The Army and Navy Club was founded on the 28th August 1837, its first President being Lieutenant General Sir Edward Barnes, formerly Commander in Chief in India.The Club was formed to meet the needs of the great many army officers who could not join the Senior or Junior United Services Clubs, which were already full. Officers of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines were included at the behest of the Duke of Wellington, Commander-in-Chief, who refused to become Patron, or a Member, unless officers of the Royal Navy and the Royal Marines were also offered membership.
The Clubhouse
The Club opened at No.1 King Street, with a joining fee of fifteen guineas, and an annual subscription of five guineas. Between 1846 and 1847, the Club purchased five houses extending from St. James’s Square to 39 Pall Mall. In 1850, a magnificent clubhouse was built on the site of these houses.
The floor plan on the left gives you some idea of the scale of the rooms.
During WWII the Clubhouse was damaged by bombing but continued to operate. The Clubhouse served Members well until 1959, when it was decided that it should be replaced with the present building.
The original Clubhouse
Find out moreStaircase of the original Clubhouse
Find out moreOut with the old, in with the new
Find out moreHistoric Documents
Click on the links below to find full PDF’s of historic documents which include further information on the history of the Club. We particularly thank Mr Neelotpal Mishra for his kind support and assistance in supplying these documents and the images shown throughout this page.
Club life of London
Find out moreLondon Clubs, their History & Treasures
Find out morePictorial Handbook of London
Find out moreMore Recent Club History
Operation Mincemeat was a deception orchestrated by the British government during WWII to disguise the 1943 Allied invasion of Sicily. The body of a homeless man, Glyndwr Michael, was dressed in the uniform of the Royal Marines and personal affects were placed upon him, giving him the false identity of Captain (Acting Major) William Martin. Some of the documents placed on his body contained intelligence that the Allies planned to invade Greece and Sardinia rather than Sicily.
When Michael’s body was washed up off the southern coast of Spain, the Spanish turned the documents over to the German military stationed there and as a result reinforcements were shifted to Greece rather than Sicily. A letter addressed from Lloyds Bank to the fictitious Captain Martin at the Army & Navy Club was included in the ‘pocket litter’ to add weight and authenticity to the deception.