"OUR BOYS" IN LONDON.

Marlborough Express, Volume L, Issue 223, 30 September 1916, Page 6

"OUR BOYS" IN LONDON.

HOSPITAL PROVISION

.WORKING OF SOLDIERS' CLUBS

BUFFET OPEN DAY AND NIGHT

To those who have relatives in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force— ivhieh nowadays means to almost everybody in> the Dominion—it has beeri a matter of the greatest satisfaction, to know thatHhere is now in London an institution where soldiers ■on furlough from the battlefields of France, or those convalescent from Eirgusii hospitals, can find all the accommodation they require, in the way of residential comforts without having to take their chance in hotels •or privately - managed boarding-

houses. The Isiew Zealand Soldiers' Club Nos. 1?, 18," and 23, Russell Square, "W.C., is the address of the now establishment, which was opened some weeks ago in connection with the New Zealand War Contingent Association, for the sole purpose of providing for the comfort, and entertainment of our soldiers- How it ■came into being and what purposes it serves are clearly explained in the following letter wliicli was received Lhis week by Mr Charles Hanson, manager of the Northern Steamship Company, fiom 'Mr It. H. Nohin l formerly, of the firm of Tonka and Nolan, of'Hawera, to whose initiative its foundation. was due, and who is now honorary secretary of the club: GENESIS OF THE MOVEMENT.

"Immediately after my arrival in England our soldiers were being moved to France, from. Egypt, and a

certain, number every day were given eight days' leave to come across to Tendon, so I realised that somebody should meet them at Victoria Station, get lodgings, and generally look alter thenij with the result that I undertook it. Then I learned the difficulty of finding proper billets, so I got a few people together, • and we decided to secure promisee for our own men. , I approached the War. Office, and got them to commandeer Nos. 17, 18, and 23, Russell Square, W.C. '•' Thei'e we set to work with aii nrmy of carpenters, plumbers, painters, etc., and ordered furniture, ciockery, beds, bedding, and - eyeryIhina; . necessary ior 'carrying;, on a boarding and. lodging establishment, with over 200 beds.

4000 MEALS A WEEK

"We hacl it all .ready in about- a month alter' tlie time of getting l>ossession of tliu buildings, and this week we> havu served nearly 4000 meais and would be able to serve a good many more. On ali sides it is said that there, is not th© equal of it in .England. Fortunately I have M>me good friends, yiho, have helped

;no .financially and otherwise,, and also got the Government''-of New Zealand to stand to me. However, the result js that/our boys have! a home away from liome, and are waited upon by .New Zealand ladies., "■We likv,e «. canteen for light retfreshmefhts, wliioh v is lieyer closed, -tray or night, so ourmeii can always get something to eat. At the prevent time—early in. August—all leave from France >s;'istoppetty" but with convalescents and men m camp there .•ire 0000 who get leave, and we.have also nearly 30CO in hospital. When convalescing they always drift here. Our charge is fd lor each bed, breakfast, -or :unqh,. and ,Is for dinner. Baths, etc , are froe.. The men are led as well as they feed; you at the Auckland' Club."1

The following appeared in our Town Edition last issue: