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.

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

Gunner William Robert Papworth

Gunner William Robert Papworth

Born Holborn, son of Walter E. & Flora Papworth of Hackney. Brother of Margaret Papworth. Served in the Royal Artillery I Mountain Regiment. Buried in Sittard War Cemetery Holland. Our colleag...

Person, Armed Forces, Netherlands

War dead, WW2
1 memorial
F. L. Lean

F. L. Lean

R.A.F.. Fought but did not die in WW1

Person, Armed Forces

War served, WW1
1 memorial
W. A. Hood

W. A. Hood

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
Rupert Price Hallowes, VC

Rupert Price Hallowes, VC

Awarded the VC for his heroism on 25-30 September 1915, aged 34, while serving in the Duke of Cambridge’s Own, (Middlesex Regiment). "Displayed the greatest bravery and untiring energy, setting a m...

Person, Armed Forces

War dead, WW1
1 memorial
A. Guttridge

A. Guttridge

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