The Springbok Club, Cairo

As mentioned previously, the Army was preparing to do battle with the German and Italian forces in the Western desert and drive them out of Africa. Manoeuvres became the order of the day. Our battalion did its part and when we were, so to speak, battle-ready, we were sent off in batches to Cairo for a week's leave.

We arrived at the Springbok Club on the 1st Floor of the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Building and found that after sleeping on the ground, the beds at the Club were uncomfortable and as often as not, changed to the floor in order to get "a good night's rest".

It was a Club for South Africans - men and women - providing an atmosphere of real homeliness, described in this Extract from The Services Guide to Cairo, published by the Co-Ordinating Council for the Welfare of the Troops in Egypt, as follows:

The large lounge containing piano, radiogram, easy chairs, modern furniture and beautiful ferns will appeal to all.

A buffet service is run in a specially designed department, with South African ladies helping in its arrangement.

The Quiet Room offers quiet facilities for writing (free material), chess, draughts, table games and above all "quietness." It is hoped that the Quiet Room will enable the Padre to hold short services at times.

Concerts and other entertainments will be arranged when possible.

There is also a full information bureau through which leave accomodation can be booked for Springboks.

This Club is under the auspices of the Union Defence force institutes (South African Y.M.C.A. and TocH).