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The Womens Land Army was established during the First World War, with huge numbers of men volunteering to fight, the country was desperately short of labour.
During the fist six months of the Second World War, over thirty thousand men previously working in agriculture had joined the forces. The government re-formed The Women's Land army and by 1944 there were 80,000 women volunteers working on the land. About a third of the volunteers moved to the countryside from Britain's industrial cities.
Women in the Land Army wore green jerseys, brown breeches and brown felt hats. They did a wide range of jobs from milking and general farmwork to cutting down trees and working in sawmills as well as controling pests such as rats. Volunteers lived in hostels or on teh farms where they worked. The work was very hard, the women worked long hours, especially during the summer, but without their efforts Britain would have been without enough food to survive.
The Womens Land Army was also established in many countries outside of Britain, including Australia, Canada, New Zealand and America to replace the men who had gone to war.
The Womens Land Army for those who served in England, Scotland and Wales: Records are available to view on microfiche at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey. The microfilm you need to ask for is:
Series: MAF 421: Ministry of Food: Women's Land Army: Index to Service Records of the Second World War 1939-1948.
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If you served with the Womens Land Army we would love to hear from you.
Please contact us:
If you or your relative served in the Land Army or Timber Corps, please get in touch, we would love to add your recollections and any photos you may have to this page.
Please Click here to get in touch
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It has recently been anounced that the service of the Land Army Girls is to be recognised.
If you served in the WLA the commemorative badge can be applied for;
To apply for the badge you need to complete an application form, these are available by writting to: Women's Land Army Unit, Defra, 5E Millbank, c/o 17 Smith Square, LONDON, SW1P 3JR
Email: womenslandarmy@defra.gsi.gov.uk or Telephone: Defra Helpline 08459 335577 (this has a push button selection system)
Or you can Click here to Download the Application Form
For further information please see the Defra website by clicking here.
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I'm working on an audio project with young farmers in the Somerset area, "Their Past Your Future - Farming in Wartime" The aim is that the young people interview the older people about thier experinces of working on farms during WW2. I'm hoping to get as many people who worked on farms during WW2 to take part, if you would like to be interviewed please get in touch.
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List of those who served in the Womens Land Army.
If you have any names to add to this list, or any recollections or photos of those listed,
please get in touch.
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Louisa "Lou" Jones I am looking for information about my mother who was known then as Louisa Jones (nickname 'Lou') during the was was she was working in the Womans Land Army. She worked on a farm near Akeley Woods, not far from RAF Bicester. Does anyone stationed at there during the war recall any land army girls visiting the base? She may have visited the base, perhaps for whatever reason, I do not know. She did visit a Canadian servicemans' hospital in the area, so it could be that maybe she visited RAF Bicester when they had social gatherings etc. Any information you could tell me would be greatly appreciated. |
Evelyn Peace I am sending this message on behalf of Evelyn Peace No. 81742 enlisted July 1942 and discharged November 1950 she would like to hear from her friends especially Louise Carse may now be McGuire.
Thank you. |
B Brandon I joined the W.L.A. in September 1944, training at Ravensden, Beds., then to Wrest Park Lodge, Silsoe, Beds. There were about 30 girls at the hostel, 6 to a bedroom. We went out daily to various farms at 7.30 a.m. doing a variety of jobs, cleaning out cattle sheds, spreading fertilizer, fruit picking, vegetable picking, haymaking, working late in the summer months, also threshing which was back breaking and dirty work, then having to queue up for a bath when we returned to the hostel, no showers in those days.
I learned to drive while being in the L.A. we had different size vehicles, from a small Hillman van to a large Bedford lorry. I was also in a pruning gang during the winter months, it was very hard work in all weathers, but I enjoyed my 2 years and made some very good friends. I left in June 1946 to get married
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Joan Moore I was Joan Moore when I joined the Womans Land Army in 1940. I worked on a farm at Thirsk in Yorkshire for a short time. Then to a hostel at Dishforth. Thereafter, with six other girls I went to work for Mr Swires at Norton-le-Clay. We lived in a cottage called Bagwash and bagwashing was part of our general farm work duties. After a tractor accident and three months in hosptal I convalesced at Rest Break House, Torquay. I then became a forewoman at the Guisborough hostel and organised the work for 30 girls until the war ended. At Bagwash I rember Lily, Jean. Margaret and Beryl.
I now live in Tasmania (since 1956) and have a large family. I would love to hear from anyone from those days.
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Eileen Holmes Eileen Holmes was stationed with the Land Army in Lincolnshire (Nr Sleaford) from March 1942 to October 1945 and would like to hear from anyone who remembers her.
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Kathleen Parfitt My mother was in the land army stationed at Redworth House, Totnes, South Devon till around 1949
Her name was Kathleen Parfitt. She would love to hear from anyone who was billeted their around that time especially Sally Marriot who she lost touch with some years ago all she can remember is Sally moved back to Matlock in Derbyshire were she married and seems to think she ran a post office.
If you can help me find my mothers friend please email me, I would be so grateful to you as my mother is getting on in years and she would dearly like to know what became of Sally
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Pat Kemp When I got to the age of 18 I told my stepfather I wanted to join the WAAF but he said he didn't want me to so I mentioned joining The Women's Land Army and he agreed to that. I had to write to the Labour Officer to get permission to leave the garage. I had a reply which stated that I couldn't leave the garage because the manager would not release me. Every week I asked for my "cards" In the end they said it was only fair to let me go. I had to go to my doctor to see if I was fit enough. He didn't examine me he just said "Do you want to join up? I told him I did. He signed the paper I needed and off I went.
I enlisted in The Women's Land Army in 1943 just before my eighteenth birthday.
The lady who was interviewing told me I couldn't wear my earrings I just glared at her
(Typical 18 year old) and she quickly went on to tell me where I would be stationed
which was a house at Totteridge which we were told belonged to Bassett's Liquorice
Allsorts. When they were giving us our uniforms I told them I would not wear the
corduroy breeches because they were baggy and hung down around the knees so they
gave me a nice pair of olive green gabardine breeches. I was given a pair of boots like
men's so I wouldn't be wearing those either. But I would wear the Wellingtons. The
rest of the uniform was nice. We were given a Cream Shirt, Beige Socks, a Green
Pullover and Tie, Tan Shoes and a Mid Brown Overcoat and Hat and of course the
Boots which I never wore. We had to buy everything else and pay for our keep. The
wages were so low that there was very little left. Lady Denham asked Winston
Churchill to pay us more money_but he refused. We were called the Cinderellas of the
forces.
After a few weeks we were sent from Totteridge to Oaklands Agriculture College at St, Albans Hertfordshire. We were told we would be there for four weeks but it was changed to five weeks because of a proposed visit by the Duchess of Gloucester. We were taught a lot about farming also how to groom a horse. I was given a chicken to hold one day and I could feel it's bones and it made me feel sick and dropped it. Another time I was told to help put some piglets on to a cart by lifting them up by the ear and tail and when I tried it squealed so loud I screamed and dropped that too. On the day of the Duchess visited there was a Ploughing Match. All the men were lined upon their tractors and I had to be the learner on a Caterpillar tractor. The time came for our departure. We climbed onto the lorry. It seemed that we had travelled for so long and getting further and further from London. I looked out the back of the lorry and said "We are in the wilds I don't think I want to stay here". Other girls looked out and moaned too. At last we arrived and when I saw Rowney Priory. I loved it. We were told it was once a Nunnery.
Rowney Priory, nr. Ware, Hertfordshire.
We had Bunk beds but later they were replaced with single iron framed beds. We also had a small wardrobe each. Among the girls with me at Rowney were, Mary Doyle (Mrs Mary Doidge of Buntingford,) Margaret Callaghan (the late Mrs Margaret Aylott of Buntingford , Eileen Parker ( Mrs Eileen Gordge of Oxford, May Robinson ( Mrs May Odegaard of USA), Joan Tiddeman ( Mrs Joan Nichols) of London) Peggy Knott (Mrs Peggy Bull of London.) Sandy Hensher (Mrs Rackstraw of Acton) Elsie Bell (Mrs Elsie Bartlett of High Cross) who was my best friend for 52 years. Sadly she died just before we moved to Buntingford. There were about fifty girls at Rowney Priory.
Pat Kemp (2nd from right on middle row) and friends, outside Rowney Priory.
Every night we were told by the forewoman which farm we were to go to next day. We had to get up early and get on the lorry and the forewoman would drive us and drop us off at various farms. She would also pick us up at the end of the day. In the Summer time we worked until 9 pm or 9.30 pm. Hay Making or Harvesting, so because all the girls were spread around the countryside it took a long time to pick them all up so it was quite late when we all got back to Rowney. It was a rush then to get to the bathrooms to get a bath if you were lucky. We were only alowed 4 Inches of water for a bath like everybody else. Then we would get something to eat and get to bed. At Harvest time we had to stand the sheaves up in groups of six to dry then we would load them on to the cart and then take them off the field where the girls would pass them to the men and they would build a stack. The dirtiest job was Threshing. It was such a dirty job we wore scarves around our heads and across our faces. The dust would get in our eyes and ears and up our noses. When we were on the thresher feeding the wheat into the drum after a while it would draw you towards it so we took it in turns. Although it was very hard work and long hours I liked Haymaking and Harvest time very much but I used to get so mad if I couldn't get a bath right away when we got back "home"
I was working with some new girls and we decided to go to a village pub at lunch time but we had to go across a field to get there. In the field were some cattle and the girls asked me if they were bulls. I said they were and to get across the field they would have to climb over the fence and run for their lives. I watched them running like mad then I walked leisurely across and they realised I had lied to them. They were not bulls they were cows. They swore at me but later saw the funny side of it. One of them said "It will give my mum a laugh when I write and tell her about it".
One day I was going potato picking and when I got off the lorry I looked to see who was with me and I was shocked to see they were new girls. I felt very sorry for them as it was a very hard job to have on your first day. We had a strip each and we had to pick up all the potatoes before the digger came around again. After I had picked up all of mine I looked up to see the girls holding their backs in agony and I thought I would have to help them or their strips wouldn't be finished by the time the digger came around again and the farmer would be no doubt be angry. For the rest of the day I
picked up the potatoes on my strip and then went and helped them to finish theirs. I was getting ready to go back to Rowney when the farmer came to me and said "I have been watching you and you have been working very hard" I grinned at him thinking to myself he must have been hiding somewhere because I hadn't seen him. He gave me some money which was very nice of him. He then asked me if I would work for him all the time. I said "Doing what" He said" Milking "And I laughed and told him I didn't want to milk cows and I didn't know how to. He said I will teach you, just give it a try. I said I would as I knew I could leave if I didn't like it. I got on alright, I got to like the lovely Friesian cows. There was an Italian prisoner of war working at the farm. I cycled to and from the farm, it wasn't very far. It was winter so very dark in the evenings so the farmer told the Italian to cycle back to Rowney with me every night. The trouble was the Italian resented me working at the farm. He moaned at me saying I should not be working there as the job was for men not for women. This continued day after day and one day I yelled at him to stop it. The farmer appeared and said "That's right girl stand up for your self. The Italian was quiet for a while but we were cleaning out the cowshed one day when he started being nasty to me again. He went on and on and he was working just behind me and I got so angry I swung around and punched him in the mouth which began to bleed. He lifted his shovel to hit me, I was scared but I glared at him and said "You dare" He threw his shovel down and walked out. I thought I would have to cycle back to Rowney on my own that night but as I got to the gate the Italian shouted to me to wait for him. Then I began to think he might hit me or kill me in one of the dark lanes. It was pouring with rain so I rode as fast as I could. By the time we arrived we were soaked. I was "home" but he had to cycle back to the farm.
I had three small calves to look after and I was weaning them by getting a bucket of milk and putting my hand in it and then the calf would learn to drink by sucking my finger. I went on leave for two weeks and when I returned to the farm the farmer asked me if I was going to see to my calves. When I got to the shed I saw three big cows. I went back to them and with a look of disdain I said "Where are they then? The farmer was laughing and said to the Italian "I told you she would know they weren't her calves. He told me where they really were I just looked at the Italian with disgust.
At another farm I worked with Mary Doyle. The farmer was very good to us. At harvest time at 5 pm he would bring us tea and sandwiches and every week he would give us a tip. We were there a long time because he had more than one farm and we worked on all of them. I had to go ploughing with one of the men and the plough was to be drawn by a horse. It was a young horse which had not done any work before. I was told I would have to hold him back or he would tear away. It was very hard trying to hold him back as the horse was very strong. He was pulling so hard and his eyes were wild and bulging he was foaming at the mouth. I was so exhausted and relieved when the day was over. My hands were sore and my legs ached so much. Mary became a Ganger which meant if there were 4 girls or more going to Work at a farm she would have to go and work with them and be in charge.
We were hoeing on a farm there were German prisoners of war were hoeing on the other side of the field. It began raining and when it started pouring down hard we rain into the woods at the top of the field and so did the Germans but they ran to where we were. The girls wanted me to say the German words I knew which was only "Ich lebadich mien lielbing" Which someone had told me it me it meant "Kiss me my darling" I said no but they kept on to me so I said it and a German said "Yes please" He then took a book from his pocket and said "Come and sit here with me and I will teach you German" but I wouldn't. I was not going to make friends with any Germans. We should not have spoken to them at all as we had been told not to fraternizse. A long time after we could speak to them as we were working with them. We were threshing one day and there was a German and an Italian. I went to lift a bale of straw but the German stopped me and said "No don't lift anything. We will do it" I was pleased about that as the bales were very heavy.
There were a lot of Americans stationed in the area and we were often invited to the dances at their camps. The dances were held in a hanger and they would put some chalky stuff on the floor and so as we danced it flew all over the place. They would send a lorry for us and would bring us back. When it was time to leave the camp the lorry was stopped at the gate and the military guards would shine their torches and ask if there were any GI's on board and we everybody chorused "No" and when we were out of the gates the GI's would come out from under the seats. There was so much food at the camp and when the women came in form the village to take some of it the GI's would help them pack the food in their carrier bags.
There were some GI's in Hertford and we invited them to Rowney. On the day of the dance they telephoned to ask if someone could go to Hertford and show them the way to Rowney. The girls asked me to go but I said I would not go on my own so Joan Tiddiman said she would come with me. Joan sat with the driver in the Command Car and I sat with the officer in the back and there was a lorry full of GI's following. As we got to Ware crossing we were stopped by a Dewdrop (U.S Military Police) and he told the Officer that they were not allowed to have civilians in a Command Car. The officer told him we were not civilians but he didn't believe him so the officer told him he could ride along with us. The Dewdrop after much bickering let us go. A few weeks later the same Dewdrop came into Ware Drill Hall where the dances were held every Saturday night and asked me for a date. I went out with him for a while and he asked me to write a letter to his mother. I received a reply from her and she said her daughter would like to me to write to her too. That was too close for me. I didn't want to go out with him anymore. I went out with several Americans but I didn't want to get serious with anyone. About eight of us met some Americans and we went out with them most nights. We used to go to a pub named The Green Man at Dane End and we had many good times with them and they always got us back to Rowney by 10.30. They were waiting to go abroad but they didn't know when or where so when they didn't arrive on time one night we thought they had gone and we were very quiet and sad. We got our bikes out to go to the pub and just as we started off we heard the lorry, they had arrived. A few weeks later however they didn't arrive at all. That night there we were very sad and there were tears .We felt so sorry for them and scared fort them. It was D day. The American Military Police were called Dewdrops because their helmets were white.
