New Zealand Forces Clubs

In Italy New Zealand Forces Clubs were successively established at Bari, Rome, Florence, and Venice as our Division moved up the peninsula. General Freyberg was always conscious of the value of such amenities for men on leave, and leading hotels were secured in the last three cities. The clubs were well run, providing beds, meals, baths, concerts, and guided tours. When it was possible to make large allocations of leave, the field ambulances set up transit camps to accommodate men for one or two nights near Rome and Venice. In the maintenance of morale and health these facilities were of great value to the force.