WWI Australian Y.M.C.A. Service medal awarded to female employees at Aldwych Theatre, London

In 1916, the Y.M.C.A. 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. Due to the lack of performance space, the Australian Y.M.C.A. social centre moved to the Aldwych Theatre in 1917.
According to the Australian War Memorial, the Aldwych Theatre specialised in plays and musical comedy;. In 1911, it hosted the first performance in England of Chekhov’s play, "The Cherry Orchard".
When the Australian Y.M.C.A. rented the theatre in 1917, however, its intention was to provide a Y.M.C.A. centre with accommodation, food and refreshments, entertainments, concerts, music and activities for Australian troops in the heart of London. It also hosted members of the Australian Munition Workers Club.
It was managed by Mr L. Jenner and Mr G. J. Wells, (both Australian Y.M.C.A. officers - Jenner had managed the YMCA Soldier's Rest Home at St Kilda, while Wells, a dentist from Kyneton, served as secretary of the Australian YMCA in London).
The complex could house up to 2,000 troops and was the Australian Y.M.C.A.'s largest centre during World War One. Local female staff were employed to service the centre, and the Y.M.C.A. was able to take advantage of the excellent facilities - kitchens, counters, private rooms and of course a spacious theatre - which the Aldwych possessed.
When the Y.M.C.A. relinquished the space in 1919, all the female employees were presented with the "Aldwych Theatre Service Medal", in recognition of their services.