When the war ended we all put on our uniforms and decided to go to London and celebrate with everybody else but we had to wait for permission. We went and stayed all night singing and dancing. It was such a relief it was great. We went back to Rowney and next day went to work as usual but with a more relaxed feeling.
I had a telephone call from head office asking me to go on a Forewoman's Course. I told them I didn't want to be a Forewoman. The woman talked me into it by telling me I would be paid more money and I would work in the mornings but there were lectures in the afternoon. There were six of us there and we had a great time. I must say though, at the lectures I used to nod off while being told about the rotation of crops and so forth. I went from there to Reed nr Royston. I had to tell the girls which farms they were going to and do the Time Sheets every week and keep everything in check. An elderly man was the lorry driver. I met a few nice chaps there and had some nice times but I didn't want anyone too serious. I had a telephone from Head Office asking me if I would go to a bigger house at Ayot St. Lawrence. I declined and I told them I wanted to go back to Rowney. They said "If you go back there you will be an ordinary land girl again" I told them I didn't care about that and I didn't want to be a Forewoman in the first place. To my delight they told me I could go back to Rowney. It was great to be back.
My eldest sister was married to an American and she wrote to me to tell me they would be home on leave and they had arranged for me to go back with them to the American Zone in Germany for a month but my leave was only for two weeks. I didn't think they would give me two weeks extra but then I was asked to be Forewoman at Rowney. I didn't want to but I said I would if I could have a month's leave. They said yes I could.
My sister, her husband, their little girl and I went across the channel on a cargo boat. They also had the car so we drove through France to Germany. It was very eerie as it was very quiet and dark as we drove all night and I was a bit scared in case we saw any ghosts of soldiers who had been killed in the fields we were passing in the countryside. The Americans had a club there and one day two of the German girls who worked at the club said they were going to Stuttgart and would I like to go with them. I was devastated by what I saw. It had been crushed to the ground. What I saw next shocked me. I saw two soldiers with only stubs left of their legs and they were on pieces of wood and were sort of rowing themselves along. I know our men suffered too but this was the first time I had seen anybody so damaged.
It was time for me to return to England and to Rowney Priory. As we got into the car to go to the station my sister told me all the soldiers in the American club would be on the steps there to wave me Goodbye. I laughed but she said "You wait and see." As we got near the club she told me to stand up with my head through the Sunroof so I did and there they were waving and shouting "Have a good journey Pat and give our love to little old London" My sister told me to get off the train at Paris and go to the bank in the station to get my money changed and then go to another station and get on another train. I got on the train and there were two American girls in the compartment also an English Officer in Tropical uniform. We were chatting and he told me he was going to Turkey. I told him my mother was Turkish. (My father had met my mother in Turkey in the first world war.) When we arrived in Paris he said "Come with me and he took me to the bank in the station and he spoke to them in French and then told me that they didn't change money there. He told me to wait there with the luggage (his and mine) and he would go and fetch his car. When he returned he took me to the other station and I waited in his car while he changed my money. When he came back he said "I have changed your money and booked you a seat on the train so let us go and have some breakfast" We sat outside the cafe and I ate the roll but I didn't know what the thing on the table that looked like one cup on top of another and I just kept on looking at it and feeling embarrassed. He realised I didn't know what to do so he did it for me. I felt so silly but I had never seen anything like it before. After a while he said it was time to go to the station. When we got there we stood on the station platform and I thanked him for all he had done for me and I didn't know what I would have done without him. He put his arms around me and kissed me. We said goodbye and I didn't know his name and nor he mine. I have never forgotten him. He was a gentleman.
I returned to Rowney and as I was to be a forewoman again I had to learn how to drive the lorry. I would have to take the girls to and from work every day. The time came when I thought I had better leave and get a job and somewhere to live as the houses would be closing and I didn't want to go home. Anything would do for a start. I worked in the Feathers Inn for a while. One of the girls boyfriend's was the son of the owner and told me to go there so that I would have somewhere to live too until something else came along. Later on I got a job as a Dental Nurse. I didn't know anything about Dentistry but the Dentist said he would teach me. After a while I was quite pleased when he told me I had learned everything in three months what it took girls two years to learn at the hospital. If I had to do in for an exam though I would never pass as I get too nervous. Once a week we had to go to a Farm where there were "First Offenders" and each time we arrived there they would whistle at me. I always had to wear my "Nurses Uniform" The headmaster would shout at them to help carry the implements that were needed and they scared me sometimes when they would rush to help me.
I had been in the Women's Land Army for 6 years. Although it was very hard work we had lots of laughs and I still have my arm bands also release certificate and the personal message from the Queen signed Elizabeth R. I also still have my Ration Book and Identity Card.
There are families living at Rowney now and I'm sure they must love it there as much as we did. |
June Olive Gorey My Mother Jone Gory, joined the Land Army after finishing the factory work she did during the war making plane parts, she was based at a place called Totteridge and she remembers a farmer called Mr Shuttleworth the girls she worked with where Doreen, Joan, Lily, Barbara, Kitty and Joyce . She told how they has to do all the farm duties like picking the crops and ploughing the fields, she is now 82 and still full of life, sadly she loss her husband, my Dad in 2006 which came has a shock. I hope the people might remember her. She left late 1949/1950 due to injury to her ankle. |
Grace Murphy I read the name Kathleen Hull, among the list of those that served in the WLA. I would much like to make contact with her if she served at Moretonhampstead in 1947 when I was there. If she did then I would love to hear from her.
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Patricia Edgar I would like to make contact with the other girls, I met during my
22 months service, with the Womens Land Army
Our base was Westcombe Hostel Dyke Road Brighton Sussex.
I stayed there roughly two years, till the end of the war.
I do remember Doris Baker from London, Edna Muggridge and Jean Ellis
It would be lovely to meet up and chat about old times.
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Joan Smith
I served in the Women's Land Army from 1942 to 1945 and despite searching the Internet have been unable to find an active group of ex Land Girls for my area of service in Hertfordshire.
At almost 82 years old and partially sighted now I suppose we are a dwindling number. A fellow tiller of the soil whom I met during those years at our first posting, also 82 now, became my best friend, and is to this day.
We braved rats in potato clamps, climbed ladders to pick fruit, rescued birds trapped in fruit nets (much to our foreman's annoyance), picked and dug vegetables with frozen hands and feet and sowed, thinned and hoed miles of root crops. Those were just a few of our duties, but for myself it was the best job I ever had and I have been a country girl at heart ever since .
We Land Girls had no 35 hour week, summer hours were 6am till dusk and in winter we were allowed to begin an hour later at 7am. I remember being nervous cycling to work across a common in the dark.
My starting basic salary was two pounds five shillings a week, and even back then that
was not a great sum.
Over the years I have unfortunately lost track of my badge, armband with the red felt triangles which were issued for each six months of service and my Service Certificate. My number however needs no physical proof. That, like my late husband's army number is I think burned into my brain.
Like Mrs.K.O'Dell of Suffolk I do remember such glorious summers, and yes, the lovely tan gained as a result of shortened dungarees. Our Area lady did not approve.
Writing this has evoked so many memories, I almost feel 19 years old again |
Agnes Connie Miss Agnes Connie, my Grandmother's Cousin was in the Womens Land Army, later in life she was a Cub Scout Commissioner, she passed away recently at the age of 81.
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Gladys Florence "Laddie" Citron My Mother was a member of this very important task force and I would like to contact anyone who might have known her during this time.
Her name was Gladys Florence Citron, known as 'Laddie'. She also had a particular friend, also in the Land Army, called 'Laddie' too. My Mother was a Londoner, had a sister called Beatrice Emily Citron. I do not think her sister was in this organisation. During her time in the Land Army she was based at Swift's, a very large farm in Much Hadham in Herts.
Any information would be greatly appreciated.
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Joyce Watts I lied about my age when I signed up to join the land army at the age of 15.
I did my training in Whimple, Devon. I was then drafted to a farm at Lapford.
I had to get up at 4.30 in the morning to milk the cows. In the winter my hands got chapped and very painful when I milked the cows. It was all so primitive to me on the farm. I came from London and our house had all the modern convieniances. On this farm I had a candle for a light in my bedroom, the loo was outside and water was obtained from a pump. Despite all this, I must say, I had plenty to eat and the farmers wife was a good cook.
One day the superviser came to visit and I guess she realised how young I was because she arranged for me to go to a hostel near Plymouth.
I was sorry to leave in one way as I loved to work with the horses. I could write a lots more about other good things on the farm.
At the hostel I made friends with lots of girls. One girl, Olga, became a very good friend. We remainded friends and communicated untill her death in 1999.
The Land army days were some of the best years of my life. Olga and I went back and stayed on a farm that we had worked on.
That farmer and his wife have since passed away. Maybe the reason I have out lived them is because I was so young when I was working there.
I guess time is marching on but we still have our memories of the good times that we had.
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Margaret Chadwick During 1949/1950, my Mum, Margaret Chadwick, worked with the WLA in Surrey. On her National Registration card ( OTEH/137 3 - class code B312) she stayed on Brooklands Road, Weybridge, and at a SAEC Hostel, Coombe End, Woking.
She really enjoyed her days with the WLA, and talked of them fondly. It was our wish to take her on a trip to Surrey so that she could see some of the 'old' places. Sadly, it's too late now. However, I would like to know if it is possible to seek out a couple of her good friends from those days ( Olive & Eve - don't have their surnames), or more information relating to 49/50 |
Norma Winnifred Ludlow I stumbled across this website whilst researching my family tree and although have yet to find my grandmother reading the stories have made me feel I know just a little bit more. My grandmother was called Norma Winnifred Ludlow and was born in 1927. I have heard tales that she was in the Land Amy and this is how she met my Grandfather who was in the RAF. Sadly she passed away and I never got to ask her about it all. If anyone out there knew her I would be so grateful to hear from you. She originally came from Frome in Somerset and settled in Norfolk/Suffolk.
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Norrie Hunphreys My mother the late Norrie Harrington nee Hunphreys was in the Land Army based at Bulwark Chepstow. To date I have not been able to glean any information in respect of this. Norrie was from Ebbw Vale, and was single when in the Land Army. I am trying to build up a picture of my parents family history and would appreciate any assistance.
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Margaret Blower My sister in law Margaret Mogford nee Blower served in the land army during ww2. She likes talking of her bit she did as a land army girl.
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Mary Kathleen Courtney My Mother, Mary Kathleen Courtney married after war, and became Mary Casey she lived in Weedon and Daventry and Kettering as a Land Girl.
I am trying to get in touch with anybody who can:
Give me contact addresses, web sites, email addresses in order to find out where my mother was and details of her enlistment or tell me about my mother
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Eileen Agnes Gasson We are trying to track down a lady named Eileen Agnes Gasson who was a member of the Women's Land Army in Tonbridge, Kent in 1945. The reason for this search is that this lady would be the biological mother of my father who was given up for adoption at only six weeks old. My father is going to be 60 this year and any information you may have will be greatly appreciated.
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Florence "Pat" Price My mum Florence (but called Pat) Price was in the Land Army. She was at a Chivers Farm. Ely, Cambridgeshire.
She is now 82 and would love to make contact with friends Hilder Pybus (from Yorkshire). Also others she is unsure of their surnames Molly and Kattline. I realise this is a great long shot but l promised to do what I could.
Many thanks
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Joan Verrall My name is Joan Hollins (nee Verrall) I served in the Land Army in the Kent villages of Headcorn and Smarden. I would like to hear from anyone who served in either of these villages betwween 1942 until 1945
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Lilian O'Hara My mother-in-law, Lilian O'Hara, died last year, and amongst her posessions were two badges - one which I think is a Land Army hat badge and the other looks like the Olympic rings. We also found a photo of her with the Olympics ring badge fastening her shirt at the collar. Please can anyone tell me if the Olympics badge is something to do with the Land Army? We would love to know.
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Betty "Tony" Price Worked on the fields at Dunston, Spud picking |
Iris Matthews My mother served as a land army girl she died 4 years ago but would love a badge to remember her by, and for her grandchildren, she was born 1917, in Wales, I have no knowledge of her rank or number |
Dorothy Mary "Doff" McPhee hi i would like to find out if i could get my moms badage
Ihave alot of pics of her in the land army thanks
James Mcphee |
Ivy Parkinson My aunty, Ivy Parkinson, served in the Land Army in St. David's in Wales. She often talks about her time there with fond memories. She says they had good food and were given fresh eggs to take home when on leave. |
Ida Joyce Beeson My mother was in the land army and she had very fond memories of her time in the land army which she shared with myself and my sister. Unfortunately my mother passed away in 1995 and I have no other further details. |
Jenny Swan "Etta" Turner I am writing on behalf of my Gran who served in the land army during WW2, she will be 90 years in May. I am getting in touch after seeing on the news about women from the land army being recognised and felt I had to do this for her as it was at the time a great passion in her life and one she recalled to us as children, I feel it is the least we can do for her. Her name was Jenny Swan Turner at the time residing at Victoria Crescent, Clarkston, Glasgow |
Vera Jones My mother Vera Jones of Burnage, manchester was stationed on a farm near Ludlow with abouit 12 other women. I would like to find more about where the farm was and would like to hear from anyone who knew her. She was due to marry Capt Harry Tranter RASC on his return from abroad which she did. I am her elder daughter Carolyn. |
Mary Pauline Bromley At the time my name was Mary Pauline Savage. My date of birth is 15 February 1926 so as you can see I will soon be 82. I lived in Sheffield and joined the Land Arm in 1944 not long after I turned 18. They sent me to Worcester for training. The training involved general farm work, but also learning specialist skills in handling poisons and pest control which stood me in good stead in later life. I was stationed in Alvechurch, Malvern and Evesham but later I was able to transfer to Otley. Being back in Yorkshire I was able to go home more and there I met my future husband, Tom Bromley, who was a pilot in the RAF. We were married on 15th August 1947. My husband reckons that all that rat catching helped me to catch him!!! We were blessed with 2 sons and a daughter, and together we celebrated our Diamond Wedding Anniversary last year. At the beginning of this year we were presented with our first great grandchild, a daughter.
My husband also has a few stories to tell about him being still really being only a boy when he had to learn how to fly aeroplanes to North Africa and the near-misses he had.
