Japanese yosegaki hinomaru ['good luck' flag] with senninbari [1000 stitches] captured at Balikpapan: 2/12th Battalion AIF

Silk Japanese 'good luck' flag or yosegaki hinomaru, with senninbari, or 1000 lucky stitches in red (normally sewn on a separate belt of 1000 stitches) taking the place of the printed or sewn central red hinomaru. The name and number of the unit to which the flag was presented - 22nd Special Ground [Forces] - appears in the top proper left corner. Written around the central hinomaru/senninbari in a radial pattern are the names of the women who presented the flag, and presumably sewed the 1000 stitches, who are thought to have been entertainers or geishas - Kohana, Otomaru, Hanachiyo and Choko - together with Hanayagi Kazusuke, a male dance teacher, who was probably also a dancer. Three Japanese servicemen from the ground forces have also signed their names in the other three corners of the flag: Ozeki Shuichiryo, Tanakura Kiichiro and Fuchikawa Gingi.

The names of the Australian signallers who acquired the flag, QX28762 Donald William Hamilton and QX58063 Colin Hardie Cockburn, from 2/12th Infantry Battalion, are also written on the flag.

Captured at Balikpapan, Borneo in 1945 by QX28762 Private Donald William White and QX58063 Private Colin Hardie Cockburn, both signallers in 2/12th Infantry Battalion.