American Red Cross. Clubmobile Service.

The American Red Cross Clubmobile was conceived by Harvey D. Gibson, Red Cross Commissioner to Great Britain, who wanted to create a mobile service club. Early Clubmobiles were remodeled London Green Line buses driven by an English driver and operated by three American women. Each Clubmobile contained a kitchen with a built-in doughnut machine and a primus stove for heating water for coffee. The rear of the Clubmobile contained a lounge with built-in benches that could be converted into bunks. Each Clubmobile carried a Victrola with loud speakers, current phonograph albums, paperback books, cigarettes, candy, and gum. These Clubmobiles were stationed in a town near American Army installations and followed a routine of going to different bases each day where the Clubmobilers would talk to servicemen while they served coffee and doughnuts and played music.

In 1944, in preparation for the invasion of Normandy, two-and-a-half-ton GMC trucks were converted into Clubmobiles containing kitchens with doughnut machines and coffee urns. Like the larger Clubmobiles, the GMC trucks contained Victrolas and a supply of albums, cigarettes, books, candy, and gum. These Clubmobiles were staffed by three American women, one of whom would drive the truck in addition to serving soldiers. They traveled with the rear echelon of the Army Corps and received their orders from the Army.

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