If anyone is interested we would be delighted to try and recollect our experiences of our time during the war. |
Mary Theresa Dillon Joined August 1943 and left to get married June 1945 |
Patricia Lily Harris My mother served in the Land Army during the war. Sadly she now suffers from Alzheimers Disease and her memories although detailed and colourful are unreliable. Sadly the farm she worked on in Ross-on-Wye in Herefordshire,is now unrecognisable and the people she remembers haved died or moved on. I know she would still recognise and value the recognition that has recently been promised. |
Jessie Lilian Selena Dupey
We as a family are trying to trace any body who served with our Mum. She married Frederick Hutton in March 1945. My mother has now got altzeimers so is unable to give us much information ,but always talks about the time she served in the land army. she talks about a friend called Nora ,we know she was on a farm in somerset,as thats where she met my Dad, but he died 12 years ago. It would be lovely if some one can recall Jessie, she was 19 when she married my Dad, we know she faked her age to enlist. Mum grew up in London, but when married stayed in somerset |
Dorothy Stewart My mother served with the Land Army. Unfortunately she has died and we are trying to trace anything about our family that we can. Her name was Dorothy Stewart and she lived on Hillgate {not sure of the exact address}. She was born on 10th March 1928.
We are led to believe she actually said she was old enough to join, but was in fact too young. The address was in Stockport, Cheshire. I vaguely remember her saying she stayed somewhere near Crewe Wybumberry or something like that. Could you please tell me if there is any way that I can find details about her life in the land army?
I would be grateful for any help you could give me.
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Margaret Hudson I believe she was then called Margaret Hudson. She worked at Glebe Farm, Sarsden, near Churchill and Chipping Norton in Oxfordshire and was definitely there in 1944, some time between February and July. Any help much appreciated.
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Phyllis Rutherford
After reading the article in the current Practical Family History Magazine, I connected to your site. I feverishly read all the contributions from former Land Girls but was disappointed to find no names or places to link them to me. I am 85 and it is perhaps too late to hope to find any of my colleagues, who included Sylvia Farrow, Pat Strange, June Hetherington, Madge, Kath, Vera, but my story may be of interest. I was trained in Stithians, Cornwall and spent the next three years in Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire. I seem to have missed out on any distribution of certificates in recognition of my service but I have always said they were the best years of my life.
In 1942 I lied to my mother that to avoid direction into factory work I would have to join the Women's Land Army.
I attended an interview in Oxford Street and when questioned on suitability I had to admit to none, except that I had read a lot about the countryside and it appealed to me. "What books have you read?" the lady asked. Er, that stumped me and I mumbled something about, "Man and his furry friends". In spite of that I was accepted and in due course dispatched to a farmer in Cornwall.
I was a nuisance to my farmer straight away, as I had brought my bicycle and he had to arrange for it to be collected the next day. I found I was one of four or five Londoners off that train and we were all green as grass. As we walked into the farm buildings one of the girls said, "Oh what a dirty yard." The farmer glared at her and said, "Yes my girl, and your first job will be to clean it." Before the end of the month's training I helped to concrete that yard.
Somehow, the farmhands, with the support of a wonderful Head Girl, managed to teach us the rudiments of milking, hoeing, digging ditches, and there was one horror day when I held the squealing piglets for castration. I know one girl didn't last long and the farmer muttered angrily that these city girls couldn't stand being so far from Woolworths.
But I loved the life, though I didn't get on with the farmer. I was first sent to after training. I think it started when he complained about my having one hand in my pocket while turning the handle of the separator. It reached the stage where I wanted my mum and I left in a hurry, the local taxi proprietor lending me the train fare to London, me leaving my bicycle as security.
Years later, while on holiday, I visited this farmer and over a cup of tea apologised for the trouble I had caused him, offering the excuse that if I had beeen a little older I might have been able to cope better. The Women's Land Army was very cross with me but I was transferred to Hertfordshire, where I settled happily for the next three years, being able to go home on my days off.
It was a dairy farm, there were eight other land girls, a delightful village, and it was really the best time of my life. We had rosters, so no job became monotonous. I liked best the early morning milk-run, first catching the reluctant pony, then making sure I had my bottle of cream off the top of the Jersey milk churn-no wonder I got fat.
The gentle meander through the village and down the lanes on a snowy morning, not another soul about, was sheer magic, in spite of having to leave the pony at the foot of a too-steep and slippery hill, and carry a heavy crate of bottles to the top. I got into the habit of buying the pony a currant bun on our return through the village, but it caused a problem on Sundays when the bakery was closed. Spot would stop, drag the float across the pavement and plant his feet on the shop step. I can't remember how this problem was solved, but I know some of the other girls were not pleased when it was their turn for the milk-run, especially if they were hurrying for their half-day off and Spot wouldn't budge from the bakery.
We were billeted out to homes in the village and I was with a dear old couple, the husband still working as a gardener. He came home on the train and his wife dare not miss hearing it, as he expected to see his meal on the table while he was taking off his boots and gaiters, so that it would be cooling to the right degree. There was no bathroom so I had to wash in my bedroom. One day I carried up a kettle of hot water and jug of cold, poured half of each into the basin and started with the dirtiest bits. I poured the rest of the hot into the cold, then had to empty the basin to start again. It wasn't until my landlady called up the stairs for the kettle to make the tea that I realised with horror that it was now filled with my dirty soapsuds. She was furious!
Another memorable day was my 21st birthday. I went into the cowshed and found a golden key tied to Buttercup's tail with a satin ribbon, and I moved the key from tail to tail as the milking progressed. While I was weighing the milk from my last cow someone let out the whole shed and my key went up into the meadow on Marigold's tail. I looked for it many times but it was never seen again.
A highlight was the annual Harvest Home when the farmer treated his staff to a feast and dance in the barn. The farm secretary wrote little sketches for us girls to perform; I once had to wear a frilly apron and cap, knock on the door and say, "If you please ma'am, there's Miss Thurlow to see you." Just that, but it took hours of practice to get it right. Needless to say, after appearing day after day in our dungarees, we dressed to kill on these occasions, and one young man went through the whole affair in his best suit, heavy boots and bicycle clips.
There was an interlude when I went into a hostel and we were driven out by lorry every day to wherever needed, but I found no joy in picking up potatoes day after day, or brussels sprouts in the freezing early hours. I soon returned to my beloved cows and stayed with them until we were no longer needed. I went back a few years ago, and whilst the village was much as I remembered it, the farm, sadly was now a housing estate.
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Nellie Plumb My Great Aunt, Mrs. Nellie O'Dea served in the Women's Land Army and loves to tell her stories. I think she served around the Hertford Heath area and would love to hear from anyone who worked with her. Her maiden name was Nellie Plumb.
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Janet Sproat Johnstone During WW2 my mum, Janet Sproat Johnstone and my aunt were both in the Land Army. At the time Janet was working in Patersons, (the grain merchants) taking the orders for the various grain feedstuff over the phone in the office. As the men were called up to go into the services, she then graduated to going out with a small lorry taking and delivering the orders to various farms.
She was called up into the Land Army and was sent to the farm where she’d been born (one of the farm cottages at South Woodhill Farm near Kilmaurs). Once she was there she helped with the milking, the planting of potatoes and corn etc, and stacking the corn after it was cut by a scythe at harvest time. She them took the corn back to the farm by horse and cart for it to go through the threshing machine, which at the time was still driven by steam traction engine. She also worked at the hay and various other chores around the farm and as the season’s work progressed, the ploughing and harrowing with a team of horses.
On one occasion she was going back to the farm after visiting her parents at Stirling Avenue, Bonnyton, Kilmarnock, and had started to walk back up to Fardalehill road towards the farm of the same name. As she walked up she was met by the farm manager whom we later called Uncle Quint. He had come across the grass park from the farm to meet her coming back from the town. He did this because of the mandatory blackout which meant there were no lights for fear of attracting any German pilot’s coming over on a bombing raid.
One day as they met on the road, they both heard the loud of an approaching plane coming overhead. Quickly my mum and Uncle Quint dived into the ditch beside the hedge and took cover. “Quick Jinty, get yersel doon in here…the plane’s nae one of oors, it’s a bloody German!” After waiting for a while till the noise of the engines died away they got up from their hiding place and duly made their way back to the farm. Whereupon my Aunt Jenny made my mum have a restorative drink before packing her off to bed. That particular plane later crashed somewhere between Kilmaurs and Stewarton.
My Aunt Bessie drove a milk float to collect the milk from the farms to the dairy for bottling, bringing in the full milk churns and returning the empties. Sometimes when she was driving back along the Ayr road, she gave the soldiers a lift to the road that led to the Dundonald Camp, not meaning to, but sometimes they would sneak onto the back of the float as she made her way between the town and the various farms.
My Aunt Grace on the other hand was sent to work at a market garden.
My uncle Bill (my mum’s brother) & uncle George (Bessie’s husband) were both in the RAF and my uncle Reynold (my dad’s younger brother) was in the army and over in France. My father, Johnnie Johnstone was in a reserved occupation as he worked as a grain compounder with Patersons. However, he was also on firewatch looking out for incenderies on the roofs of the various town buildings.
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Renee Katz My mother was born and brought up in the East End of London, one of a family of five sisters, one brother and a father. Her mother, my maternal grandmother, had died when they were small children. They lived lives of poverty and deprivation, many children had rickets and every large family had one or two baby siblings in the cemetery.
The sons and daughters of working class families of their generation usually stayed near their parental home and continued to live for most of their lives close to where they were born. That is until the war disrupted the pattern of life for these communities.
My mother and her two sisters (the three youngest of the family) were called up. One opted for munitions factory work, but my mother and her youngest sister chose to join the Land Army.
This was a marvellous opportunity for young women who had little opportunity to travel, especially town girls who had no experience of country life. My mother had been a dressmaker; she now found herself living in rural Cambridgeshire, working as a farmer, picking fruit and vegetables. The farms in this part of the world were small-holdings - market gardens mainly.
When she speaks of her time on the land my mum's eyes light up. She loved the work, loved the fresh air and the friendship. Twenty or so girls lived in a village called Willingham in a supervised hostel. They were allocated to local farms and, by and large, cycled to work. Not every girl was happy, but my mother speaks with affection about the farming family who owned, or more likely leased, the farm on which she worked.
She remembers picking tomatoes in greenhouses with rain pounding on the glass roof. She was a town girl who made an effortless transition to country life, susceptible to the beauties of nature and the seasons. What a change for a dressmaker who had spent her working life in slum sweatshops!
There was a good social life as well. My mum was in her mid-twenties and still single and my aunt a little younger. They would cycle into Cambridge on their days off to go dancing at Dorothy's in the centre of Cambridge. (This is now a multiplex cinema). American and British troops stationed nearby outnumbered the girls, so there was no lack of attention. My mum and my aunt first tasted peanut butter and bananas at a dance on the American Service base.
The success of the Yanks did not make them popular with the British boys, who couldn't offer such luxuries. Some of the girls went on to new lives in the USA with American husbands. Imagine the shock and excitement of arriving in America after spending life in, say, domestic service in rural England, or doing factory work in urban slums.
Cycling was the best way to travel. Although there was a curfew for the girls at the hostel, I have gained the impression that they had considerable freedom, or at least managed to escape the overseeing eye of the hostel warden. But it seems that, despite the ample opportunities for fraternising with men, most of the girls abided by the social rules of the day and cycled back to the hostel after an evening out, obedient to the curfew.
Those who went into Cambridge by bus often lodged with families in town if they missed the last bus back to the village. In a war society, being invited to sleep overnight with strangers was the way things happened. The hospitality was provided out of sheer generosity of spirit, and accepted by the girls in innocence. My mum never spoke of unplanned pregnancies, though I imagine they occurred. The war spirit affected everyone. Lifts were given to any soldier and, of course, to Land Girls. Trucks carrying troops would readily stop for the girls, their bicycles hoisted on board, and friendships struck. Romance readily followed.
A prisoner of war camp was sited a few miles out of Cambridge. The Italian troops held there were sent to work on the farms and learned a little English. Their lukewarm commitment to fighting is what my mother remembers most clearly. They had surrendered readily and were biding their time in relatively benign captivity. It is perhaps a tribute to the civilised nature of British society then, that they made no complaints about their treatment. Although my mum can't personally recall any liaisons between Italian prisoners and English girls, they must have happened.
My mother married before the end of the war. Her photograph shows her dressed in a rather splendid smart, short, tailored dress, a lovely violet colour she tells me. The tailored, slightly masculine style, perhaps reflecting the war's demand that women do men's work, was rather flattering. Of course, my mum made the dress herself with whatever materials she could lay her hands on. She left the Land Army before the war ended, when she fell pregnant with my older sister.
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Ida Keyes I was living at Thorpe End near Norwich during the war, on my parents’ farm. On one occasion I had a head-on collision with an American army truck which ran into me in the fog in Salhouse. The American army had bought a field off Sir Edward Stracey who lived in the Hall, and they turned it into an airfield. They had done the same with many landowners. On the occasion of the collision the Americans were travelling on the wrong side of the road. I was taken to the American’s hospital and seen by an American doctor. In the evening the local policeman came round to see me. My vehicle was condemned, but I recovered in a few days. Afterwards I would wake up at night and think about the accident.
I used to collect three German Prisoners of War each day and bring them to my parents’ home to work on the farm. They worked well. When it was time for them to go back one of them cried. I used to take them for breakfast in the morning and mother gave them a jug of tea and lunch. There was a Captain Richardson in charge of them, and he used to book them in and out each day. There is now a church on the site where the Prisoner of War camp used to be – on the West side of the Heartsease Estate near Mousehold.
After a raid I used to drive into Norwich in the blackout to see if my grandparents were alright. They lived on the Plumstead Road near the prison in a bungalow they had had built for them – it was about three miles from where I lived in Thorpe End.
We had a C license to run a vehicle and used to get petrol coupons from Cambridge. We had to apply to Cambridge every month for the license.
We could hear it in Thorpe End when they were bombing Norwich. Carter the builder built out dug-out for us. There were steps that went down into it, and we had real beds in there, so we thought we were safe. They killed a family on the Salhouse Road when their house got a direct hit. They were a wealthy family of bankers.
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Marion Gardner I joined the Womens Land Army in May 1940 and in January 1944 I was sent to work on an 18 acre small holding at Ewell.
In the early summer, as it was so hot, we decided to start work at 5.30am so that we could cut the cabbages from the fields, weigh them and bag them ready for market before the sun was too hot to spoil them.
We used to count the RAF planes going over in formation wo Europe, when they returned we counted them again, to see how many were missing.
On a glorious June morning, with blue skies and sunshine, wave after wave of planes went over. We counted them as usual and guessed that something important was happening.
Hours later we heard them returning, some planes were "limping" home with damaged engines and some were missing. We thought of the lost brave men.
Were they killed or injured or prisoners and we stood in silence with our thoughts.
It was June 6th 1944 and we learned that it was D-Day - the invasion of Europe.
Soon after the flying bombs started they were nicknamed "Doodlebugs" (an American flying beetle).
They were terrifying and we would hear the roar of the engine and see flames coming from the back of the plane as it came over us, then silence as the engine stopped and down it came and exploded.
We were issued with tin hats and instructions to this lying down!!! which was all we could do having no sort of shelter in open fields.
The flying bombs came over from June till September night and day. Then the V2 rockets started. There was no warning sign, only a dreadful explosion as the rocket propelled bomb hit the ground.
