The club was founded in 1935 by a group of British officers and consular members. The first president was the then-Consul General Francis Evans, later Sir Francis Evans (born in Belfast, Ireland). Many of the original members were actors in the movie industry, and included Sir C. Aubrey Smith, Gene Lockhart and Alan Mowbray. Meetings were held on the third Friday of the month at the Masquers Club in Hollywood. Strict British Officers Mess protocol was (and still is) observed and members were required to wear mess dress uniform or black tie dinner jacket, with miniatures. Ladies were not admitted to club as members until 1988.
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While the club originally met at the Masquers Club in Hollywood, the deterioration of the neighborhood and subsequently the sale and destruction of the Masquers Club in 1985, forced the BUSC to move to the Verdugo Club in Glendale. The Glendale facilities where closed in 1994, and the club moved to its current venue at the Altadena Country Club in Altadena, just north of Pasadena.
During its over 70 years of existence, the club has had many distinguished gentlemen as members, including several Medal of Honor recipients, VC, DFC, MM, and OBE and MBE holders.
Membership is by invitation only. Prospective members are asked to attend a dinner meeting to see if it is the kind of association they would like and to meet the members. Membership is also awarded to diplomatic and consulate personnel and the Consul General of the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Canada, and Australia are members of the club. Active membership is reserved for British servicemen/women and ex-servicemen/women, American servicemen/women who have served under British command, and Commonwealth servicemen/women. Associate membership is reserved for British subjects, and American and other allied servicemen who have NOT served under British Command. After three years in good standing, an associate member may be elevated to active membership.
BUSC founders are:
Philanthropic and community work
The British United Services Club is the sponsor of the annual drill competition for Los Angeles area high schools' Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC). For 64 years a trophy has been awarded to the winning drill team at an awards ceremony attended by Club members and diplomatic members from Commonwealth and Allied countries. The competition is supported by the Los Angeles City Board of Education, the United States Armed Forces and officials of State, County and local governments.
The club also sponsors an annual scholarship to New Mexico Military Institute.
In past years, three Presidents of the United States have congratulated the winning units and have commended the club for its interest in youth.
Veteran organization
The BUSC-LA is a veteran’s organization and attends all nationally recognized veterans events; this includes Memorial Day (US, UK, and Canada) and Veterans Day US. At these events the BUSC-LA lays wreaths for fallen allied comrades and mourns their death.