Founded in 1837, The Army and Navy Club stands as a testament to British military history. Let me tell you a story about this esteemed establishment. It is known informally as The Rag.
The Army and Navy Club was conceived by Lieutenant-General Sir Edward Barnes. His vision was an Army Club for officers of Her Majesty’s Army. The Duke of Wellington agreed to be a patron. But this was only if membership extended to Royal Navy and Royal Marines officers.
A meeting occurred on August 28, 1837. Representatives from various services gathered. They elected a committee. They settled the new club’s rules. Sir Edward Barnes died just before the first general meeting.
By 1851, The Army and Navy Club thrived. It boasted sixteen hundred members. An 834-person waiting list existed. This demand led to the creation of the Naval and Military Club.
Charles Dickens Jr. described the club in 1879. He noted its purpose was for commissioned officers association. This included all ranks in Her Majesty’s Regular Army, Royal Navy, and Royal Marines. Election required a ballot. Thirty members had to vote. One negative vote in ten would exclude someone. The entrance fee was £40.
In 1902, The Army and Navy Club’s income was substantial. It reached £30,813 in 1875. Entrance fees and subscriptions accounted for £19,383. The club had 2200 members.
Today, The Army and Navy Club welcomes Commonwealth armed services members. Immediate family members can also join. Even individuals without a service background may apply. They need nominations from existing members. Some female members exist now.
Annual membership subscriptions range from £223 to £465. Younger members enjoy a reduced rate. Spouses and families also receive special rates. Joining fees are applicable.
The club’s initial location was at 18 St James’s Square. It was at the north corner of King Street. The Oxford and Cambridge Club vacated this house. The Army and Navy Club opened there in 1838.
The Army and Navy Club sought a permanent home. In 1846, it relocated to Lichfield House. This is now 15 St James’s Square.
Between 1846 and 1847, the club acquired six freehold houses. These houses were in Pall Mall, St James’s Square, and George Street. The cost was £48,770. Lord de Mauley’s house cost £19,500. It dated back to the 1670s.
In 1847, the club launched a design competition. It sought designs for a new building. Prizes of £200 and £100 were offered. George Tattersall’s design initially won. But The Builder criticized it. The club then held another competition. C. O. Parnell and Alfred Smith won. Their design was in the Venetian Renaissance style.
Construction began in March 1848. The foundation stone was laid on May 6, 1848. The clubhouse opened on February 25, 1851. Caen stone faced the club. But it decayed and was replaced with Portland stone.
John Timbs described the new clubhouse in 1855. He noted its design inspiration from Venice. The interior featured a grand hall and coffee room. The coffee room measured 82 feet by 39 feet. It had scagliola panelling.
A stained-glass window honored Crimean War members in 1857. The names of the fallen were inscribed in gold.
In 1919, the club bought numbers 46, 46a and 47 Pall Mall. A new building was designed. It included a squash court and ladies’ rooms. The clubhouse closed for a year for renovations.
The historic clubhouse was replaced. The current building opened in 1963. It features ten floors and an underground garage.
Operation Mincemeat involved The Army and Navy Club during WWII. A fictitious letter addressed to Captain Martin at the club was used. This added authenticity to the deception plan.
Throughout its history, The Army and Navy Club has adapted. It remains a distinguished institution. Its story reflects British military heritage.