During this time we were harvesting a neighbours wheat, the machine cut and tied the bundles of corn. My friend and I "stooked" it was standing four sheaves together to be threshed next day, removing the corn from the stalks.
We had lovely straight rows of stooks down the field, until a doodlebug came over. Then we fell down flat and got up a bit shaky so the line wavered. At that time we had "double summer time" so it was light enough to work till 11pm while getting the harvest in.
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Audrey M Manning After working in an office for two years, I joined the Women's Land Army in 1942. I was sent to a small general farm near Staplehurst for four weeks' training, after which time I felt as if I had been working on a farm all my life, ready to tackle any job.
Some of the old hands doubted whether we'd stick it. I heard such scathing comments, like "What have they sent you for?" or "This ain't no work for you young gals, you won't be able to 'ave no babies!"
Then I was sent to a market garden farm at Offham with another Land Girl, Peggy. Along with the local women, we packed lettuces twenty four to a box, pulled radishes and washed and tied them into bundles, packed rhubarb into boxes and spent days at a time picking peas off the bines, which had previously been pulled and left in huge piles.
One especially nice job was picking strawberries early in the morning before the sun was hot. We were paid piecework rates for this, so there was only time to eat an occasional strawberry.
There was also the onion field, where we spent weeks toiling away at some task or other, crawling along the rows hand hoeing, with sacking tied round our knees, then pressing the onion tops down. Later, we were pulling them and laying them out for drying off, until they were ready for bagging up.
It was while we were working in this onion field that we saw the cows, in single file, going into the cowshed for milking. We were told that each cow had a name and made her own way to her stall. We thought this sounded daft, not believing cows could be so intelligent, so the next day we stood just inside the cowshed to see for ourselves. There was pandemonium; two cows came in and on seeing us charged out again and the whole herd went berserk. Needless to say, the cowman was very cross with us!
With the coming of winter, there were jobs of a different nature to do. Hedging and ditching were part of this, even in the pouring rain, but we were issued with an oilskin and sturdy gumboots.
Brussel sprouts covered in snow had to be picked and when the weather was too bad, we mended boxes under cover.
The local women on that farm were not too friendly towards us; I think they thought we were going to take their jobs from them.
Towards the end of 1942, I went to a farm near Maidstone with other Land Army girls, to demonstrate our recently acquired skills. This was organised by the Kent Agricultural Committee and among the guests were Lord and Lady Woolton, Lord Woolton being the wartime Minister of Food, also Lady Denman who was the head of the Women's Land Army. I was very proud to win certificates for grooming horses, planting cabbages and lifting and topping swedes.
I enjoyed working on the farm at Offham, but after a year or two Peggy and I thought we'd like to widen our farming skills. We were transferred to a mixed farm at Frittenden, where we lived in the farmhouse.
There was no electricity on that farm and we even had to pump the water from a well before we could have a wash in the morning.
The primitive outside toilet consisted of a board with a hole in the middle!
We learnt how to milk a cow by hand as well as by machine. We were a bit slow at first, but with practice we got faster. When all the cows had been milked and fed, we went indoors for our breakfast, a really big breakfast, porridge with molasses treacle, then bacon, egg and sausages. Cholesterol-free diets were unheard of in those days. After breakfast, we returned to the cowshed to muck out.
Then came the great day; I learnt to drive a tractor. After ten minutes' tuition I was alone on the Fordson, harrowing and rolling as if I had been doing it for years. That night, I remember dreamimg I was driving round and round the field and woke up sitting on the side of the bed, shouting "I can't stop, I can't stop".
We had double summer time in the War years, so this meant we could work until past ten o'clock at night, harvesting. Combine harvesters were new then and only big farmers could afford one. Harvsting meant cutting the corn into sheaves, then picking up a sheaf under each arm and placing them into stooks to dry. This wasn't a very pleasant job as the straw made the inside of my arms very sore. Later, the sheaves were all piled into the wagon and carried off to the barn ready for threshing in the winter, which was a very dusty job.
At the end of a day's harvesting, we would all gather in the barn for some home brewed cider and bread and cheese. The farmer was somewhat economical with the sugar, so it was really strong stuff!
If we were working with animals, this meant a six-day week, but regardless of the number of hours we worked, we received a weekly wage of £2.00, out of which £1.00 had to be given to our landlady. Nobody grumbled, for we thoroughly enjoyed the life. Working in the open air gave us huge appetites and it was quite a headache for landladies to devise meals on wartime rations. Our only extra allowance was twelve ounces of cheese per week. By exerting considerable will-power I got used to drinking unsweetened tea, thus enabling our landlady to save sugar for jam-making and cakes for tea breaks.
Oddly enough, we were never short of energy or a few coppers for evening entertainment; local Army units would invite groups of Land Girls to dances, often transporting us in the back of a lorry. Most of us were mobile, on two wheels not four; we were able to reach the nearest town and spend an evening at the pictures.
I also belonged to the local Young Farmers' Club, acting as Press Secretary and I gained second prize at the annual Y.F.C. Public Speaking Contest for a speech on 'Tomato Growing'.
Looking back at my years in the Women's Land Army, I can honestly say they were very happy years. When I went home at weekends, I felt really proud walking along my home town Rochester's High Street, wearing my uniform.
It was a great honour to have served in the W.L.A.
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K O'Dell I was a Land Army girl and one memory I have was when my friend and I had a
job to do collecting brussels sprout stalks with a horse and cart and
filling in bomb craters.
The idea was to back the horse and cart to the crater, put the back down and
release the sprout stalks. Being such conscientious girls we pushed the
horse as well as the cart down into the crater - and my friend went down,
too. You can imagine the pandemonium. I yelled for help and eventually some
farm men came running over and.
One had to unharness the horse and another saw to my badly shaken friend
while a tractor pulled out the cart. The dear old horse, Deba, was none the
worse for wear and we carried on with our work, feeling quite sheepish about
the whole affair.
The friend,Vera, still lives in America. She married a GI and moved there
after the War.
It was a great life on the land - hard, hard work, often in the icy cold and
wet, but we did have some lovely summers. We worked till late at night,
cutting corn, stacking sheaves, thrashing, but the worst for all of us was
collecting the ghastly barley chaff with its dirt and prickles in your
clothes in the sweltering heat.
Can any ex-Land Girl remember the lovely harvest teas we had brought out to
us by the farmers' wives? Do they remember cutting the legs off our
dungarees in the summer to get a lovely tan?
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Doris Paterson When the war broke out I was 18, and a year later I joined the Land Army in 1940. I loved the open air, and so decided to go into the Women's Land Army rather than the forces or factory work.
I was based at Buckhold, which had a huge garden and we supplied St Andrew's School with food. We grew mainly fruit and vegetables, but we were allowed to keep a couple of pigs as well, which were fed the remains of the meals from the school.
I didn't have any particular job, we did everything from sawing down trees, to picking brussel sprouts that had ice on them in the winter! One of the hardest jobs was helping the farmers when they harvested the corn. We would be out 'threshing' the corn, and we get covered in dust and the roughage. We were constantly hungary because we were always on rations, and we couldn't get a decent bath either.
I worked with one other girl, called Kathleen and we became very good friends (I recently tracked her down after 53 years!) I also worked with a gardener called Mr Brooker and a couple of other lads.
Buckhold was surround by American forces in Pangbourne, Caversham, Aldermast and Greenham Common. Whenever I went to a dance there were always lots of American soliders!
The American Red Cross wanted volunteers to help with the breakfasts for the troops in the early morning. Kathleen and I both volunteered as it meant that we got free passes to the dances! We must have been mad, because after being up late the night before, we would have to get up early to help clear tables at the old St. Lawrences Hall in Reading! But we were young and had no ties and we were very lucky really, as all the gentlemen were very nice.
I worked at Buckhold for about three years, and although there were times when I felt that the rationing was harsh, I couldn't even afford a dress for the dances, because I didn't have enough coupons left after buying pyjamas! It was time of great freedom and it was wonderful to be able to walk freely and accept lifts from people because there was a great deal of goodwill and trust as we were all in the same boat.
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Mabel Irene Thomas On 3 September 1939, war was declared by Great Britain and France on Germany, and so World War 2 started. These were very frightening times. I was 20 years old at the time, and too old to be evacuated from my home in the ship-building town of Barrow-in-Furness in North West England, on the edge of the English Lake District.
My father, being a Royal Naval reservist and a coppersmith by trade, was called up immediately into the Royal Navy, holding the rank of Chief Petty Officer.
Early in 1940, German aircraft dropped their first bombs on Barrow. These were incendiaries which landed very close to our home, but the Fire Brigade quickly dealt with them. We were issued with gas masks, which we had to carry everywhere with us in case of gas warfare.
Every home was provided with an Air Raid Shelter, ours was an Anderson and dug well into the ground in the garden. We spent many nights sitting there, well wrapped up, listening to the German planes flying overhead and wondering if the next high explosive bomb would land on us. After heavy rain our shelter, which we called 'Jerry View', would become flooded which meant that we would have to sit there without light or heat, fully clothed and with Wellingtons on, listening to the planes flying overhead, their target being the local shipyards.
Every night we packed a suitcase with our valuable documents and everything else of importance, including a first aid box and flasks filled with hot drinks, and took them into the shelter. My father came home on leave on one occasion, saw the shelter flooded and remarked that we would probably die of pneumonia first than from the effects of the bombing. During daytime raids we would be directed by an Air Raid Warden to the nearest surface shelter, which were usually brick built.
In May 1941, when the bombing was at its height, our home became damaged from the effects of bombs falling on a neighbouring housing estate and became uninhabitable. We were fortunately unhurt, and my mother found rented accommodation in the neighbouring town of Dalton-in-Furness.
During the same year, young women were being drafted into war work, and as a preference to working in a munitions factory, I decided to join the Women's Land Army (WLA) as it seemed to offer the healthy outdoor life which appealed to me. The WLA enabled men folk working on the land to be called up for military service.
I joined on 10 June 1941. Members of the WLA were part of the Ministry of Agriculture and were employed on the basis of a guaranteed weekly wage as laid down by the Agricultural Wages Board, covering a working week of not more than 48 hours in winter and not more than 50 hours in summer. I received a cash weekly wage of 22s.6d. (about £1.12p) after a deduction to cover board and lodging provided by my employer.
I was paid for all public holidays and also for my annual holiday of six days, when I was given a free return rail warrant to my home.
Members of the WLA were employed in horticulture, general farm work, ploughing, hedging, milking, land reclamation, pest extermination, harvesting, threshing and some even became shepherdesses.
On joining I was posted, along with about 30 other Land Girls, to a WLA hostel in Letterston, in Pembrokeshire, a very long way from my home in Barrow.
We had a housekeeper looking after us, and were taken daily by lorry in all kinds of weather, complete with our beetroot sandwiches (which I came to loathe), to work on different arable farms in the area - potato picking, hedge trimming and corn threshing in its season, which was very dirty and horribly uncomfortable work.
Some days, as a change, we had cheese sandwiches, and these also I loathed. Over the days I became very unhappy, leading a life far removed from that depicted on the recruiting posters. Seeing that I was so miserable, Mrs Betty Ladd, the WLA representative in charge, suggested to me that I apply to fill a vacancy for a Land Girl at Pentre Mansion at Boncath, also in Pembrokeshire. This I successfully did, moving at the same time as Mrs Ladd, who was returning there. Initially Mrs Ladd and I had board and lodging in a neighbouring village, cycling to and from our work, but on approaching the tenant of Pentre Home Farm he gave us permission to convert one of the empty farm buildings, and we made ourselves a very comfortable billet. The days of beetroot or cheese sandwiches were now a thing of the past.
I was employed in the horticultural section of the WLA, my work being mainly in the greenhouses, thinning the grapes on the vines, pollinating the peaches and nectarines with a rabbit's foot and making sure that everything was well watered. I also picked the soft fruit, climbed the apple trees in the orchard, packing the surplus fruit ready to take to the shops in Cardigan for sale. The head gardener, together with four other gardeners, was involved in keeping the estate in good order with the digging of the gardens, mowing the lawns, etc, although I did a lot of the planting out.
During the war, Pentre Mansion, owned by the Saunders-Davies family, was commandeered by the Military Authorities to be used as an Auxiliary Hospital and Convalescence Home for sick and wounded servicemen. They occupied one half while the family lived in the other.
The mansion was a beautiful place, with its glittering chandeliers hanging from the ceilings and oil paintings of the family and their ancestors hanging on the walls of each room. The rooms had colourful names - the blue room or pink room, for example - and in them stood suits of armour which had been worn by the family ancestors during previous campaigns. The staff had all been retained - the cook, the maids, Lloyd the chauffeur who would convey the servicemen to and from the local railway station in the family limousine when they were going on or returning from leave. The service personnel were cared for by Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD) nurses under the command of Matron, with an Army Medical Officer attending weekly. Sunday morning service was held in the chapel attached to the mansion, with one of the nurses playing the organ and the local vicar conducting the service.
The service personnel in their dress of vivid blue suit, white shirt, red tie and forage cap or beret were not allowed to walk into the gardens, but were allowed in the grounds in the front of the mansion, their discipline being maintained under an Army Sergeant Major.
Miss Barbara Saunders-Davies, the daughter of the family and about ten years older than me, bred beautiful Palomino horses. These were a lovely golden colour with cream mane and tail, and after work I spent many pleasant hours being taught horse riding by her.
Having been at Pentre since early 1942 I had met very many of the patients, socially and through my work, but none had really gained my affections until June 1945, when Royal Marine Stanley Ogilvie came to Pentre as a patient to recuperate from war wounds and attacks of malaria. I realised when I saw him that this was to be my future. Good looking, six feet tall, dark and handsome and resplendent in his dress uniform, and when we became better acquainted, I appreciated his sincerity and intelligence and we got on well together. We became engaged after a while, Stan leaving Pentre in August 1945 returning to his base at Plymouth, before being medically discharged.
World War 2 was now at an end. It had been at a tremendous cost, with enormous loss of life and a great deal of suffering to many more.
I was granted a willing release from the Land Army in January 1947, and it was with mixed feelings that I left Pentre, returning to my home in Barrow, which by then had been repaired and had become habitable once again. Stan came to live in Barrow and was successful in obtaining employment in the General Offices of the Barrow Haematite Steel Co Ltd.
We married on 16 August 1947, spending our honeymoon at Douglas in the Isle of Man, and then setting up home on Walney Island near Barrow. In 1950 our identical twin daughters, Dilys and Glenys were born. In 1965 Stan was offered a post in the Civil Service in Swansea. We moved there and it is where we still live. I am now an 85-year-old great-grandmother, and looking back over my life, I believe that it is the taking part during the growing up of the family which has given me most satisfaction, with us both helping our daughters to get on in life and to become good citizens, just the same as we were taught by our parents. The tendency to reminisce about the past is not just looking back, it's more like living one's youth and life all over again.
My tale has been about Past Times
The Present is with us
The Future is yet to come
Let us endeavour to make the most of it,
To the benefit of those we love and cherish
To the benefit of our fellow human beings as well as
To the benefit of ourselves.
