Remembering the lives of people who worked in "Leave Clubs". Early in 1917, when the Australians and Canadians visited Paris on leave in very large numbers, Miss Lily Butler opened a "Corner of Blighty", the pioneer leave club in Paris, to help them to spend their time as pleasantly and profitably as possible. Everything was given free of charge, and a staff of 45 voluntary women workers entertained 44,000 men in the first 10 months of the 2 years for which the club was open. Six months later the British Army and Navy Leave Club was opened and was the pioneer residential club in Paris for soldiers and sailors on leave. Baron D'Erlanger lent the house, and Miss Decima Moore and the Rev. A. S. V. Blunt were hon. secretaries. In the two years that it was open 59,102 men were registered and 701,546 meals were served. A body of uniformed Women Guides looked after the comfort of the men, and free entertainments on a large scale were organised. As a result of the success of this club, the British Empire Leave Club at Cologne was originated and organised on the same lines by Miss Decima Moore, Hon. Director-General, who raised the funds with a London Committee under Baron D'Erlanger as chairman. Each department was conducted by a voluntary woman worker drawn from one of the approved women's war organisations, who wore the uniform of her society, and did her last piece of war-work for the British in an officially recognised institution opened at the invitation of the army.
Created by: , Yvonne27542
Born 1880
Died 1921
Other Empire Force British Empire Leave Club
Other Empire Force Civilian Clerk Intelligence Branch, British G.H.Q.
Born 1868
Died 1942
Other Empire Force Organiser Leave Clubs "A Corner of Blighty" leave club in Paris
British Army British Army and Navy Leave Club Paris
Born 1871
Died 1964
Other Empire Force Honorary Director-General British Empire Leave Club