Has anyone else encountered this club during their research? I'm trying to locate the building's whereabouts as it is mentioned in a few diaries and i'm wondering if it is possible to trace. Known as the "orange grove" (I had its real italian name on a pass I found in google images but rather annoyingly the site appears to have vanished since yesterday, its not a direct translation) and described as: "...open air, overlooking Naples bay, presenting a beautiful view. It [was] crowded every night and has a fairly good orchestra. Drinks are twenty seats and admission is by membership card purchased for one dollar.” Source It appeared to be a haven for the british officers who visited it, it provided a much needed getaway during the war, and situated outside of the city, would have been far enough from the problems of the city center for its patrons to offer a refuge from the war. This isolation on a hill top however proved to be a problem, and I've read of a number of cases of Jeeps being stolen (jeeps not requiring a key apparently) both outside the club, and for getting to the club. Described as "a beautiful club, finished in marble, with an all-around balcony upstairs with an extra bar. The orchestra was Italian and excellent. Every imaginable uniform present—American, British, French officers, nurses, WAC’s, ATS, Red Cross girls, Canadians, Scotsmen dancing in kilts. Drinks were fairly good too." Source "The most interesting thing was the Allied officers club called the Orange Club on a mountain overlooking Naples Bay with Mt. Vesuvius in the background. It was run by the British. Liquor served at the bar was mostly sweet vermouth. An Italian band tried to play American swing music. To get to the club someone stole a jeep; jeeps did not have an ignition key and even though a chain with a padlock could be put on the steering wheel, they were easy to steal." Source There appears/appeared to be a NATO allied officers club in naples after the war but i'm not sure its the same place.
I am sure that the Orange Grove gets mentioned a lot in Trevelyns book 'The fortress', not got it hand at the moment, but will look up. P
The website with the membership pass is back up again today; as well as it's real italian name: Giardino degli aranchi (garden of the oranges) Source Interesting that I have the telephone number now, but not the address. And here's a token used at the establishment: source
It's late, I'm sorry, but… I have found a card of Captain Sheehy, secretary of Allied Officers's club. THe adresse is : Giardino degli Aranci, Dial 16298, Villanova, Napoli. Here is the panorama (Posilippo) : Napoli - Panorama dal Giardino degli Aranci NOTTURNO + TIMBRO CENSURA (A-L 264) | eBay
I did wonder whether my grandfather would have made it to Naples. I've checked the diaries, however, and it doesn't appear that 1/4th Essex got leave in the vicinity. After being assured of a rest after Cassino, they transferred from 5th to 8th Army at the start of April and ended up back in the line at the Adriatic end of business. Like almost all of his comrades' whose relatives I have contacted, all of my grandfather's ephemera seems to come from the earlier part of his service: bits and pieces from Blighty, Sierra Leone, Cyprus & Egypt, but almost nothing from Italy and very few photographs of the place either.
More action at The Orange Grove: [Of interest to those following 78 Div in Italy] Extracted from here: http://thequeensownbuffs.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Journal-No-13-Autumn-2006.pdf Edit: First Part here if you want the whole tale: http://thequeensownbuffs.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Journal-No-12-Spring-2006.pdf Final Part here: http://thequeensownbuffs.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Journal-No-14-Spring-2007.pdf
