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NAAFI Archive Repository
“The first NAAFI in Norway”
The Arctic Times, No. 1 – Saturday, 7 July 1945
No. 1 – Saturday, 7 July 1945
This cutting appeared in The Arctic Times, No. 1, published on Saturday 7 July 1945. It describes what the newspaper referred to as the first NAAFI canteen in Norway, established at Tromsø for British troops stationed in the region.
In reality, EFI personnel had already operated in Norway briefly during the 1940 campaign, and British NAAFI/EFI staff had returned to the country in May 1945, prior to the publication of this article. As with many contemporary newspaper reports, the claim should therefore be treated with a degree of caution — proof perhaps that one should not always believe everything printed in the papers.
The article nevertheless provides a fascinating glimpse into the establishment of British welfare facilities in post-war Norway. It describes how a gymnasium near the Municipal Offices at Parkgate was rapidly converted into a canteen and rest centre by a RASC team led by Lt. Cambell. Furnished in part with easy chairs recovered from German dumps, the canteen offered weary troops tea, biscuits and a place of relaxation in what was described as “the most Northerly Forces Canteen in the world.”
Small details — including entertainment notices, information boards and the importance of a “good cup of tea” — provide a vivid insight into the role played by NAAFI facilities in supporting morale and welfare in remote post-war locations.
The Arctic Times, No. 1, Saturday 7 July 1945.
Reproduced for non-commercial historical research and commentary.
