminium identity discs attached to a copper chain with a gilded metal pig charm suspended from one of the discs. The discs are stamped with two 4 mm mounting holes in each. One of the discs is circular, the other an elongated octagon. The octagonal disc is located at the base of the neck loop while the circular disc hangs from the base of the extended length of chain. Both discs are stamped on the obverse 'VX20324 / P. / ELSUM. / CE' and on the reverse 'A2'.

VX20324 Sergeant Percy Henry Frederick Elsum was born in Melbourne in 1902. He enlisted in the AIF on 31 May 1940, and was posted to the Australian Army Postal Corps and attached to 2/21 Battalion as part of 'Gull Force'. The Battalion was sent to defend the island of Ambon in December 1941. In January/February 1942 Gull Force was overwhelmed by the invading Japanese force and was forced to surrender. Those who survived the fighting, including Elsum, became prisoners of war and were taken to Tan Toey prison camp. While the Japanese assured the prisoners that their names had been forwarded to the Australian Government after their capture, this information was not received and Gull Force was regarded as missing. In May 1942, allied air attacks assured the prisoners that their existence would be made known to the authorities. As the war progressed and air activity around Ambon intensified the prisoners decided it was necessary to try and contact Ambonese outside the prison compound so that they could establish the exact situation in the war and attempt to send messages to Australia. Temporary escapes were planned and implemented to achieve this aim. Elsum carried out three successful escapes in late 1942 but was later caught and severely punished. On 18 February 1943 the prison camp received a direct hit from allied bombers, killing 70 prisoners and injuring another 70. On 4 September 1945 the prisoners were informed that the war was over and shortly after they were evacuated by the Australian corvettes 'Glenelg', 'Junee', 'Cootamundra' and 'Latrobe'. After hospital treatment Elsum was discharged on 5 April 1946.