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Margaret Anna "Peggy" Finney My mum, Peggy (Margaret)Finney, later Buss, of Camberwell, London, servied in the Land Army during the later years of the war before becoming a WREN.
She sadly passed away in 1992, but was always proud of her service to her country, as we were proud of her.
I'm very glad to see that the contribution of women during WWII is starting to be more widely recognised.
I'd be glad to hear from anyone who remebers my mum. |
Kathleen Godden i was in the land army and worked for mr stickels who had a farm in ash near canterbury kent,i would love to hear from anyone who also was a land girl working in that area in 1940 1941. |
Mabel Hawthorn Macaluso My Mom, Mabel Hawthorn Macaluso, who is now 81 years old, was in the Land Army - it was during that time that she met my dad while he was serving in the US Army Aircorp. Mom used to deliver milk to the American base from the farm she worked on in Long Marston. Mom and dad have been married for nearly 65 years - my brother was born during the War. After the War, mom and my brother came over to the states, via New York, along with hundreds of other war brides. Mom and dad have gone back to England many many times over the years and every time they go back they always take a side trip to where they courted during the War and for many years Mom kept in contact with owners and the children of the owners of the farm she worked at. My Mom will be so excited to read all the articles on your website and I will encourage her write down her memories of this special time in her life. Although I am 55 yers old, my mom is still my hero and I love her deeply and love hearing her stories of her childhood and growing up during the War.
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Edna Drake I joined the Land Army in 1943, I was 16 years old & could not wait until I was 17 so I put my age up & hoped nobody would find out. I was sent first to Strensall near York, I was in a hostel with other new recruits who were all friendly. I remember my first job was feeding turkeys & general farm work. I was a city girl with no experience of country life but I soon became used to it, I never enjoyed the early mornings though. Later on I was transferred to Stogumber in Somerset,oh dear cycling up those long hills at the end of a long tiring day. The hostel had been a lovely old house with a large garden, a pleasant place to be. A group of us always went somewhere on the train at weekends,often to Minehead to enjoy the sea air, sometimes to Taunton if we had any money to spare for shopping. There was not much in the shops of course & all clothing was on coupons, sometimes my Mum would send me some of her coupons, what a treat that was.
I left Somerset & was sent to Sandown on the I.O.W. again to be billeted in a lovely old house taken over by the Govt to house Land Girls. It was a happy time there, my sister was living in Shanklin which was great, I could visit her,just a short bus ride away. I decided to try milking & dairy work & gained a proficiency certificate for that in due course. I dont remember any air raids there on the Island,we were lucky to be free from all that. I met my future husband in Sandown, he had just returned from Burma & was demobbed from the R.A.F. & having a holiday . David lived in Southampton,we did a lot of travelling on the ferry from Ryde to Portsmouth! I spent the last part of my service in East Meon,or was it West Meon? I lived on a dairy farm with the farmer & his family,that was a very pretty part of Hampshire.
I suppose memory retains the good things, I know there were winter mornings in Yorkshire with heavy frosts & hedging & ditching was hard going. I wish I could remember the names of some of the girls I met during those years, I stayed on in the Land Army until 1947 & was married in 1948. I have no regrets & counted myself lucky to have such a healthy life which I feel sure has helped to keep me fit & well into my 82nd year. |
Celia Hughes I was born and brought up in Meanwood, I was evacuated from Notre Dame school in 1939 then signed up for the WLA in 1942. I was so innocent at the time, not even 18. I left Leeds at the age of 17 to serve for three years with the WLA. I was a rat catcher and really enjoyed it, although we didn't have the choice to be scared of them. First I was sent to the countryside, picking potatoes in Wales and then to Cornwall to catch rats. I was given a van to drive in a team of four. They didn't have driving tests or traffic lights in those days. I have lots of happy memories.
I met my husband Fred, who was in the Royal Artillery Corps in Penzance. and we returned to Leeds in 1945 to marry.
The Land Army Girls were not very well recognised at the time for our service, so it is nice to be finally given a badge for our contribution. Sadly most of my pals from those days have died now, so they will never know.
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Isa Barker This is such a great site! I am proud that my mother, Isa Barker, served in the Scottish Women's Land Army. I know from her stories what a very hard life it was, and for the contribution that so many women made during that time to have gone unrecognised for so long is a disgrace. I am delighted that this is now changing and these wonderful women are to be acknowledged at last.
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Audrey Marshall I started work at 14 years old at the Co-operative Boot and Shoe factory in Education Road, off Meanwood Road, Leeds. I am now aged 83.
When war started we were doing army boots, but when I was 17-and-a-half, although I was exempt, I volunteered for the Women's Land Army to do my bit for my country, also because my five brothers and one brother-in-law were serving soldiers. Myself and another girl were sent to a private farm, Portobella Farm, Croft-on-Tees, Darlington. We did men's work: milking, feeding animals, harvesting, digging, etc.
I met my husband, who was a private in the Royal Tank Regiment station at Barnard Castle, Durham, and married on 8 December, 1945 (sadly he is no longer with us). For three-and-a-half years we worked hard from 5.30am to sometimes 9.30pm. It was very hard for a town girl to adjust to life on a farm but we did.
We looked forward to Saturday nights when we went to the village hall for dancing. It was a little village called North Cowton. Nearby was a soldiers' camp and they also enjoyed a bit of recreation, some were Americans and Australians. Most of them had left wives, children and parents behind.
I have some lovely, happy memories. It would be nice to have a badge to prove that we did do our bit and something that my family would have to be proud of me. |
Ethal Lilian Ellis I am looking to contact people who served with my Auntie, Ethal Ellis at Flintham between Bingham and Newark. Or people who just served at Flintham. I am trying to build up a bigger picture of my Auntie's life in WLA. |
Frances Ellen Gathercole My Grandmother Mrs Frances Ellen Rutterford (nee Gathercole) was one of the land army girls, working on farms in the area of Burnt Fen, a small hamlet Nr Mildenhall Suffolk. Unfortunately she passed away in 2007 aged 86. It wasn't until the family was going through old photos etc. after her death that we found her enrolment certificate, her leaving certificate and a letter from the late Queen mother thanking her for all her hard work. She had never told any one about receiving the letter, so it was a complete shock and honour to find.
I am in correspondence to see if it would be at all possible for my dad to collect her land arm recognition badge in her honour but I am being told no. This is a matter that I feel very strongly about, after all the girls kept the nations going while our men were fighting. If a soldier got killed at war their families are allowed to accept their medals in their honour so why shouldn't we be able to do the same. I would love to know if anyone else out there feels the same. We also have her uniform, an arm band and her medals from the time. Receiving the new recognition badge in the honour of ladies who did their best to keep everything going in our men's absence and succeeded is all we are asking for.
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Joyce Elkington My Mom, Joyce Elkington would love to see her name on the list of Land Girls because she worked so hard and loved the Land Army so much. |
Marjorie Eagle I am writing on behalf of my mother, Marjorie Envall. She was in the Womens Land Army in the England during the second world war. Her name at that time was Marjorie Eagle and she lived in Northampton. She believes she joined in 1941. Her memory is not as good as it was and she is a little confused about her dates of service. She has many fond memories of that time and is so proud of having been a Land Army Girl. She keeps her land army pictures displayed on her living room wall. I think it would be wonderful if she was to receive a badge to acknowledge her contribution to the war effort. It would be nice if she could be included on your list and perhaps a possibility of contact with someone she worked alongside in what she describes as, " some of the best years of my life". She now resides in Canada, where we have lived since 1957. |
Doris Ellen Webster My mother Doris Ellen Chaffey (nee Webster) was in the WLA, she was at Culford Forestry Camp, Bury St.Edmonds, she has told me some funny stories of how they used to sleep on "3 biscuits"" which were 3 square straw filled pads, and eventheir pillow was straw. She said it was hard work felling trees for telegraph poles and pit props. lots of blisters she even remembers the name of the hook that took the leaves off, a Bill hook. My mother is now 87, and would love to hear from anyone who was at the Culford Forestry Camp. We live on the Sunshine Coast, in Queensland Australia.
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Catherine Speirs My mother Catherine Speirs served in the Scottish Land Army in WW2. She was a teenager when the war started and spent the war years working in Ayrshire. I know she had many happy times and formed many friendships but found the physical farm work hard as she was a city girl and quite tiny.
She will be delighted when she hears about the medal presentation as recognition for the great effort of the Land Army girls during the war for the Nation.
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Joan Parker Is there any one out there that remembers my Auntie, Joan Parker who served with the WLA? She worked at Williamsons Farm at Keythorpe Lodge in Leicestershire.
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Doris Feltham My mum was in the WLA in Hertfordshire on Watkins farm at Watton at Stone and also worked in Pooley's market garden Crawley Sussex. Her name then was Doris Feltham she is now Doris Evans and lives with my Dad in Horsham. It would be good if her efforts could be recognised.
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Edna May Woolford My Mother-in-law was in the land army her name was Edna May Woolford she was posted at a farm called Elms Farm in Nuneaton Warwickshire. |
Irene "Bobbie" Heath I joined the land army in April 1942 and went to Loxton in Somerset with 16 other girls we stayed in a purpose built hostel. I was placed on a farm Chiston Court where I did General farming until 1945.I never went back to London.I trained as a milk analyst and worked for a local dairy until I married I must admit my time in the land army was the best ever although the hours were long and the work hard I was 17yrs old when I joined I can't see the young girls of today coping with the work unless of course they are farmers daughters. |
Elsie Doyle My mother served in the Land Army but cannot remember much
as she is 88 years old. She was born 1920 in Bakewell Derbyshire
so if any one has any memories of my mother could you please email
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Alice May Priest I am writing in a bid to search for anyone who might remember serving in the Land Army with my Nanna, Alice May Priest in the Second World War. Sadly my Nana passed away recently but being part of the Land Army was something she was always intensely proud of.
Unfortunately, we have no details of where Nanna was based but she was living in Hull when the war began and would have been 20 years of age. I can remember as a child hearing her stories – many of which included stories of the American soldiers!!! If there is anyone who can remember anything it would be greatly appreciated if you could contact me. Thanks
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Isobel Waddon My Grandmother, Isobel Waddon, died without disclosing much information about her time she spent in the land army. I would love to here from someone who served with her. I would like to hear their stories or see any photos they may have. She came from West Lulworth.
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Molly Gunn I served in the Land Army in Devon. |
Maggie Baldry It was avery healthy life in the open air, I can remember I was always hungry. It is so long ago, and as I was only 16 and a half in 1945 when I joined, I didnt keep any records. I was in a hostel near Woodbridge,on field work.
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Anne Phyllis Hopley I found this wonderful site whilst searching for information regarding the announcement that the WLA girls are to be awarded a commemorative badge.
My mum Anne Phyllis Hopley who served in the Land Army in the North West will be 90 soon and i cant think of a more fitting birthday present for such a wonderful fiesty lady. |
Marjorie Benham This is a picture of my aunt Marjie (was Marjorie Benham, now Macdonald). She is the one at the front right-hand side of the attached picture. The lady to her left in the white shirt/blouse was Helen Clixby. She would love to make contact with anyone who remembers her from those days in Devon. She now lives in Essex.
Anyone wishing to make contact can do so by contacting me first and I will pass on their details so she can make contact with them direct. She is not on the Internet herself. I have given her the 0800 phone number to call with regards to the WLA commemorative badges.
Thanks,
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Edna Davies My mum Edna Davies from Liverpool joined the Women's Land Army in 1944 and was initially based at Sileth in Cumbria.
She is thrilled that the contribution she and many other women made during and after WW2 is at last going to be recognised.
She would also love to hear from anyone that knew her then, especially Thelma Kennedy also of Liverpool.
My mum enjoys good health and lives a very active life in Northern Ireland where she settled after her marriage.
I'm only doing this because she not become a silver surfer - yet!
Hopefully, there will be some form of event that she can attend to meet up with comrades when she receives her badge?
And many thanks for your site
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Maud Atchison Does any one have any information on or photos of my Grandmother, Maude Atchison who served with the womens land army in Glasgow such as Galston or New Mill farms in Ayrshire, as she has lost all her photos and letters. |
Hilda Richards My Mum was recently asked to recount her memories of her Land Army days
which she did and jotted them down. I typed them up and she is happy for
them now to be passed on to you. She was Hilda Richards then and joined
in the spring of 1943 working on the land of Richard Dennis on the
Haverholme Estate near Sleaford, Lincolnshire until November 1946. She
had moved from Nottingham where she had worked in Roughton's drapery
shop before the change of life style...which - as with other ladies who
have related their memories, was obviously a time of great camaraderie
and satisfaction!
Congratulations to all the 'girls' that they will at last receive their
recognition and I'm sure,wear their badges with pride!
During the war, boys were called up for duty at 17 years and three months - and quite a lot of girls were too! Some were sent to the ATS, WAFFS and WRENS but mostly girls were sent to work in munitions.
My two older sisters had joined the Land Army and I followed suit when I was old enough.
Quite a lot of the girls had been shop assistants or office workers and were much happier to work in the country than be shut up in a factory. I was sent to Ewerby, near Sleaford in Lincolnshire and it was the first time I had been away from home in my life! There was no bus into the village so I was met to continue the three miles or so and I imagined that another land army girl would meet me but I was in for a surprise. A real country chappie with horse and dray helped me up onto one side of the dray and off we went. As we passed the field the gang working on the threshing machine all waved and shouted “hello”…everyone seemed so friendly. Ewerby was a pretty village and the big manor house was where one of the foremen lived with his wife and his son in one half of the building and the six land army girls lived in the other half. All the girls shared an extra large bedroom which housed six camp beds and three chests of drawers for all to share. The foreman’s wife cleaned and cooked for us and would shout for us when the evening meal was ready. We had the big room beneath for meals and relaxation. My first cooked meal I couldn’t finish half of it, it was such a plate full but the next day was a different story. After working hard all the day – well, I ate everything that was served!
My first job was with the thresher that I had seen coming in. Men were forking the bales up, some men on top to catch them and then another putting them into the machine. The corn went into boxes and when full was changed for more empty ones and stacked up. The chaff was collected on big sheets under the thresher and carted off…these were the girls’ jobs. There were three of us called to take a horse and cart each and deliver and collect stuff. I had never been with a horse before but it was taken for granted that we knew how to go on. I soon got used to the way of things although nearly took a gate post off the first time out!! From then on everything was to do with potatoes, setting, picking and riddling. For the setting, two girls worked together facing each other a ‘chitting’ box between them filled with spuds. One hand on the box handle and one hand taking a spud out. You took a step and slid the box as you set one spud in the groove and you if you had a good partner as I did, it was ‘one, two, one , two’ down to the end straighten up then fill your box again and down the next groove…cor my back! When all setting was done we went on to the graves of old potatoes the men had done from the year before. These had to be riddled – two sizes of riddle, small beneath and larger on top. The potatoes that stayed in the bigger riddle were flicked into a hopper on the scales (sack bag fitted onto a hopper) and smaller spuds would drop into the bottom riddle and went into another bag for pig potatoes. One girl would work on the shovel putting potatoes in the riddles (two girls on the riddles) and one girl taking the bag off the machine. When the weight was right, sewing the top of the bags and then putting in piles with three, two and one on the top. Later two girls lifted these onto lorries putting a strong stick under the bag so that we could throw them up. Is there any wonder that we became strong and big muscled girls? When the picking season came on, it was very back-breaking. The tractor came and spun the spuds out and you had a round basket called a molly between your feet and grabbed potatoes with both hands as fast as you could; emptied into a hopper and ran across the other side to do the same. You each had your own stint and if you didn’t hurry, the tractor would be behind you waiting to do the next row. We all found this job the most tiring. Mr Richard Dennis who was our boss (Dickie to us when he couldn’t hear us) was known to be the biggest potato grower ever. Much less time was spent gathering hay, singling beet, hoeing etc.
