Event    From 1915  To 1920

Waterloo Free Buffet

Fed over eight million soldiers and sailors from British, Imperial & Allied Forces. Worked and supported entirely by voluntary effort, probably also entirely female.

We could not find a picture of the buffet but we did find this image of a leaflet which the ladies gave to each of the men they served.
The Kipling Journal, September 1932 contains: In addition to their good work in feeding hungry and tired soldiers during the war, the Ladies of the Waterloo Free Buffet presented every visitor with a souvenir in the shape of the leaflet of "If," with an imprint on the cover, "With the best of Luck from the Ladies of the Waterloo Free Buffet." Captain A. A. Carnell writes as follows:—'During the War my late wife worked all through at the Ladies' Buffet at Waterloo Station. Mr. Kipling kindly gave permission for these ladies to have printed for distribution to all the men who passed through copies of "If." . . . He was kind enough to sign six.' There is also a note on the secretary's page about this leaflet, a copy of which Captain Carnell very kindly sent to us.

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This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Waterloo Free Buffet

Commemorated ati

Waterloo Free Buffet - WW1

Lovely bronze plaque to a heartening war-time British service.

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Other Subjects

Wm. Hills

Wm. Hills

Resident of the Central Ward, Hendon who served and died in WW1.

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
T. A. Williams

T. A. Williams

Leading Seaman R. Navy. Fought but did not die in WW1

Person, Armed Forces

War served, WW1
1 memorial
Private Albert Edward Springham

Private Albert Edward Springham

Albert Edward Springham was born in 1896 in Rotherhithe, London, the fourth of the seven children of Henry Albert Springham (1864-1916) and Arletta Springham née Wright (1865-1936). His birth was r...

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW1
2 memorials
C. E. Powell

C. E. Powell

Co-partner or employee of the South Suburban Gas Company. Served but did not die in WW1.

Person, Armed Forces

War served, WW1
1 memorial
Sir John French, 1st Earl of Ypres

Sir John French, 1st Earl of Ypres

Born Kent.  1913 promoted field marshal. 1922 created earl of Ypres for his Irish services. 1923 appointed captain of Deal Castle. He made his home there and died there.

Person, Armed Forces

1 memorial