Australian Army Museum of Western Australia > Records

World War 2, Middle East, Salvation Army, 1942

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1942

Subcollections

Messes, Rations, Cooking, Meals and Catering

Overview

Sign on Salvation Army canteen featuring the kangaroo "Hop In" centre logo

Historical information

In Australia, the Red Shield Defence Services were established as a response to the start of World War 1 in 1914. Salvation Army chaplains were sent all over the world, to offer practical, emotional and spiritual aid to servicemen.
Barely a few days had passed after the declaration of World War Two on Sunday, 3 September 1939, before The Salvation Army opened its first Red Shield marquee.
Within weeks, dozens more had been erected across Australia, with The Salvation Army soon present at nearly every location troops could be found in the country.

During World War 2, Red Shield Officers, better known as “Sallymen”, established the now-famous "Hop In" centres at war zones from Tobruk to the Kokoda track, providing on-the-spot comforts and a home away from home for soldiers. The centres ranged from large marquees in major staging areas to hastily erected flies – all displaying the familiar “Hop In You’re Welcome” signs.
The establishment of the Red Shield huts in military bases on the home front in World War Two paved the way for the ongoing work of The Salvation Army within the Australian Defence Force, that continues today.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-32-P1985.188.6j

Item type

Photographs

Themes

War and Conflict
War and Conflict > World War 2

Contextual Information

The Red Shield Defence Services (RSDS) came into being in 1976 when the Red Shield War Services (RSWS) were renamed. A Salvation Amy War Department was established as a response to the start of World War 1 in 1914 and at the Start of WW2 became the Red Shield War Services (RSWS). The Salvation Army provided chaplains for the Army Chaplains Department and philanthropic representatives (RSWS/RSDS) to offer practical, emotional and spiritual aid to servicemen.

Year

1942

Links to additional resources

Soldiers of the Cross

Australian Army Museum of Western Australia

Organisation Details
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