History

Title The Victory Services Club: History Part 1

The Victory Services Club, a registered charity, has two objectives. The first, is to promote military efficiency and esprit de corps by bringing together members of the Armed Forces of the Crown, former members of the Armed Forces of the Crown and members of the Armed Forces of the Commonwealth and Foreign countries with whom they are currently allied and by improving the conditions of life of such persons. It’s second objective is to relieve need, hardship or distress among persons who have served in the Armed Forces of the Crown and their dependants.

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Title The Victory Services Club: History Part 2

As the demand for accommodation grew the charity moved to Bedford Row to premises with 80 beds. It remained there throughout the 1st World War, the Great Depression and the 2nd World War. Haggard was devoted to the betterment of his fellow soldiers and had a great empathy for them as he lost his 24 year old son, Lancelot in October 1917. Lancelot was killed on the Western Front whilst serving with Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry on the Western Front.

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Title The Victory Services Club: History Part 3

Arthur was greatly helped by James Aratoon Malcolm who was born in 1866 in Bushire (Iran) and was of Armenian descent. He was educated at Oxford University where he gained Civil Engineering degree. He took a great interest in the club until his death in 1952.

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Title The Victory Services Club: History Part 4

Lord Allenby was succeeded by Field Marshal Lord Chetwode. Chetwode had served on his staff in Palestine in 1917. The Club’s name was later changed to the Victory Ex - Services Club. Post the 2nd WW the club listed an astonishing array of Honorary Patrons including Sir Winston Churchill, Mr Clement Atlee, General Eisenhower and Field Marshall Smuts to name but a few. In 1970, when the Serving Armed Forces were admitted to the club it became the Victory Services Club.

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Title Moving Forward : the next 100 years

The Club remains true to its charitable objectives and is unique in that it is the only All Ranks club in the country that is solely for those who serve or who have served in the Armed Forces and their families.

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