St Matthew's Church Manly, Hostel for Servicemen

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AuthorJohn MorcombeDateMarch 2021DescriptionOn the morning of Christmas Day 1939, Rev Ebbs and parishioners of St Matthew’s Church on The Corso emerged to find soldiers using taps in the church grounds for shaving and refreshing their appearance. They soon learned that the soldiers were on weekend leave but that a weekend was not long enough to allow them to go to their homes, which were outside Sydney so the soldiers often slept on beaches, in parks or in shop doorways.
Rev Ebbs decided that the church’s parish hall would be opened as a Hostel for Servicemen for the duration of the war. Soon 80 beds had been placed in the hall and the Rev Ebbs spoke to the proprietor of a café in Manly, who said he could provide breakfast to the soldiers at two shillings per man.
In total, between December 30, 1939, and August 31, 1945, the church gave 46,971 beds and 37,360 breakfasts to servicemen at an average cost of £1400 a year. In recognition for his work Rev Ebbs was appointed a Member of the British Empire (MBE) in the New Years’ Honours list from New Zealand in 1946.SubjectsWorld War IIThe Corso (Manly, N.S.W.)Churches, Anglican- New South Wales - ManlyCopyrightThis item may be used freely for research and study purposes, for all other uses contact Northern Beaches Council Library Local Studies. Please acknowledge that the item is courtesy of John Morcombe.

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St Matthew's Church Manly, Hostel for Servicemen