Siegfried Meyer was born on 16 May 1903 in Bischofsheim, Germany to Sessie and Isidor Meyer. He attended the local primary and secondary school where he received a science qualification. In 1918 he joined the Crailsheimer and Mayer Leather Works in Frankfurt as an apprentice. He rose through the ranks and by 1924 he was a stockist and salesman. He left the company and became the head of the sales floor and upper warehouse at J and C.A. Schneider Manufacturing. Where he worked until 1930 when he joined the Golo Shoe Factory as the leather factory manager. In 1936 Siegfried decided to leave Germany because of the rise of anti-Semitism in the country. He left the country abroad the SS Stuttgart. When he arrived in South Africa he moved to Durban where he lived until he heard about a butcher shop for sale in East London. He moved to East London and opened S. Meyer Meat, Meat Products and Poultry. In 1938 he was joined by his fiancée, Martha Lehmann. Martha was born on the 16 November 1911 in Frankfurt, Germany to Ida and Max Lehmann. In April 1938 she came to South Africa abroad the SS Pretoria. The couple were married on 18 May 1938 in East London.
In 1939 he was able to get his parents, Sessie and Isidor out of Germany. They came to South Africa abroad the SS Windhoek and settled in East London with their son. Siegfried was also able to ensure that his sister, Herta, her children and husband, Herman Leopold gain entry into the Philippines by standing surety for them. Unfortunately, he was unable to get Martha’s parents out of the country and they along with their daughter Ruth were sent to the Lodz ghetto where they perished.
In 1941 the couple had their first child, Dennis. Three years later they had their second child, Miriam. Martha died during childbirth. Siegfried continued operating his business and became the chairman of the South African Federation of Meat Traders. He died on 24 August 1967.