Name

Australian YMCA Hut

Connection

Social centre for Australian soldiers during the First World War.

Location

Aldwych Theatre, 49 Aldwych, London WC2B 4DF

How to get there

Nearest underground station: Holborn (Central and Piccadilly Lines)

Summary

In 1916 the YMCA built two ANZAC huts in London. The Shakespeare Hut in Bloomsbury for New Zealanders and the Aldwych Hut at Aldwych for Australians. The Aldwych Hut sat on what was vacant land behind Australia House on the Strand. Below is a picture of the Aldwych YMCA Hut. In the background you can see the Waldorf Hotel which exists today. Due to the lack of performance space, the Australian YMCA social centre moved to the Aldwych Theatre in 1917.

Photo from a souvenir of the Aldwych YMCA – here

Context

In the early part of the 20th century most Australians regarded Britain as home, with nearly one in five born in Britain and most of the population of British descent. For many men, joining the AIF was seen as an opportunity to visit the mother country.

Over 300000 soldiers and 3000 members of the Australian Army Nursing Service embarked for overseas service with the majority operating in Europe. Due to the distance involved in returning home, almost all personnel serving in Europe would have spent time in Britain and therefore visited London.

Soldiers and medical staff visiting London required accommodation, food and entertainment. This is where the YMCA huts came in.

Story

The Australian YMCA Hut at Aldwych provided accommodation and meals but lacked an entertainment space. During 1917 the YMCA Council annexed the Aldwych theatre which became the soldiers’ social centre. At some point the Strand Theatre (now the Novello Theatre) was also annexed as an Australian social centre. This provided the Australian ANZACs with a well-equipped performance space and a central location for other theatres and eating places. View old footage of the Aldwych Theatre – here

The YMCA Hut (and its social centre) was presented in the Australian press as an ANZAC home in an alien city:

“A space in which ANZACs could find a comfortable balance between Imperial and Antipodean identity and culture.”

Maunder, British Theatre in the Great War

Copy of Aldwych Theatre Service medal 1918  (personal collection)

The Strand in the early 20th century was at the heart of London’s entertainment and nightlife where there were many unwholesome temptations for Australian soldiers. While initially received positively in London, it wasn’t long before the Australians’ reputation went downhill with reports of drunkenness and prostitution.

But for the most part soldiers’ diaries report enjoying visiting the sights of London and attending more wholesome entertainments.

At a benefit concert on 19 November 1915 for wounded Australian soldiers at the nearby His Majesty’s Theatre, it was noted that there was no audience joining in with songs performed. The songs were all British, with no specific Australian songs on the programme. At the end of the performance one soldier at the back shouted ‘coo-ee, coo-ee’, fellow Australians following this with similar shouts from around the theatre. This led to the composition of a song inspired by this story – Sing Us a Song of Australia, by Chas Ridgeway.

Australian War Memorial – collection of digitised war songs – here

Sing us a song of Australia – listen to it – here

Performed by Robert Williams

Aldwych in the theatre district

Photo Australian War memorial - public domain

The Aldwych Theatre today

Further information

Australian War Memorial picture – here

Souvenir of the Aldwych Hut – here