CANTEEN, a small shop or store connected with a military or naval post, and sometimes with an industrial establishment, where eatables, drinkables, tobacco, etc., are sold. In the i8th and early part of the 19th centuries sutlers or hawkers, followed armies both in peace and war, selling their goods, usually drink and food, to the troops. In peace they had their stalls outside the barracks or billeting areas and were generally a nuisance. In order to cater properly for the troops, sutlers were permitted to establish their shops in barracks under regimental supervision. From these sutlers sprang the sutling-shop or canteen (French Cantine, Italian Cantina). These early canteens developed into small general stores, enabling the soldier to purchase sundry items in barracks. They are now also established in ships, fac tories, large offices, etc. The term "canteen" is also applied to the tin utensil carried as part of the soldier's equipment, in which he carries some food and in which he sometimes cooks it in camp or on the march. In a commercial sense the term is applied to a case of cutlery.
Service Canteens.—Ordinarily canteens are managed under regimental arrangements in the army and by a ship's committee in the navy, but in war-time the rapid growth of the services calls for some wider organization. During the South African War of 1899-1902 the troops were catered for in South Africa by the "Expeditionary Force Canteens," the success of which was largely due to the energy and interest of Lady Roberts, wife of the commander-in-chief. The profits from these canteens were devoted to the service man's welfare by the building of the Union Jack club, and Union Jack hostel, situated in the Water loo road, near Waterloo station, London. In the World War, from 1915 onwards, the Expeditionary Force canteens became a vast organization, providing shopping facilities, rest and entertain ment for all ranks right up to the front lines. The Navy and Army Canteen Board, meanwhile, made similar provision for the forces at home and at permanent stations abroad. In addi tion to the canteens (known as institutes) provided by the services in ships and barracks, many institutes ("Soldiers' homes") have been erected by the Y.M.C.A. and various Churches on war department land. The Church of England, the Wesleyan and Presbyterian Churches have erected homes (or institutes) in all the great naval ports and military garrisons and camps, both at home and abroad. In Great Britain, the canteen organization was eventually taken over by the Navy, Army and Air Force Institution, which, from 1921, assumed control of nearly all the services canteens. With the American army during the World War, the canteen work was largely carried out by the Y.M.C.A. and by the U.S. Red Cross Society, already established in France, and to a certain extent by regimental institutions.