A pleasing ARRSE thread got me thinking about the Sally A in WW2. Salvation Army Oxygen thieves or good eggs? Few tales from Seamen of SA hospitality there, and even mention of them on the Kokoda trail?! Time for a slew of images. How original! (Imagine a backing track of a really really good brass band...) I see their London HQ got bombed: AIR RAID DAMAGE IN LONDON, 1941 (HU 650) Sally A in Italy '43: THE BRITISH ARMY IN ITALY 1943. © IWM (NA 9413)IWM Non Commercial Licence keeping those far from home entertained: EAST AFRICANS IN LONDON: LIBERATED EAST AFRICAN SOLDIERS SEE THE SIGHTS, LONDON, ENGLAND, UK, 1945. © IWM (D 24609)IWM Non Commercial Licence War Orphans: AMERICANS IN BRITAIN, 1942 - 1945 (EA 48645) Keeping some flying Poles happy: THE POLISH AIR FORCE IN BRITAIN, 1940-1947. © IWM (HU 128145)IWM Non Commercial Licence They do seem to be a mob that gets mentioned often in passing, but rarely in detail. Popping up all over to try and do what needs doing. I've not a religious bone within me, but there's something I like about the 'just get on with it' attitude. Bits & pieces on their various worldwide sites: War | The Salvation Army The Salvation Army International - D-Day 70th anniversary People's War has a fair few references too. Ubiquitous, but never the story, maybe. The Kokoda trail? Really? Oh yeah. Thank God for the Salvos | The Anzac Portal
I really have no idea where the Salvation Army where in WW11. However, they must have been in India / Burma at some point. As my father served in both countries, for well over six years during WW11.He had nothing but admiration for them. Saying, that perhaps they had nothing to give a soldier, except a kind word, and maybe a cup of tea. My father was always very generous toward their fund raising.So the 'Sally 'must have struck a chord, sometime, somewhere? Veronica.
My father always said to donate to the Sally Al. Glasgow, in my youth was still quite a religiously segregated community but the Salvation Army could walk in to any pub and get the highest respect and donations. So, yes, I think the troops never forgot their endeavours.
A gallery here of the Sally Army and their mobile canteens in both World Wars. Remembrance Sunday: The Salvation Army in the 1914-1918 and 1939-1945 wars Pleasantly surprised to see one at Alamein on 15/7/42--it was a bit 'hot' around there at that time.
When I dug into the 9th Division's history, it seemed clear to me that there was only one opinion about the Salvos among Australian troops. They were highly regarded by all.
