WWII and a New Focus for Toc H

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When World War II broke out Toc H found a new focus. It opened Services Clubs in Perth, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, and in Far North Queensland in Townsville and Cairns. Mrs Eleanor Roosevelt, the wife of the President of the United States of America, visited the Services Club in Townsville in 1943 to thank everyone there for all they were doing for American Servicemen. The Club in Cairns was called Talbot House. It was situated across the road from the railway station and today is the Grand Hotel. The biggest war time effort was in Victoria where there at least two Clubs for servicemen with hundreds of beds and an astronomical number of meals served. These Clubs filled a real need for many thousands of members of the armed forces making their way to and from the theatres of war. They provided accommodation, including meals, and in each there were facilities for reading, writing letters home or simply relaxing. There was a Club in Port Moresby in New Guinea and there were fourteen Toc H Branches in Changi Prisoner of War Camp.

Toc H Services Club – Townsville 1943.