Victory Services Club
The Victory Services Club is a private members club and registered charity in London, England for retired, veteran, serving members and immediate family members of the British Armed Forces as well as Commonwealth and NATO armed forces, including the UK and US. Membership is open to all ranks of British, Commonwealth and NATO's armies, navies, marines and air forces.
Located near Marble Arch and Connaught Square, the club provides lodging, dining services and conference facilities to members.
History
The club was founded by Major Arthur Haggard, brother of the author H. Rider Haggard, as the Veterans' Association in 1907, providing services to retired members of the armed forces.The club was renamed in 1936 in memory of Field Marshal Viscount Edmund Allenby, who had been President since 1933.
After the Second World War, it became the Victory Ex-Services Club.
In 1948, the club moved from its earlier home in Holborn to its current larger premises in a building used by American forces during the Second World War. The accommodation was extended, with construction starting in 1954 on an adjacent site, and the Memorial Wing being opened by Prime Minister Winston Churchill in 1956.
With membership still limited to retired servicemen and immediate family, the club assumed the present name in 1970, when membership was opened to serving personnel and families.
On 11 October 1974 at around 10:30 pm the club, and the Army and Navy Club, were bombed by the Provisional Irish Republican Army's London based active service unit, injuring one person.
Its patrons have included General Dwight D. Eisenhower, Winston Churchill and Clement Attlee. In 2014 Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall became patron.