THE ARMY MOVES INTO FLATS

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 106, 31 October 1936, Page 27

THE ARMY MOVES INTO FLATS

I was given a private view recently of a design, for" Army living, says a writer in the "Daily Telegraph." Now I know something about the modern soldier/s wife and children and how they live, : .' :

Jubilee Building—:a modern block of flats and maisonettes, with sunshine balconies " and futurist entrances —was receiving its finishing touches when ■Lieutenant-Colonel L. C. Pitman, of the Royal Engineers, showed me over.

Features of the building, wnrch has fourteen maisonettes for warrant-offi-cers and fifty-four flats for lower ranks, include perambulator "garages" for 43 baby cars, bathrooms in every flat, built-in wardrobes and dressers, creamdistempered walls.

Only one thipg provides a military flavour and distinguishes the rooms from those in" a well-equipped block of private flats—a wooden rifle-rack in every wardrobe.

The rest-is a carefully-planned nest of dwellings, built by the War Office with a 'Sympathetic eye on the problems of the Army housewife. Similar blocks are to be built in other parts of London to absorb the 200 soldiers' families who are now "living out."

In designing Jubilee Building the War Office took the advice of the wives in many important details. Results of their co-operntion are: Rubbish chutes on every landing, gas cookers instead

of ranges, electric points in each room, larger, deeper sinks with chromium taps, smaller, handier plate driers.

Woman's influence on the British Army of today .is also seen in tasteful decorations, modern furniture, and labour-saving appliances.

Maisonettes have' three bedrooms, living-room, scullery, and bathroom. Flats have one, two, or three bedrooms, according to the size of family. A partition makes it possible to convert two two-bedroomed flats into one with three bedrooms and the other with one.

The. largest family has eight members. The husband is in the Royal Army Medical Corps. , ! Concrete sun balconies of Continental pattern have a view over Primrose Hill, and on, a fine; day of St. Paul's and the' Houses of Parliament. ..-.• >

Essential'furniture is supplied by the War Office:' This includes iron betisteads, serviceable tables and chairs, cooking utensils, and linoleum. Cirpets, refrigerators;:.wireless sets, and otjier: luxuries can-be: provided by, the soldier tenants, who also contribute 7s a week each to the rent. ; V

I noticed "Let" boards in several windows, and asked why. Colonel Pitman told me that the building looks so like a block of private flats that many people were inquiring for the estate office —a compliment to the War Office for its efforts to bring modern comforts to family life in the Army.