I did manage to get a lovely job now and then with the horse and dray delivering the chitting boxes to different fields. The way we had to learn things though was often by our own mistakes. A prime example was when I first yoked the horse up after being shown how to put the collar on upside down first, then turn it…only thing was as I reached up the horse nodded his head and the collar fell over my head instead. The first time I had to turn a horse and cart at the end of a field, I turned the horse towards me “Ouch! Ouch!” he trod on my foot so I learned - NEVER turn a horse towards you …always AWAY!!
I was always delighted to work with horses especially Perky …we became the best of friends. Land Army days were happy and hard working and it was wonderful the friends I made amongst the girls and the hardworking Irish lads who worked alongside us - one of whom became more than a friend, in fact a loving husband for 48 happy years until he sadly died in 1993.
It’s done my heart good recalling these old times.
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Emily Frances "Fran" Neale I am trying to obtain a copy of a photograph of my late mother who served in the Women's Land Army in Kent. For many years she had a photograph of a group of Land Army Girls in uniform marching over Maidstone Bridge, but sadly this went missing during a house move.
Her name was Emily Frances Neale and lived around the Maidstone area. One of most favourite memories was of delivering milk by horse and cart in the Gillingham area.
If anyone has any memories of my mum or can help me obtain a copy of the photograph I would be so pleased to hear from you
Many thanks
Maureen Barwick
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Elizabeth "Bessie" Bowman Bessie married after the war to a Polish solder. They emigrated to the states where her sister, Millie, who had married a Dutch solder had already emigrated. Bessie and Stan had two children, Michael and Cathy. Over the years Bessie has suffered from ill health and has been confined within her home in Conneticut. Tragically she lost her daughter to cancer and in turn her son-in-law also died. They left an only daughter Jennifer.
I am trying to gather memories of anyone who may have known her grandmother during her time as a land girl. I am also trying to find out more details such has her service number so i can apply for the new medal of recognition the Land Girls have now received for their service so i can put it together with any stories and present it to her granddaughter.
Please can anyone out there offer information or advice? |
Iris Winnifred Robinson This is my Mum and she was billeted at Woodrington House Hostel,Romsey in 1945/46.She was with girls named Rita & Pat,unfortunately she is not able to remember their other names but if anyone remembers her she would be happy to hear from them. |
Jean Margaret Goodall My grandmother Mrs Jean Margaret Phillips, nee Goodall served in the land army as a young girl and has fond recollections of her time serving.
She has told me of a time when she climbed on the wheel of a cart horse and slipped and fell, getting her leg caught in the wheel, she was saved by a "charming" german soldier who she states saved her from losing her leg!
We are very proud of the work she did and have applied for her commemorative badge on her behalf.
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Patricia "Patsy" Robinson My mother, Patricia Robinson, worked in the Ministry of Aircraft Production early in the Second War, but her mother thought it too dangerous for a young girl(she was 17 when war broke out)to work in London and told her to look for a safer job. Mum joined the Women's Land Army and used to tell us of her exploits driving Fordson Tractors and ditching, hedging and ploughing. Unfortunately she now suffers from Alzheimers and now cannot recall much about where she was posted and who were her workmates or friends at the time. She used to recall that there were Italian prisoners of war on the farm as well. If anyone remembers Patricia Robinson in her Land Army days we would love to hear from you. She is now Patricia Blake and lives in a nursing home in Brisbane, Australia. |
Olive Rhoda Russell I was 15 years old at the time however I lied my age to join the Land Army and said I was 17. My first job was picking potatoes. We also would sort the potatoes. (good ones from bad ones) We were all taken in the morning by truck to different farms and brought back at night.
At one point I was stationed at Lakenheath (spelling?) and I was surprised by my older sister who came and stayed with me for the weekend. I remember cleaning a lot of dishes through the winter.
We did it all, never staying at the same place. I worked in greenhouses, on many different farms.
I remember staying at one time with a Mrs. Veck. Her son was in the Navy and she had a daughter who worked on the farm but was not in the Land Army.
We didn't have time to make too may friends. We slept in barracks and were sent on different
jobs each day. |
May Easdale My Mum May Easdale (married name Otterson), served in the Women's Land Army at Rozelle Estate in Ayrshire. she died aged 49 in 1972. We would love to hear of anyone who knew her or has stories of their time in Ayrshire's Land Army |
Gendoline Prior Hook, Hampshire My name is Martin Sullivan-Royall and i am searching for my Granmother
this is very sensitive to me and the story is as follows i only have limted information
My Granmothers name was/or is Gwendoline Prior / she served in the WLA
and was based at a hostel near Hook hampshire either Hook Southhampton or Hook near basingstoke.
My Mother who's name is Barbara Christine Westlake ( adopted name )
her birth name that Gwendoline named her was Valerie Ann Prior
Gwendoline gave birth to Valerie on the 12th Febuary 1946
my mother is 62 and from my investigations i would presume that Gwendoline
would now be between 76 and 85
any help or details about where she may of served or any other Women who may of known her at that time
would be a great help
i am trying to find my Mums real Mum as she has never had a sense of belonging both her adopted parents are both deceased
she had no records of her adoption or birth or mothers details until her employer had to do a CRB she was called into the mangagers office and shown her adoption papers which she had never seen
i have taken upon myself to try and find out as much as i can as, Gwendoline may have had other children and more family is out there for us to find
best regards
Martin |
Margaret "Peggy" Etherington Margaret Organ, deceased March 1, 2008, served in the Land Army. No other details known, however we have many pictures if you're interested in receiving them. |
Irene Langley I am submitting this on behalf of my mother Irene Langley who is celebrating her 85th year in a few days. She writes:-
My sister and I, joined the Land Army in 1942. Myself Irene Langley being the oldest at 19, left our home a Robinsons Pub called the Printers Arms in Stockport which has since been demolished to be joined a few weeks later by my sister Kathleen Langley who was only 17 years old. We were stationed together at a National Service Hostel - Totty's Hall in Crewe near Nantwich, Cheshire.
There were only 4 Land Army Girls as the National Service Hostel, housed the Rolls Royce workers who had been sent from all over Ireland, Scotland and Wales to work in the Rolls Royce Factory.
The other two Land Army girls were from Liverpool Connie Oldfield from Birkenhead and Olive Rowlands whose parents kept The Half Way House on Scotland Road in Liverpool. We all got on very well together and did our bit for the war effort by growing vegetables etc., that fed Rolls Royce Workers and ourselves for the two and half years that we were in Crewe.
We met many nice people and enjoyed every minute we were there. The old man who was in charge of us was called Bill Hyam who came from Lytham, he was a great story teller. The Lady who was also in charge of us and all the Hostel Staff came from Oxford her name was Miss Mather, she was a wonderful person to work for and really took good care of us while we were in her care. I am 85 years old in March and my Sister 83 in February. We are still very close sisters and although we tend to forget what happened yesterday, we will never forget the Happy Days we Spent in the Land Army at Totty's Hall, National Service Hostel in Crew. We are Two old Ladies with lots of Memories most of them Happy of our days in the Land Army.
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Evelyn Horne I would love to find out some information and share stories with anyone who worked or knew my grandmother, Evelyn Horne. She served in the Women's land army at Penningham in Newton Stewart, Wigtownshire in the 1940s. She was originally from Northern Ireland. |
Elsie Honeywill Lincolnshire My friend Elsie Honeywill who served in Lincolnshire for 4 and a half years. She would be interested to get in touch with other Land Girls. Elsie now lives in London.
Thank you.
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Maureen Norris I served in the Land Army 1943-1945 in Corby ,Lincolnshire, we rode bicycles 7 miles there and 7 miles back to work on the farns eveyday, pulled sugar beat in the snow, climbed haystacks to feed the thrashing machines untill amost dark, cut logs with crossaws, drove tracters to harrow , walked behind a horse and plough, many more farming jobs.
We all would look forward to the evenings when we would walk down to the Pub the "Wheatsheaf" or the "Fighting Cocks" and drink a shandy (beer and pop). I married a American and now live in the U S A, I think hard work never hurt us, we were healthy then.
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Catherine Elizabeth Felton Wales My Grandmother Catherine Felton, served in the Land Army in Wales, I would love to know where she served and hear from anyone who knew her. |
Vera Fletcher My mother, Vera Ensor, maiden name Fletcher, was a land army girl, and was very proud of it. |
Mary Elma Guthrie Smith I have found several photographs of women who served in the Land Army with my Mother. Their names, as far as I can gather are, B MacMurray (1941), Suzanne Buchanan, (Kippen, 1941), Anne Geddes, (Blairhill, 1946), Jean Galt & Agnes Day (1945, Taken in Dunoon), Mo McPherson (1945, Taken in Dunoon). |
Joyce Audoire My mother served in the Land Army at Lakenheath, her best friend was Hilda Ward. She has fond memories of the shire horses calling them 'gentle giants'. A man called Victor who lived in the village of Lakenheath very kindly gave my mum a pair of gloves as the cold caused severe pain (hot aches) in her hands. Should anyone remember Lakenheath please contact me |
Phylis Doreen Smith I am looking for Edith Walker from Wales who married farmers son Les Webber and Betty Jones also from Wales. We were friends when we worked together on farms in Tiverton.
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Elsie Lillie Roberts Born in 1924 I lived at Barton Lane Eccles with my parents Father Edward.Wm. Roberts, my mother Lillie Roberts and My younger sister Olive
We lived close to Barton Swing Bridge, Aquaduct , and Barton Power Station
We could see Trafford Park Industrial Area across the M/c Ship Canal.
Sitting ducks so to speak.When war came
In 1939 A Anderson Shelter was delivered my father Dug a hole in the back garden and Erected the shelter Covering the top with soil and turf.
Made bunk beds .Hoping we would not have to use it.
Gas Masks. I.D. Cards isued Ready for what was to come
In December 1940 Hitler decided to Blitz Manchester Night after night we slept in the shelter.
22nd Dec. was the worst night.
Manchester was on fire. Noise was deafening, Bombs, Guns.
The sky aglow for miles around.
A bomb landed four gardens away. Our house was unlivable.
We moved to my Aunts Nursing Home in Gatley Cheshire.
A Memorable Xmas
In 1941 we moved to Berwickshire, Scotland
May 10th 1942 I joined the Scottish Womens Land Army.
I was sent for a four weeks intensive farming course to the West of Scotland Agricultural College Auchencruive, Ayrshire.
So many days milking, field work, poultry. Pigs. Tractors, Reversing a tractor with traier thro a farm gate etc etc.
This was not a good idea as some farming methods on the W.side were somewhat different to the E.side where I was destined to work.
After this I was sent to Bemersyde, Roxburghshire
Earl Haigs Mansion House Was patially used as Billets for S.W.L.A.
We had a dormitory called Rookery Nook..
We went out daily to various farms in the district. Seasonal work. Tattie picking., Muck spreading, Singling turnips, sugar Beet. Threshing Mill,
Stooking etc. etc.
Opening up a field at Harvest Time, Following an old man with a Scythe
Making a straw band to make a sheaf Three or four times round the perimeter to enable e Binder machine to come in and cut and make sheaves for us to pick up and stook.
Barley was the worst. Oh those Barley Alns. Stuck to everything. quite painful.
We worked with elderly men, young lads, and lots of S,Ireland Men who came over to work. S,Ireland was not at war. Italian P.O.W's
I worked on many farms in Roxburghshire and later Berwickshire.
It was hard work.
It is amazing now how mechanized farming has become. No more hand picking potatos . No more muck spreading with a fork. no more threshing mills.
I now live in Queensland. Australia.
At 84years old May 30th this year 2008 I remember the times like yesterday. Sad and happy days.
Looking forward to that Medal/Badge. Better Late than never.
Cheers.
Elsie L. Roberts.
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Doris "Half Pint" Wright I am posting this on behalf of my mum, Doris Wright, who served in the Womens Land Army, based at Stubton Rectory in the village of Stubton, Lincolnshire. My mum has fond memories of her Land Army days, not least because she met my dad, Owen Wright, who was a Scottish Jock serving in the 1st Airborne Division Provost Company, Corps of Military Police stationed at the nearby Stubton Hall. After the war, they married and set up home in Hamilton, Scotland. Dad is sadly no longer with us but mum regularly reminisces about her Land Army adventures when she, a Yorkshire lass from the city of Hull who had only known urban life and factory work, became a country girl assisting the farmers around Stubton with their wartime chores. I am sure mum would love to hear from any of her former Land Army pals. |
Betty Ivy Fisher I am enquiring on behalf of my Mother, Betty Ivy Fisher from London
My mother is 82 and has memory loss, but she still recollects some instances from her days in the Women's Land Army.
I would appreciate any assistance from members of the WLA who might have known my Mother, where she served, and if possible to be able to get in touch.
Thank You
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Elizabeth Sadler "Bessie" Adam Unfortunately my mother died in 2005 so too early to receive the badge that has been awarded to those who served in the Women's Land Army. I am currently tring to piece together information to include in her family history. I wonder if there are records that I could obtain that tells me of her time in the Land Army just as I was able to access the Naval Records for her brother. All I know is that when she married my father, a German Prisoner of War, they worked together on a farm in Kirkudbright. Their marriage certificate dated 31 Jan 1948 gives my father's address as The Cottage, East Glenarm Farm, Crocketford which I assume is where they worked but of course the war was over by this time so I am not sure and would be delighted if you could advise me of where I might find information. I will be delighted to share any information that I am able to find
Update:
Land Army records for those who served in England, Scotland and Wales are available to view on microfiche at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey. The microfilm you need to ask for is:
Series: MAF 421: Ministry of Food: Women's Land Army: Index to Service Records of the Second World War 1939-1948.
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Hilda Gladys Pettitt I was called up in June 1943 and sent to work for Lady Langham in Cadbury, Somerset on the dairy farm and later to work on the Wrington Vale Nurseries in Somerset. I was billited with Mrs. Exon in Congresbury. The owner of Wrington Vale Nursery was Graham Griffiths (who died about 1975) and the Manager was Bill Ridley.
