Category: Queensland State Archives’ Photostream About Fortitude Valley

Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

Tell Soldiers and Public of A.C.F.

Members of the Newcastle branch of the Australian Comforts Fund last night expressed the opinion that servicemen and civilians do not realise what work is being done by the fund.
Mr. W. Chandler read extracts from a letter received from a soldier “up north,” who expressed surprise when informed that the monthly issues of comforts, such as soap, shaving gear, writing paper, was financed by the Australian Comforts Fund.
The Honorary Organiser of the central fund (Mr. C. T. Docker) will be asked to adopt more methods to publicise the fund.
Mr. C. Chapman said he thought the civilian population knew that the Y.M.C.A. and Salvation Army were associated with the A.C.F. in the distribution of comforts, but the soldiers themselves were ignorant of this fact.
Mrs. Neve said civilians did not know the work the A.C.F. was doing.
“The A.C.F. star is stamped on

See Full Post >>

Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

Duchess With Australians

“The Age” Special Representative
London, March 31.
The Duchess of Gloucester looked enchanting when she visited the A.C.F. hostel and the Boomerang Club in London yesterday. She wore the same violet blue suit for both parties, but changed her hat from one made of feather and veiling to a more sedate affair in two shades of violet for the afternoon party.
The departure of the Duke and Duchess was delayed so that the Duchess could cut the club’s mammoth second birthday cake, which – like most of the cakes which are supplied to the club – had been made and given by Miss Peggy Brown, formerly of Melbourne. Her name is familiar to all R.A.A.F. men and other servicemen known at the Boomerang Club.
So is that of Miss Marie McKinnon, who has looked after the snack bar since the club was first started. She was the

See Full Post >>

Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

Hostel For Troops

New One in Jerusalem

Sydney, Jan. 2.- Mr. C. R. McKerihan, honorary general secretary of the Australian Comforts Fund, has received advice from Colonel Eugene Gorman, Honorary Chief Commissioner of the fund in the Middle East, that a new hostel has been opened by the A.C.F. in Jerusalem. So popular has Jerusalem become as a leave centre that it was necessary to provide additional accommodation for the men.
Colonel Gorman was able to take over a large building inside the Jaffa Gate. Provision has been made for a reading room, writing room, concert hall, stalls for good-class merchants to exhibit their ware and space for a milk bar and light refreshments. This hostel will be run in conjunction with the present hotel in Jerusalem.

Description source:
The West Australian, 3 January 1942

View the original image at Queensland State Archives:
Digital Image ID 23949

See Full Post >>

Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

American Mother Thanks ACF

Where there are American servicemen on the same battle stations as Australians, the Comforts Fund sees that they, too, receive hampers when a distribution is being made.
An American mother has written to the Comforts Fund from Massachusetts saying: “I want to express to your organisation my sincere thanks for your package presented to my son for Christmas.
“Your gift was his only reminder of Christmas in as much as his mail and holiday packages had not been received from the home folks. He is a meteorologist stationed on an island in the south-west Pacific area – where he has been since May, 1944.
“Here a small group of ‘Yankees’ are quartered with your countrymen. I have not known any Australians, but you may be sure you’ll hence-forth hold a warm place in my regards.”
In the mid-year ACF hamper appeal the 1,00 mark was reached

See Full Post >>

Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

Mobile Theatre Presented

On behalf of the Australian Comforts Fund, which defrayed the £1,000 cost of building it, the Lord Mayor, Alderman Bartley, at Victoria Barracks last night handed over to the G.O.C., New South Wales Lines of Communication Area, Major-General A. C. Fewtrell, the new mobile theatre which will shortly begin a circuit of military camps where no recreation halls exist to provide entertainment of a metropolitan standard for troops in these areas.
Afterwards the “Waratahs,” a combined concert party and staff manning the unit of four vehicles, presented an entertainment in the presence of high Navy, Army and Air Force officers, Australian and American.
Each member of the unit of an officer and 21 other ranks plays a dual part in manning the mobile theatre, aiding in stage setting, handling the vehicles and the 12 tons of material and taking his place on the stage.
Settings and

