AMERICAN RED CROSS (AMCROSS OR ARC)
IN AUSTRALIA DURING WW2

The American Red Cross (Amcross) in Australia during WW2 became the largest hotel and restaurant chain in Australia at the time. Amcross was headed by Norman H. Davis with its headquarters in Sydney, NSW. 

General George Marshall officially recognised Amcross "as the non military agency to operate with our expeditionary forces during the war."

Mrs Eleanor Roosevelt greeted by Mrs Jean MacArthur
at Archerfield airfield on the south side of Brisbane in 1944

Closeup of the above photograph. Note the American Red Cross (ARC)
badge on  Eleanor Roosevelt's collar. Also not USA-2, Mrs. MacArthur's
staff car parked in the background.

Four American women led by Miss Helen Hall arrived in Australia in about late August 1942 to take charge of American Red Cross Service Personnel and to establish new American Red Cross centres and to extend existing centres. Miss Hall was the administrative assistant to the delegate in charge of American Red Cross Service Clubs and Leave Areas in Australia. The other three women were Miss Hannah More Frazer, who was appointed Director of the American Red Cross Service Club in Melbourne in about September 1942; Miss Florice Langley who opened an ARC Service Club in Cairns, in far north Queensland; and Mrs. Anita Woodworth who opened an ARC Service Club in Charters Towers in north Queensland.

SYDNEY

There were many American Red Cross Centres in Sydney during WWII.

Headquarters

South Pacific and Southwest Pacific Area Headquarters, 2nd Floor, Grace Building, corner King & York Streets

Hospitality Bureaus

American Red Cross Service Bureau, Mark Foy's Buildings, corner Elizabeth & Liverpool Streets

American Red Cross Service Bureau, Barrack Street (David Jones' Store)

Officer's Clubs

American Red Cross Officers' Leave Club "Cheverells", 2 Elizabeth Bay Road, Elizabeth Bay

American Red Cross Officers' Leave Club, "Bernly", 15 Springfield Avenue, Kings Cross

American Red Cross Officers' Leave Club, 128 Ramsgate Avenue, Bondi

American Red Cross Officers' Leave Club, Bronte

NCO's Clubs

American Red Cross Service Club, 165 Phillip Street (NSW Leagues Club)

American Red Cross Service Club, 351 Pitt Street

American Red Cross Service Club Addison Street, "Kensington" (later converted to Officers' Club)

American Red Cross Booker T. Washington, Surry Hills for African American soldiers

Women Officers' Clubs

American Red Cross Club, Tusculum

American Red Cross Club, St. Anthony's, Kings Cross

Nurses' Clubs

American Red Cross Nurses' Leave Club, 79 Macleay Street

The American Red Cross Service Club in Sydney at 165 Phillip Street, in Sydney was open 24 hours a day and had 232 beds which cost 9 pence per night. Breakfast costs 9 pence and lunch and dinner were listed at various prices. Showers were free. There was a barber on site seven days a week and clothes pressing, billiards, table games, reading and writing facilities were available.

NEWCASTLE

American Red Cross Officers' Club, Tudor Street, Hamilton

MELBOURNE

American Red Cross Service Club, Centenary House, corner Exhibition & Little Collins Streets

There were other Red Cross Centres in Melbourne. I'd welcome any assistance identifying them.

BRISBANE

American Red Cross Brisbane Service Club, "Terrica House", corner Adelaide and Creek Streets

American Red Cross, Riverview Leave Area, 2 Edward Street

American Red Cross Doctor Carver Club, 100 Grey Street, South Brisbane

American Red Cross Scarborough Club (near Redcliffe)

American Red Cross Baysmear Nurses' Home

American red Cross Amberley Field Canteen

On 26 May 1943 the Brisbane Courier Mail reported that Miss Sally Howe, was a member of a small group of American Red Cross workers who had recently arrived in Brisbane to assist Miss Mary K. Browne, the Director of the American Red Cross Service Club. Sally Howe's special department was the arrangement of entertainments for Allied servicemen. Sally lived in Yale Apartments at Upper Edward Street in the city which is now known as Acacia Inner City Inn at 413 Upper Edward Street, Spring Hill.

An article in the Brisbane Telegraph on 15 December 1943 showed a photo of Miss Sally Howe, Assistant Program Director of the American Red Cross, assisting two soldiers to decorate a Christmas Tree for the children at the Montrose Crippled Children's Home at the American Red Cross Service Club on the corner of Adelaide Street and Creek Street. Voluntary workers at the Club made toys for the Christmas Tree and servicemen donated money to purchase toys and books for the children to use in the Montrose Library.

A large farewell party for employees of the American Red Cross Service Club in Brisbane was held on the evening of 16 November 1945 at the club. Approximately 200 people attended and guests were all personally welcomed by Miss Sally Howe, who was by then the Director of the American Red Cross in Brisbane. Mr. H. L. Trites, the Australian Director of the American Red Cross, travelled from Sydney for the farewell party. All the guests received a special card autographed by the staff. The Brisbane Club was the last ARC Club to remain open in Australia.

NORTH COAST (Now Sunshine Coast)

SOUTH COAST (Now Gold Coast)

American Red Cross Officers' Club, "Sans Souci", Hotel Sans Souci

American Red Cross Coolangatta Leave & Rest Area (Coolangatta Hotel)

American Red Cross Surfers' Paradise Leave & Rest Area

TOWNSVILLE

American Red Cross Office, Queen's Hotel, The Strand

American Red Cross Service Club Headquarters, Denham Street

American Red Cross Nurses' Club, 73 The Strand

American Red Cross Recreation Centre, 33 Flinders Street

American Red Cross North American Services Club, 380 Flinders Street West

American Red Cross, Warehouse, Vacuum Bond, Perkins Street, South Townsville

Click on the picture

American Red Cross Guide to Brisbane and Suburbs
issued to American service personnel

Sans Souci Officer's Club, Southport
American Red Cross

  American Red Cross Centre Coolangatta,
Coolangatta Hotel, Coolangatta

 "Strathallan" Guest House
at Lower Gay Terrace, Caloundra

BOOK REFERENCES

"Yanks down Under 1941-45, The American Impact on Australia"
By E. Daniel Potts & Annette Potts

"Will Plan Army Entertainment" - Brisbane Courier Mail 26 May 1943

"Xmas Tree for Crippled Children" - Brisbane Telegraph 15 Dec 1943

"US Red Cross Farewell Party" - Brisbane Courier Mail 17 Nov 1945

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I'd like to thank Rob Gordon for his assistance with this web page. His mother Sally Howe was the Director of the American Red Cross in Brisbane during WWII.

Can anyone help me with more information?

"Australia @ War" WWII Research Products

This page first produced 29 August 2004

This page last updated 06 February 2024