I am now 84 years old and live in Norfolk and would like to contact any-one who remembers me, especially Iris Johnson who I believe lived in Liverpool and Doreen Hynam who lived in Bristol. I left the Womens Land Army in 1946. |
Iris Johnson Iris worked with me in Somerset, I would love to get in touch with her again. |
Doreen Hynam Doreen worked with me in Somerset, I would love to get in touch with her again. |
Ivy May Bareham During the war I was a young lad....now long retired... I had a favourite auntie
who was in the Women's Land Army. Her name was Ivy May Bareham and her
home was in Colchester, Essex. Is there any way I can see her name on
an official document or register. Or is there any record of her.
She died from an illness after the war....she was only in her thirties and by that time I
had joined the Navy as a boy recruit at HMS Ganges. She is laying in the churchyard
at Mistley, Essex and even after all these years I still think fondly of her.
Any information would be very warmly welcomed
Sincerely
Robert Woods, Somerset UK |
Daphne Olga Bradbrook i would like to know if anyone remembers my mother during second world war.Daphne was stationed at boxted nr colchester in the land army. |
Katheen Annie "Kitty" Hullett My mother was in the land army we think she was at a place called Tidworth her name is Kathleen Annie Hullett nickname 'Kitty' also her sister Betty Hullett 'Elizabeth' also a friend called Joyce who married an American, mum came from London Isle of Dogs, mum always spoke when we were little about her time in the land army, we would love to hear from anyone who remembers our mum so we can get the medal for her. She married Frederick Rock she had two daughters Denise and Maureen. Mum can be contacted at my email address. |
Pamela Iris Manton My wife- Pamela Manton then- joined the Land Army in 1947 when she was 17. She served for 5 years. Until then she had lived with her parents at Small Heath in Birmingham. We are both now approaching 80.She was first of all put as an orderly at Oldberrow House near Henley in Arden, after three months as an orderly she began performing regular land work (her first job being ditching)After some time at Oldberrow House she was sent to Wolverton Court at Snitterfield. Much later she was sent to another hostel in Henley in Arden- and finally she was stationed at yet another hostel in Atherstone in Warwickshire. (a hostel that was later replaced by an estate of houses)Although the WLA was disbanded in 1950, my wife stayed on to finally complete her 5 years. She had always said that those 5 years in the WLA were some of the happiest in her life, and so a short time ago I wrote to the present owners of Wolverton Court who said that if we called on them they would show us around, unfortunately I gave up our car (due to my age and the car's age) some time ago and so there was no way we could get there. But when I wrote to the present owners of Oldberrow house they were happy to arrange a get-together of other ex land girls. They even collected us. There were 7 ladies at the party and though my wife was happy to meet them, unfortunately none of them had known my wife. So if there are any ex-land girls who were at Oldberrow House- Wolverton Court-or the hostel in Atherstone and remember Pam Manton, as she was then- my wife would be delighted to hear from them. |
Renee May Clode My mother Renee Clode was stationed 1942 -1944 in a hostel in Kingsland near Heraford with may of her friend she used to tell me many stories as a child about her days in the land army, her friends, her jitterbugging with the American troops, and of an American soldier who she said would have been my father if he had not died in action towards the end of the war. My mum died in 2001 of Alzimers not a way to go for someone so cleaver and good.
If anybody out their remember Renee, please get in touch - Regards Dave |
Gladys Turbutt My sister and I, Doris and Gladys Turbutt, were based at Little Bourton in Banbury untill
the well water ran out in 1943, we were then split up. My sister went to Swacliffe and
I went to Bicester with all the girls in my photograph.
I am still in touch with Ada and Rose who in turn is in touch with Sylvia who used to be our
Forelady and responsible for getting us out into the farms. When they held a reunion at the Albert
Hall unfortunately only one of these ladies turned up, that was Joyce.
I wonder if anyone in this photo might like to get in touch, I would love to hear from them.
Doris has lived in Banbury since she married a Banbury man and I know Lilly also lives there. |
Irene "Mickey" Collier Some reminiscences of my days in the Land Army.(1943-1947)
I joined the Land army when I was only 15 (well nearly 16) and was first sent to a hostel at Compton Dundon, in Herefordshire. We found the work very hard at first and ached in every limb, especially the first two months. None of us had done this type of manual labour before!
As I lived in London we used to try to get home most weekends - often by thumbing lifts as our pay did not go very far. We used to be taken by lorry first thing each morning and dropped off at a farm for the day. We seldom knew in advance where we were going to be.
Another thing I remember is being hungry a lot of the time, for if late down for breakfast there often wouldn’t be any left as it was on a first come first served basis. (I was never very good at getting up in the morning) Although packed lunches were provided for us to take with us, if you were late down and the lorry had arrived you could miss out on these also.
Sometimes, fortunately, the farmers wives would bring tea and a snack out to us during the long days in the fields.
A number of times when we were working in the fields, German planes came over and dived down low and we had to jump in the nearest ditch to avoid being machine gunned.
One week I was 2 days late back and as a "punishment" was sent away to a hostel in North Petherton in Somerset. Actually this proved to be blessing, for although getting home proved to be a non starter from here, I enjoyed working in this area very much, we got on well with the farmers and the countryside was lovely.
I look forward very much to receiving my badge as I have always thought we were very much the forgotten service.
Irene Sayer (nee Collier) 80
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Victoria "Queenie" Cross
My mother was a member of the Women's Land Army during WW11, I am trying to find any information that I can about that period.
Victoria's details are Born 6.4.1915, Chester England. All that I know was that she worked on a farm during the hay harvesting time and when the Germans flew over they used to hide under the hay wagon for cover.
I am the daughter of Victoria and I am seaching her family tree, unfortunately she died in 1.2.1971 aged 55. Victoria was married to David James McNeilly Nesbitt St Mary's Chester 1941.
I would appreciate anything that you help me with.
Kindest regards Aileen Parker-Walker (nee Nesbitt) |
Joyce Lomax I joined the Women's Land Army in 1947 at the age of 18. On the 9th of June 1947 I was sent to Spalding in Lincolnshire, where we stayed at a place called Holland House. My friends in the Land Army were Edna Gadman who lived at Sutton Flats, Salford, Annie (I don't remember her last name) who also lived in Salford, and Alma Stamp from Doncaster. I left the Land Army in October of 1947. If anyone remembers me or knows of my Land Army friends please contact me. |
Alma Stamp I would love to hear from Alma Stamp who served in the Land Army with me at Holland House, Spalding, Lincolnshire. |
Edna Gadman I would love to hear from Edna Gadman who lived at Sutton Flats, Salford, and served in the Land Army with me at Holland House, Spalding, Lincolnshire. |
Joyce Stokes My mother served in the land army during wartime and enjoyed it so much she went back after the war had finished! She was based in Hertfordshire in a big old house - something like Lydial Hall. Her name then was Joyce Stokes, she had a mass of blonde curls, and was always as brown as a berry. She drove big trucks also, sometimes transporting POWs, including a few blond, blue-eyed Aryan soldiers - which she found unsettling! From her tales to us about this time it sounds a lot of fun - being young helped that, I suppose lots of dancing etc - and certainly not following all the rules! It would be lovely if someone remembered my mum
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Dinah Sarah Fletcher I am writing this on behalf of my Mother, Dinah Singleton, nee Fletcher, now 88yrs of age, Born in Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, who together with one of her 6 Sisters, Frances, joined the Land Army in 1940. They did their training at Shipton Court, Shipton-under-Wychwood, Oxon & afterwards, were employed there, working for a Mrs Darcy Hall. Later, they moved, to work for a Mr.Brooks, The White House, Nettlebed, Nr. Henley, Berks. Although Mum's memory is now failing & all her Sisters, 2 Brothers & Husband (my Father) have now sadly passed away, Mum recalls many happy times spent during this period. She & her Sisters would attend many a Dance at the local Town Hall, where they would meet & enjoy the company of both British & American Servicemen. This was one of many places where they could have some well earned relaxation, after a hard weeks work. They were very near RAF Brize Norton & like many other Land Girls, would watch the aircraft fly overhead & eagerly await their return, in the hopes that all crew could be counted safely back Home but sadly, so often, this was not the case. A great deal of her time was spent dealing with Poultry, although, all other duties were also carried out, Tractor Driving, Ploughing, using the Threshing machines etc etc. All heavy manual work which my Mother enjoyed. Sadly, my Mother developed Pleurisy & became very poorly, Doctors thought this was brought on by the wet weather conditions & outside manual work, she was discharged due to ill health in 1944. At which time she returned to her job as a Nursery Nurse. Her eldest Brother Joe, sadly was killed at Dunkirk & her younger Brother John, served in the Navy & went on to live until 73yrs of age. She met my Father, Joe, during a walk round Christchurch College, Oxford. He served as a Captain in the Artillery & was amongst other places, posted to the middle east - 8th Army, seeing fierce Battle at El Alamain. He saw many of his men killed & wounded & had many narrow escapes himself, receiving shrapnel wounds to the legs. He also developed Appendicitis but did not want to leave his men in order to receive treatment, his condition later became very serious, it developed into Peritonitis, he was rushed to a field Hospital, where he nearly died. His health was never quite the same but he went on to live to 80yrs of age. Both my Parents used to recount how, my Mum & her Sister were walking one direction round the College & Dad & his friend the other, they passed. Had it not been for the fact they were obviously both taken with one another & so decided to circuit the College again, in the hopes of meeting up a second time, they may never have met!! They kept in touch all during the War, my Father even enclosed a cactus flower from the Desert in one of his letters to her, very romantic! Both coming from Farming backgrounds, she went on to become a Farmers Wife, when after Dad's discharge, they were Married in 1946 & were together for 48yrs. If anyone recalls any of the Family or has experiences in Oxon during this time, please get in touch, we would be delighted to hear from you. |
Patricia Mary Albrow I was 17 yrs when called into the Land Army and had to go into the dairy division,
imagine this londoner seeing her first cow up front and personal and being told to milk it!
That was more scary than the air raids I had been through. We worked hard but it was good out in the country
and we ate better than most and our dress uniforms looked good. I often had to work the dung detail
along with some Italians pows, I was at the bottom of the hea, slinging it up to the pow at the top.
He liked opera, so he used to sing while we worked. The day the war ended, my boss came to the shed
and told me "Go pack your things and go home" He knewIi had just married a month befor. I am 81 yrs now,
living in the states. To all who are still here god bless. |
May Griffiths May Griffiths is my mother and will be 80 in January 2009. I intend to throw her a land army themed party and would love to hear from anyone who served in the land army with her.
We are trying to do this in secret as a surprise so cannot ask her too many questions!!!
She joined the land army in 1946 aged 17 and I know she served at Thirsk on a farm and also in Stokesley.
We'd love any friends to come to the party. |
Edith Constance "Connie" Burgess It was still dark as we walked through the village. Squat, grey stone houses edged the cobbled square, with the war memorial, bus stop and blacksmiths. A small group of men stood around, silhouetted by the glow from the furnace. They stamped, and rubbed their hands, eyeing us as we made our way along the street, laughing and joking in their local dialect. We soon found they would be our workmates, and the blacksmith’s would become a familiar place to call.
I had just met Helen the day before, at the land Army hostel outside the village. Now in our dungarees, jumper, coat and stiff new boots, we were on our way to our first day’s work.
I was eighteen when the war started, and Bob my boyfriend, later husband, was twenty when he was called up. Because I missed him, and wanted to do something to help, I joined the Land Army, so here I was walking in the dark into an experience that left a lasting impression on my life.
A mile later, away from the shelter of the hills, we looked for our farm but could only find a barn and sawmill. The snow had soaked our legs, and the wind bit through our clothes, as red nosed and shivering we approached some men, who paused to stare in amusement. One asked ‘Ist tha land lasses? His blue eyes twinkled in his ruddy face as he assessed our discomfort, ‘Best find you an indoor job,’ he said and led us into the long, high barn, filled with ‘chop,’ a mixture of hay and straw for horse fodder.
We knew we were lucky to have shelter, and our spirits rose as the work, filling hundredweight sacks, warmed us and dried our clothes. We looked out of the window at the fields covered in snow, the sun rising and sparkling in the tree tops, stroking the other side of the valley with it’s golden lustre. This turned out to be one of the coldest Januarys of the war, but in youthful optimism we sang as we worked, and talked of our town lives. Just two days ago Helen had worked in a factory, and I’d been in an office.
Soon we felt hungry, and looked at our lunch boxes. They were big and strong, but our dismay would be hard to imagine when we found their meagre contents. Thin sandwiches of paste and jam, and a square of sponge cake. It was only half past nine and we were ravenous, breakfast was a distant memory as we’d left the hostel at 7 am., and our next meal wasn’t due until 6pm. We nibbled a little, then in a quieter mood resumed our work of filling sacks.
After another two hours we tried to straighten our aching backs. The shovels felt heavy in our blistered hands, there was straw and hayseeds in our hair, and they itched under our clothes. We needed the toilet, but couldn’t contemplate asking the men where it was, we guessed much of their laughter was already at our expense.
Noon came, and Jack called to us, he said he’d take us to his home across the fields. We trudged across the ice to a terrace where he lived with his wife and family of five children. Though he’d worked all morning in sub-zero conditions he was warm and energetic, and introduced us proudly to his wife, a good humoured and confident lady who welcomed us hospitably. Soon we were sat round a table by the fire with rounds of bread and fried eggs on our plates. The laughing chattering children, faces glowing in the warmth of the fire, were a contrast to the cold of our morning’s experience in the barn.
Jack was a ‘hind,’ in charge of the horses, some of which came to the stables for a rest after working in the forestry side of the business, others came for breaking in.
His ‘Boss’ lived with his family in the ‘Home Farm’ on the other side of the river. He was a rich man who drove a hard bargain and worked his men hard, but never asked them to do a job he wouldn’t do himself. He’d had a hard life, which toughened him and sharpened his wits. Born illegitimate, into poverty, he acquired a run down horse and did odd jobs. When the horse’s condition improved, he sold it and bought another, and so his business progressed to include land, forestry, saw mills, quarries and aggregates. He watched his workers through binoculars and sacked those who didn’t come up to expectations. He was respected, but I hoped I wouldn’t meet him for a long time.
The lunch hour passed too rapidly, and reluctantly we left, but glad of the invitation to call again. Our spirits lifted, we enjoyed the challenge of the biting wind as we crossed the ice hard fields past a group of huddled sheep as we returned to work.
The filled sacks had been removed from the barn, and a larger pile of empty ones replaced them. The considerable hole we’d carved in the ‘chop’ had been filled, so once more we rolled up our sleeves and started to shovel.
As time went on, though the cold persisted, we came to enjoy our morning walks through the village. Though early, it was always busy, and we waved to the men at the blacksmiths, and laughed at their wolf-whistles. Our hands roughened, and backs strengthened, but we got bored filling bags of chop, this wasn’t what I’d thought I’d joined the Land army for. Then, one day Jack said I was to go to the stables with him.
