Add Information to Record of a Person who served during the Second World War on The Wartime Memories Project Website
Add Information to Record of a Person who served during the Second World War on The Wartime Memories Project Website
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207557
Joan Mary "Dinky" Doidge
Women's Land Army
from:New John Street West, Hockley, Birmingham.
My beautiful mother Joan Doidge lived in Hockley, Birmingham until she met and married my wonderful dad, Peter John Reaney. He spent some time in the army as a baker but thankfully he didn't see any 'action.' His nick name was 'Tiny' because, like my Mom, he wasn't tall, but, like my mom, he was a a very hard worker.
My Mom described her time in the Land Army as the 'best days of her life' and I think it's because she loved being useful during such a difficult time and didn't mind hard work. I don't know where she was placed [possibly Wales?] but I would love to hear from anyone who can remember her. I remember her telling me how much she cared for her appearance and tried to keep her shirts white but there was a girl who, if she found something funny, would lean on mom's shirt [whilst she was laughing] and leave her lip-stick mark on it. Mom used to say it would take her ages to get the stain out. Bless her.
I have some photographs of her time in the Land Army, maybe someone would recognise themselves in them. I would be happy to meet up with anyone who remembers my dear Mom and I'm sure she would give her blessing for me to do this on her behalf. My mom was a very, very special lady, though she wouldn't have agreed with me because, as well as being beautiful in every way possible, she was also very modest in every way [in fact, she was described as a bit of a prude by some of the other girls because she didn't join in with some of their jokes. I'm just the same but, like Mom, I still have a good sense of humour.
My Mom and all of you did a fantastic job as Land Army Girls.