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Concept
New Zealand Forces Club
Summary
The New Zealand Forces Club was a series of leave centres instigated for the benefit of the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force in Egypt, Britain and Italy during World War II. General Bernard Freyberg had a deep concern for the wellbeing of his men. He saw the New Zealand Forces Club in Cairo as a place where other ranks especially could go and feel normal in what was an extraordinarily abnormal situation. General Freyberg was always anxious to have good leave centres for his men, maintaining, ‘You can't treat a man like a butler and expect him to fight like a gladiator’. From New Zealand patriotic funded every possible amenity and the best of equipment was provided for these clubs. They provided variety and a pleasant break from the mud and the cold. At the conclusion of the war, General Freyberg stated that the "greatest individual factor in keeping the NZ Division a unified force lay in the fact that we had ‘all ranks’ clubs, where we all met under the same roof—officers, sisters, VADs, and other ranks".
Located at 33, Sharia Malika Farida (now Abd El-Khalik Tharwat), Cairo, Egypt (corner of Emad El-Deen).
Opened 5 February 1941.
The New Zealand Club was a recognised meeting place for all ranks when in Cairo and was reputedly the best Service club in the city. The 13-storey building had previously been an old Italian club. It came under the direction of Lady Freyberg, wife of the Commander of the New Zealand Army in the Middle East. Uniformed girl volunteers from New Zealand known as the Tuis manned the club. It was open Friday, Saturday: 7.30 a.m.-11 p.m., and Sunday, Thursday: 7.30 a.m.-10 p.m. The Club was in the heart of Cairo and provided: dining rooms for officers, N.C.O.'s and men, Hostelries for officers and men (Charge P.T. 10 for bed, soap, towel and bath); A canteen with New Zealand specialities, beer and a bar; reading, writing and games rooms; Officers' bar, hot and cold showers; a Padre in attendance for two hours in the evening; a Nurses' quarters, and a Barber's shop. The Hosteiry office was open all night.
Official source
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