See Full Post >>

Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

Fourth A.I.F. Home In Jerusalem

Quartered in a wing of the Orthodox Greek School, in Old Jerusalem, a new A.C.F. hostel has recently been opened. Speaking at the formal opening General Sir Thomas Blamey remarked “There is no city so attractive, so romantically attractive and so sacredly attractive as Jerusalem, and this hostel will help the men on leave to enjoy it thoroughly.” The new hostel has every comfort and can accommodate 100 men in large, airy rooms. Authorities of the Greek Orthodox Church placed the building at the disposal of the A.C.F. for the hostel. Lieutenant-Colonel Eugene Gorman, former Commissioner of the A.C.F. in the Middle East, and now appointed by the Federal Government Australian Consul-General in the N.E.I., was also present at the opening. Among the guests were the American Consul-General (Mr. Pinketon) and other members of the Consular Corps. The new hostel is

See Full Post >>

Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

Another Comforts Fund Hostel In Jerusalem

Hobart, Friday – An additional Australian Comforts Fund hostel was opened in Jerusalem by the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the British Forces in the Middle East (General Sir Thomas Blamey) according to advice received at Hobart today from Lieut-Colonel Eugene Gorman, Chief Commissioner of the A.C.F. in the Middle East. The gathering included diplomatic and consular representatives of the Free French, United States, Greece and other Allies, Patriarchs of Jerusalem, the District Commissioner, high Government officials, senior officers of the Australian and English armies, representatives of philanthropic bodies, nursing sisters, and men of all branches of the services.
“General Blamer,” stated Colonel Gorman, “requested us to cable his pleased surprise and gratitude to the provision made for leaven men.”
The hostel was available from January 1 for six weeks without charge to men selected by unit commanders.

Description source:
Advocate, 24 January 1942

View the original

See Full Post >>

Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

Hostel For Diggers

“New Australian Comforts Fund hostel in Jerusalem is designed to run ‘at the largest loss we can afford,” said Commissioner Eugene Gorman in Jerusalem.
He was referring to the new hostel for men on leave in the Middle East.
Quartered in a wing of an old school in the old city, the hostel put up 100 men in roomy, airy chambers and is full of comfort and recreational facilities.
A barber shop; lobby and writing room; library; shower-room; souvenir shop, non-alcoholic bar, wireless set, games rooms are some of the things Aussies on leave will be able to enjoy in the hostel – the fourth in Jerusalem.
Warrant officer will be in charge and prices charged by vendors in the souvenir shop will be strictly controlled. Sight-seeing tours will be conducted.

Description source:
The Daily News, 5 February 1942

View the original image at Queensland State Archives:
Digital Image ID 23908

See Full Post >>

Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

Australian Club Opened By Duke of Gloucester

London, March 30 – The Duke of Gloucester paid a tribute to the Australian Comforts Fund when, with the Duchess he performed the opening ceremony at the Australian Forces Club.
“I wish all who contributed to the fund could see for themselves what a very good job is being done here. Some things like this has been needed for a long time. I should like relatives and friends to know how very well the men are being provided for in London.” he said. “I look forward to a closer association with the ACF as patron in Australia. The Duchess and myself are doing our best to familiarise ourselves with all Australian activities in Britain.”
The High Commissioner, Mr. S. M. Bruce, welcomed their Highnesses and conducted them on a tour of the five-storey premises. He explained the needs of Australian servicemen

See Full Post >>

Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

Australian Comforts Fund

What the Comforts Fund supplies:-
Standard Equipment (on embarkation), shorts, pyjamas, socks, shaving soap, towel, singlet, sandshoes, face soap, handkerchiefs, shirt, razor, washing soap.
Shipboard Extra.- Fruit, cake, vegetables, soft drinks, cash.
Games.- Cards, draughts, quoits, dart boards, lotto, chequers.
At the Base and in the Line.- In addition to the replacement of goods in the first group, issues when necessary of vests, tooth brushes, laces, polish, sauce, saline, tooth paste, cigarettes, tobacco, condensed milk.
All goods are distributed gratis.
The Australian Comforts Fund supplements the imperfect original military issue, and ensures the supply and distribution of necessary replacements.
This is the only organisation which can do this.
The commissioners abroad have as their main objective the health and physical welfare of the fighting forces. They aim at preventing sickness and epidemics and impaired efficiency by providing adequate and suitable clothing, variety and balance of food, especially in the form of

See Full Post >>