THE LONDON DEPOT HOSTEL.

The London Depot Hostel was started in May, 1918, at four houses in Courtfield Road (subsequently extended to five), the Principal being Mrs. Roberts-Wray. The early days of the Hostel were a record of difficulties, encountered and overcome, and anyone who has had to take over unoccupied houses can appreciate in some degree what this means. The furniture carried in at uncertain intervals, and the first inmates had beds only - nothing else.

Before one house was tidy, another had to be prepared, and from an eye-witness's description, ranks and ratings alike spent their time dismembering packing-cases and carrying furniture from the basement of No. 31 to the top of No. 47.

Order was at last achieved, and early in June the Hostel, including its sick bay, had become such a recognised institution that outposts were gaily sending up, without warning, sick or hysterical patients for treatments, observation, discipline or restraint.

On June 29th, when the procession of homage of the Women's Services took place, the Depot Hostel turned out to the last rating to take part in the long march.

By the middle of July the Hostel's activities were many. Drafting had been, and still was, its main intention but training in wireless, motor driving, shorthand, typewriting and telephony were being carried on in the London Division, and ratings taking part in these courses lived at the Hostel for many weeks.

A library was started, the curtains for the lockers were embroidered, and a certain amount of carpentering was done at the garage.

On July 1st, 1918, Mrs. Roberts-Wray left, and the Hostel was taken over temporarily by Miss D'Avigdor as Principal.

Sick bay at this time was grappling with its first influenza epidemic, a large dormitory was converted into a convalescent ward, and drafting was temporarily suspended. Fortunately all pulled through successfully.

Amusements during the summer consisted of swimming three days a week, tennis, route marches, and expeditions to see the sights of London. A great fancy dress ball took place on August Bank Holiday to which the Director came, and both officers and ratings competed successfully in the London Division Swimming Sports which were held at Chelsea in September.

At the end of the first week in September Miss D'Avigdor left the Hostel, and Miss Bear became Principal.

During October a second influenza epidemic occurred, and great grief was felt at the death of C.S.L. Davies from pneumonia after a few days' illness. A naval funeral procession was arranged as far as Paddington. On November 11th the Hostel joined with the rest of London in celebrating Armistice Day. As many as could be spared marched to Buckingham Palace to cheer the King and Queen. They were fortunate enough to secure an R.N. lorry, and drove triumphantly round the City.

On November 21st Miss Julius was appointed Principal in charge.

On November 24th the Hostel turned out in full force to attend the service at St. Martin's-in-the-Fields, arranged to commemorate the inauguration of the W.R.N.S.

Preparations for Christmas occupied the greater part of December. It was decided to have a Christmas tree and party for the ratings, to which 30 children from Rotherhithe could be invited. This took place on Boxing Day, and proved a great success. Miss Bear very kindly lent her gymnasium for the occasion, and Miss D'Avigdor kindly arranged for the children to be fetched in an R.N. lorry. Mrs. Beatty, from Headquarters, made a very charming Father Christmas, and distributed presents to all the members and children. A tea and impromptu concert. wound up a delightful day. The following evening a dance took place at the Hostel, to which 50 guests were invited. Dancing was kept up until midnight.

The crowning event of the Christmas festivities was certainly the pantomime performance which took place on New Year's Day at the Bijou theatre of the Albert Hall. Both words and plot were the work of the Depot Hostel, and 39 of its members took part in the show. It is difficult to say who enjoyed it most, the actors or the audience. At the urgent request of many people a second performance was given in March, the Director being present on this occasion. The audience, which was almost exclusively a Service one, the performance to give the Director a great ovation.

K-K-Katherine, most wonderful Katherine,

You're the only one for us in time of war'

Should the c-c-call come in the f -future,

We will rush again to follow you once more.

The Chatham Division then invited the Hostel to give their show at the R.N. Barracks at Chatham, and by the kind permission of the Director the performers motored down, and were enthusiastically received by an audience of over 1,000, which included Admiral Sir Doveton Sturdee and officers and a large number of bluejackets and marines. The Pantomime was also performed with great success at Greenwich and at Portsmouth.

In 1919 the character of the Hostel gradually changed from that of a drafting centre to a permanent home for the mobile members of the London Division, and a large number of officers were drafted in to work at the Admiralty from stations closing down.

In June, Miss V. M. Waldy became Principal.

 The W.R.N.S. Choral Society, which was started in December, had made the Hostel its centre for practices, and a course of lectures on Service subjects was given, to which all the officers of the London Division came. These lectures proved a very happy way of keeping us in touch with one another after the closing of the Crystal Palace Training College.

M. A. JULIUS