Her Excellency Lady Willingdon this evening opened the new club for the sick and wounded British soldiers in the magnificent pile of buildings known as Moto Mansions situated on the Koregaon Road (Poona). The building is at present the property of Sir Shapurji Broacha who has lent the place to military authorities for the purposes of a club until such time as other premises can be secured. Major General Fowler, in asking Lady Willingdon to declare the club open, said when the idea of a club was first mooted, there was no suitable building in which it could be housed and so they had recourse to Lady Willingdon who asked Sir Shapurji Broacha to lend them this building, which with his usual generosity he promptly did. Their thanks were, therefore, due to Sir Shapurji for this club in which he hoped many sick and wounded would be able to find comfort and recreation.
His Excellency Lord Willingdon in returning thanks on behalf of Her Ladyship said that he believed this to be the first club of its kind in India and he hoped it would go far towards helping to make the life more endurable for all those who were able to use it. There was no more generous or public spirited citizens than Sir Shapurji Broacha, and His Excellency hoped that when the war was over and they had won victory for British arms, the British soldiers who had been here would remember that there were some people in Poona, and he would here particularly like to mention one name at least, that of Mrs. Jackson [cheers], who had done what they could to alleviate the sufferings of the sick and wounded. After again expressing the obligation they were under to Sir Shapurji, His Excellency asked Her Ladyship to declare the club open. This was done by Her Ladyship opening the front door, after which a large number of sick and wounded soldiers who were present were treated to sumptuous tea by the ladies of the Poona Branch of the War and Relief Fund. A large number of ladies and gentlemen were present to witness the proceeding, amongst them being many medical officers.
