Victory Services Club

The Victory Services Club (VSC) is a private members club, and registered charity, in London for retired and serving members of the British Armed Forces. Membership is open to all ranks of the armed forces, differing from other military clubs in London which restrict membership either to the Officer Corps, Other Ranks or to members of a particular corps, branch, regiment or service.

Located near Marble Arch the club provides accomodation and dining services to members as well as conference facilities.

The club was founded in 1907 providing services to retired members of the Armed forces, although broadened membership qualification to include currently serving members, and civilian family, in 1970. Original premises were in Holborn with the club very quickly moving to alternative acomodation, again in Holborn. In 1948 the club moved to still larger premises at the current location, the building having been used by American Forces during the Second World war. The accommodation was extended with construction starting in 1954 on an adjacent site, with the Memorial Wing being opened by former Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill in 1957.

Initially known as the Veterans' Club when opened by Major Arthur Haggard, brother of the author H. Rider Haggard, the club was renamed in 1936 in memory of Field Marshal Viscount Edmund Allenby who had been President since 1936. With membership still limited to retired servicemen the club later re-named as the Victory Ex-Services Club, subsequently in 1970 assuming the present name when membership was opened to serving personnel and families.

As a Charity the club works with other service charities and the Armed Forces Welfare Agencies to provide support for wounded personnel and carers on respite opportunities in London.

Its patrons have included General Eisenhower, Field-Marshal Earl Alexander of Tunis and Field-Marshal The Viscount Montgomery of Alamein. Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh has been the Patron-in-Chief since 1954. The club has approximately 29,750 members and has the largest membership of any military club in the UK.

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