Mounted uniform insignia board : Private GAG Siebert, 2/18 Battalion

Rectangular piece of masonite or composite board. At the top of the board a large oxidised brass rising sun is secured; below this a large Australian Military Forces (AMF) uniform button; below this an 'AUSTRALIA' shoulder title; small AMF uniform button; a second 'AUSTRALIA' shoulder title; at the bottom is a 2/18 Battalion felt colour patch - a diamond divided horizontally across centre with purple over green. The back of the masonite reveals a metal split pin and metal fastings securing the insignia to the front. A partial stamp of the original maker's mark is also evident.

Insignia board made by George Seibert whilst a prisoner of the Japanese. George Alexander Guthrie Siebert was born on 29 May 1906 in Newtown, New South Wales to Adolphus Ernest and Isabel Agnes (nee Guthrie) Siebert. Before the Second World War, he worked as a carpenter in the tram sheds. In 1931 he married Vera Ida Blanche Tomlin in Sydney. Their son, George Ernest Siebert was born in 1932.

George enlisted in the Second Australian Imperial Force in Paddington, New South Wales and was assigned service number NX54373. During his time in the army, he went by the name ‘Mick’. He served with the 2/18 Battalion and embarked on the RMS Queen Mary on 4 February 1941 for Singapore. He served in Malaya before becoming a prisoner of war at the surrender of Singapore on 15 February 1942. He was interned for almost five years in Changi and returned to Australia in 1946. While he was interned, he made various POW ‘trench art’ objects which he brought back to Australia. He was discharged from the army on 25 October 1946.

After his return to Australia, he went by the name ‘Alec’. He was rehabilitated at the Concord Repatriation Hospital. As part of his rehabilitation he crafted leatherwork, pottery and sewing. Post-war he trained as a chauffeur. Siebert died on 24 October 1986.