Manly Home for Soldiers, Whistler Street, Manly

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AuthorJohn MorcombeDateOctober 2023, updated April 2026DescriptionIn January 1939 the National Emergency Services (NES) was established. By late March 1939, more than 400 women in NSW had registered, including 12 from Manly. The women were being trained to drive heavy vehicles and Manly Council quickly agreed to make trucks and drivers available to train women. In January 1940, the women’s auxiliary of the Manly NES was established and one of their tasks was to look after the welfare of men who had enlisted and were undergoing training. They began by providing free meals to men on leave in a dug out under Manly Library in Wentworth Street. But in June 1940, local businesswoman Ella Allen offered the women’s auxiliary her house in Whistler St, Manly, for the duration of the war.
Arthur Ebbs of St Matthew’s Church on The Corso and
female members of his congregation offered hospitality for servicemen in St Matthew’s church hall from December 1939 to September, 1945, during which time 48,000 men were given beds in the hall of the hall or in local homes.
By the end of the war, Manly Home for Soldiers in Whistler St had provided accommodation for 8000 servicemen on leave.
SubjectsWorld War IIChurches, Anglican - New South Wales - ManlyNational Emergency servicesKeywordsSt Matthews Anglican Church 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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Manly Home for Soldiers, Whistler Street, Manly