B00913
Photograph B00913 Period 1910-1919Group portrait of Miss Verania (Rania) MacPhillamy and her canteen staff at the Empire Club. Rania MacPhillamy, born in 1889, was the daughter of a wealthy squatter from Forbes NSW. In 1915 she traine
B00868 Accession Number: B00868
Description
An exterior view of the canteen at the Empire Soldiers' Club, which was supervised by Miss Verania (Rania) MacPhillamy. In one of the three buildings is the Divisional Club with a ticket window. Rania MacPhillamy, born in 1889, was the daughter of a wealthy squatter from Forbes NSW. In 1915 she trained as a VAD and went to Egypt to help nurse the wounded from Gallipoli. After the death of her sweetheart, Ronnie MacDonald of the 1st Light Horse Regiment, Rania stayed on in Egypt and formed a remarkable partnership with an older Australian woman, Mrs Alice Chisholm. Together they ran a canteen for the Light Horsemen at Port Said, and in early 1917 took over the running of another canteen at Kantara, a busy railway junction on the Suez Canal. Known as the ‘Empire Soldiers Club’, this became one of the best-known and best-loved institutions in Egypt. Thousands of soldiers were able to enjoy low-cost meals and friendly hospitality on their journeys to and from the front line: the club was open 24 hours a day and operated without a break from early 1917 until after demobilisation.
Details
Accession Number
B00868
Photographer
Unknown
Classification
Photograph
Object Type
Black & white - Glass original half plate negative
Physical Description
Colour: Black & white
Date Made
February 1919
Place Made
Whole/Part
Whole
Item Count
1
Copyright
Copyright expired - public domain
People
Conflicts
More like this
B00865
Photograph B00865 Period 1910-1919Miss Verania (Rania) MacPhillamy in her office at the Empire Club. Rania MacPhillamy, born in 1889, was the daughter of a wealthy squatter from Forbes NSW. In 1915 she trained as a VAD and went to Egy
B00867
Photograph B00867 Period 1910-1919Soldiers sit at tables and chairs in the refreshment room at Miss Verania (Rania) McPhillamy's canteen at the Empire Club. Rania MacPhillamy, born in 1889, was the daughter of a wealthy squatter from
B00864
Photograph B00864 Period 1910-1919An interior view of the kitchen at Miss MacPhillamy's Canteen at the Empire Club. Miss Verania (Rania) MacPhillamy, left, stands behind the tables with the staff. Rania MacPhillamy, born in 1889, was
B00639
Photograph B00639 First World War, 1914-1918A general view of Mrs Chisholm's canteen. A greatly appreciated canteen conducted by two Australian ladies, Mrs Alice Chisholm and Miss Verania (Rania) MacPhillamy, afforded the nearest home comforts
B02935B
Photograph B02935B Period 1910-1919Two soldiers standing in front of Miss Macphillamy's canteen, known as the 'Empire Club'. The structure on the right is probably a soccer goal post.