I’d expected rows of loose boxes, with horses heads looking over to see who’d come in, I’d imagined they would whinny softly to Jack who fed and cared for them, but my illusions were shattered by two rows of huge buttocks. It was a windowless building with a central concrete path, flanked by lines of huge restless flanks and shuffling hooves. I followed Jack through the dimness to the far end of the building, dwarfed by those strong hindquarters, and horribly conscious of the proximity of those hooves. I was shown the box of chop and oats, Jack measured an amount then slapped a horse on the rump. As it clip clopped to one side, he walked between it and the partition of it’s stall to put it’s food in a manger. That, he said, was all I had to do, and sweep up the muck into a barrow, then dump it outside on the heap. He went to do some other jobs and said he’d be back soon.
It seemed simple, so with a measure of feed I approached the first horse and clapped it on the rump. It didn’t move. Another slap, and no response. ‘Move over’ I said, but it was deaf. I tried squeezing through, but it shifted it’s bulk to block my way and lean on me. As I squeezed out fast it stamped it’s hoof just missing my toes. The other horses sensed the situation and became restless too, tails swished and heads strained against their halters, I didn’t fancy my chances with any of them!
I thought of the milkman’s horse back home, a sweet little thing, I’d had rides in the float as a child. With fresh determination I approached another horse and slapped it as hard as I dared. A horse further down the line lashed out with both feet, I’d never seen anything like that before, the speed was incredible. If I’d been behind it I would have been a skinful of splinters. Somewhat shaken I appealed to the awkward monster, ‘Oh come along, do move over, I’ve got your food for you.’
An unrestrained chuckle from the doorway surprised me, I turned to see a fat little man with a round face and a horseshoe embroidered down his shirt front, and I guessed I had met '‘The Boss.' ‘T bloody hoss canna understand thee,’ he boomed, ‘Dey it like this.’ He walloped the rump and shouted ‘Git up yer great bugger,’ and the horse clip clopped to one side. ‘Dey it that way,’ he yelled at me. In his dynamic presence one had no choice but to obey, I whammed the horse and bellowed 'Git up yer great bugger' with instant success.
He watched me feed three more horses then left, highly amused and chuckling gleefully. That was the worst swearword I’d used in my life.
I worked around the stables for a few more days, odd jobs, cleaning, and taking the horses out to drink at the water tank. Most were large shire horses, resting from their gruelling work in the forests. They were not trusting, or to be trusted, they would kick, bite, and stamp. Jack’s job, caring for them and doctoring them was dangerous, and I was relieved when the next week I was told to report to the Home Farm.
Though we were in the heart of the country, it was only forty miles from where most of us lived on the industrial coast. So, if we had our bus fares there was just time to get home after our Saturday morning work then return to the hostel for Sunday evening.
I would usually go to see Jack’s family on my way back from home and sit by the fire in their kitchen, watching the younger children getting washed in the tin bath. The fire heated an oven on one side and a boiler on the other, which was filled by the oldest girl carrying water in a jug from the kitchen tap. When it was hot, the water was drawn off from a tap near the base. After the baby was bathed, and dried on a towel warmed on the oven, he was cuddled by one of us whilst the next youngest was bathed then handed to someone whilst the next was done. It was strange too see Jack who was so tough with the horses, gently nursing his children, their little arms wrapped around his neck, and kissing his rough red cheeks.
After the children had gone to bed the rest of us had supper. This was a grand meal as Sunday was baking day. There was meat tart, prune pie, custard tart and delicious home made bread. We relaxed, laughed and talked about the week, then Jack’s wife would walk me back to the hostel, whatever the weather.
The hostel was a busy place on Sunday nights, girls came back in all sorts of moods some were glad to have seen their boyfriends, and some were home sick.
The building was L shaped, one arm was a dormitory with forty beds, the other, was the recreation and dining area, each was heated by a coke burning stove at each end.
The dormitory was partitioned, we slept in bunks, two pairs to each partition, with a wardrobe, chest of drawers, and a mirror. The recreation area had some chairs around the stoves, and there were long tables and chairs in the dining room.
The cook was a young lady from the village, and our evening meals were plain but filling. It was our lunch boxes that weren’t so good. It was alright if we got cups of tea and something to eat from the farmers during the day, but otherwise, the few meagre sandwiches weren’t enough to see us through.
Beyond the kitchen, lived the warden, what luxury! Carpets, tasteful furnishings, and curtains. How easy for those privileged women to be pleasant, it seemed to us too nice a job to be classed as war work.
At the end of the dormitory was the ablution area, toilets, basins, baths, sink for washing clothes, and a large hand-wringer with wooden rollers. There was no hint of luxury within the building, but we were glad to gather round the stoves for warmth on winter evenings, whilst those who had the energy could play table tennis.
In the summer we would lie on our bunks and read, or write letters to our boyfriends in the forces. We didn’t argue much, and were a hardworking lot. We elected a head girl each term to deal with ideas and complaints, and mediate with the warden. There were never many complaints, for Britain was at war. Our loved ones were away fighting for us, and our families at home lived with the fear of being bombed. Their nights were often spent in air raid shelters, and there were shortages and rationing.
We knew that Britain needed every man and woman to do their utmost to help our armed forces and keep industry moving, and higher food production was necessary to keep it all going.
This is a extract from my Mother's Land Army memorys. |
Rita May Field I live on a sheltered housing scheme and recently got to know Rita Knight....nee Rita May Field. She was born in Sydenham in 1927 and joined the Women's Land Army as soon as she was eligible. I have a particular interest in recording the memories of these gallant older ladies who served our country during wartime. Rita gave me a list of some of the women she remembered serving with. They are: John Bagley, Olive Brown, Sheila Catcheside, Doris Chamberlain, Mary Coldham, Emily le Berre, Ella Olinski, Ethel Quin, Doreen(Rusty)Reynolds, Vera Robbins, Tina Robinson, Marian Smith, Clifford Walters, and Audrey Washington. Rita was stationed in Worcester and stayed in a hostel, not on a farm, towards the end of the war (1944-45 or thereabouts.) The area she served in was known as The Tything. She would love to hear from anyone who served with her.
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Phyl Wardale My mother, Phyl Wardale, was warden of both WLA (Women's Land Army) hostels in Wendy & Sawtry, England in the late 1940s. As her young daughter, I lived in the hostels with her. I remember it being very exciting for a small child and the landgirls were brilliant to me. I can remember several names, but would love to hear from anyone who would be interested in getting in touch.
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Irene Sanderson Irene joined the WLA in May 1943 two weeks after her 16th birthday. She was sent from Sheffield to March in Cambridgeshire. When she arrived she was sent to stay with a Mrs. Wellum (a very religious lady) before being moved to a hostel in the High St. which had once been a furniture shop.
She did general farm work; everything from taking the bull to the cows to harvesting turnips of which there was an awful lot. She ate a lot of beetroot sandwiches and learnt a lot about life. Despite a few health scares, Irene is well and happy and living with her husband, Arthur, in Sheffield.
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"Titch" Brunton I am trying to help my mother locate one of the land girls her mother worked with. All I know is her name was Titch Brunton. I don't know where her mother served or any more information, her mother won't give her any information at all and has always been very secretive about her war years. |
Margerate Alice Elphee I am contacting you about my Mother who was in the Land army during world War Two. She died Eighteen years ago, and I and my Father and family think it is disgusting that only surviving Land Army Girls can claim the badge of recognition. I tell my family all i can remember about my mothers efforts to put food on the tables during the war.about how they would have starved to death themselves if it wasn't for the generousity of the American superfortress base nearby. Obviously there won't be many survivers to claim the badge which will make the whole project a lot cheaper for the government.Sounds about right! Cheapskates! What a way to insult the Dead heroes to whom we owe so much. |
Iris Young My mother Iris Young served in the Womens Land Army from the 9th February 1946 to 19th March 1948, she left to get married, is there anybody out there who remembers her, i am looking for any old photos of my mother when she was in the WLA. Would love to know where she was stationed while she was in the WLA, any stories about her life then. I do know she met my father while they were both in the Army.
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Ruby Phylis McClusky My nan Irene May Bridge (nee Mullins) is collecting her medal next month for her service in the Land Army (Henlow Grange). Afternoon tea has been arrange at Henlow Grange (now a Champneys Hotel) with a small ceremony to collect her award from the Mayor of Bedfordshire. I have been asked by members of the family if I can find out about her friend Ruby Phylis McClusky. I have very few details but would appreciate any help, advice orinformation anyone can supply. The lady I am looking for is Ruby Phylis McClusky born 15/03/1930. Her last known address in 1947 was 59 Henchman Street, Old Oak Estate, East Acton, London W12. I believe that she married in the 1st Qtr of 1951 in Ealing to Cyril K Bailey. I have no further information. If you think you can help, please email me. Look forward to hearing from someone!! |
Irene May Mullins My nan Irene May Bridge (nee Mullins) is collecting her medal next month for her service in the Land Army (Henlow Grange). Afternoon tea has been arranged at Henlow Grange (now a Champneys Hotel) with a small ceremony to collect her award from the Mayor of Bedfordshire. |
Dorothy May "Dolly" Tanser My Mum was in the land army and I remember her telling me about the baby mice that would geting her hair and how she would tuck her pants into her socks to stop the mice running up her legs.
She is my hero.
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Anne Grace May Munday Anne Munday (now Brooks)
I am writing on behalf of my mother Anne. She served in the Women's Land Army from 1942-45. She was posted to Hertfordshire, to Bennington House. My mother is now 93 and as sharp as a tack. She has numerous photos of her days in the Army taken with friends she made while living and working there. I know she would love to hear from anyone who was there at the same time she was. My mother lives in Tasmania Australia.
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Margaret Clark I served with the Women's Land Army from 1946 to 1948 at Bennions Farm, Stackpole, Pembroke. I also spent 3 months working on Mr. Hines' Longstead Farm, Northumberland. I would love to hear from any colleagues who worked on these farms. I would also like to march with WLA on Rememberence Sunday and would greatly appreciate any advice on how I might achieve this.
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Bridget Thornton My Mother served in the Land Army and was stationed in North Devon.
I believe she resided in Instow at some point.
Unfortunately she has recently been diagnosed with Alzheimers Disease.
We are planning a family 'get together' in the area during September of this year when she will be 80.
Is there anyone out there who perhaps remembers her as a lively young girl who was absolutely thrilled to be in Devon and I know she loved every minute of her time in the WLA.
I know that she often drove a busload of gals around. She left when she was diagnosed with TB.
Her married name is Pankhurst |
Margaret Clark I served with The Womens Land Army from 1946 to 1948 at Bennion's Farm, Stackpole, PEMBROKE. And 3 months working on Mr Hines' Longstead Farm Northumberland.
I would love to hear from any colleagues who worked on these farms.
I would also like to march with WLA on Remembrance Sunday and would greatly appreciate any advice on how I might achieve this. |
May Phaby I served in the Land Army for nine years in Cornwall from 1941 to 1950, when it disbanded. We had a review at Penzance by the Late King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. This was a great occasion in our Land Army lives, an unforgettable time.
I was mostly employed on dairy farms around West Cornwall. I still have my original badge,armlets,certificates and of course a lot of photographs. I would love to meet up with any former Land Girls who knew me to share our memories. My Land Army number was 39311 which I remember as clear as a bell.
I feel that all the Land Army girls helped to feed the nation, some even losing their lives, especially on the east coast.
I continued in dairy farming up until the sixties when I married an ex-farmer, John Lawley. |
Phyllis Mildred "Philly, Milly or Chilly" Chilcott My mother's early atempts to join the Land Army were thwarted, they would'nt take her! she was too young!! But after eventually joining up towards the end of the War and spending many happy times based near Brent Pelham it has to this day shaped and defined her life. With a life long love of nature and cows! On the occasion of her 80th Birthday we had a family gathering at the Pub in the village where she was based, for lunch. During those 'happy times'(aside from the sadness, horror,s and futility of war) she spent many an evening in this pub playing the piano and having her drinks lined up (a small line, it was the war after all!), and having a life long love of Whiskey! (in a responsible moderate drinking sort of way!) She still keeps in contact with a fellow 'girl' Vera, who now lives near Kings Lynn. Having finally been recognised for their efforts by the powers that be, in the form of a Service Medal and after having marched past the Whitehall Cenotaph and now more recently the memorial to all those 'women who served', and with probably being one of the youngest remaining Land girls thankfully surviving, she and I could'nt be more proud of her doing her bit. |
Megan George My Mum Megan George served in the Land Army during the war and I have a photograph of her in her uniform. All I know is that she was on a farm in Leicestershire and that she had a really good time whilst there. The work was hard but the girls had fun. My Mum died in 1973 at the young age of 52 years but I would love to hear from anyone who may have more information as to where she was stationed and what are their recollections of her. |
Mavis Lindsay My dear friend Mavis will be 80 next year. She immigrated to Canada in 1947, and lost all documentation regarding her service in the Women's Land Army. She served in Selsey, Sussex, I believe until she left for Canada in early 1947. I would love to find some connection to the WLA for her, possibly even a person who remembers her. |
Millicent Byrom Penman My aunt Millicent Byrom Penman was in the Womens Land Army during the last war. She came from Lanarkshire in Scotland. If anyone remembers her I would love to hear from you, thank you. |
Anne Edith Louvain Older My aunt, Anne Edith Louvain Older , who died in 1999, served in the Women's Land Army from 24/07/1942 until 30/11/1950.
She used to tell us many stories of her time during the war and when we cleared her little flat after her death I found some memorabilia.
I found your web site to be most interesting and I know she would have loved to read all the memories, unfortunately we only got our first pc after her death and so she never saw these. I know that for part of her service she was on a farm in Sussex at Pevensey belonging to Mr. Knight where she was billetted with a Mrs. Churcher and she was also in Devon near Tiverton. We live quite near to Pevensey and I think the farm has long gone and been built upon. |
Mary Wainwright My mother, Mary Wainwright, was in the Land Army during the 2nd World War. I have photographs of her on the farm and with the horses. I believe she was with a farmer and his family in the Yorkshire Dales. Sadly she died in 1976.
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Gladys Letton My mother was from Bristol and talked so much of her time in the W.L.A. Her sister remembers her being away a lot, but we only have one picture of her in uniform. Please help. Can anyone remember her?
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Mary Frank My Mother, who's maiden name was Mary Frank was in The Women's Land Army, working for Mizens market gardeners at one of their farms on Reigate Road, Surrey. She now only has just a few recollections of that time, but prompted by the recent pre-publicity surrounding the issue of the Women's Land Army Badge, she wrote the following article which was published in the Western Morning News:
Land Girl badges
A few weeks ago you published an article about the Land Army Girls receiving a badge. I would very much like to receive one.
I was a Land Girl on a farm near Epsom in Surrey, directly in the path of the German bombers to Biggin Hill aerodrome.
Unfortunately I got blown up by the first "doodlebug" dropped and lost hearing in one ear. As it was on soft soil the rest of me was OK! But nearby houses were demolished, and we were subjected to a lot shrapnel from own nearby guns.
If anyone can help me get the badge I would be very pleased. I am now 88 years old. My Land Girl Headquarters was at Guildford Surrey.
Mary Stidston
In fact when the bomb landed they all rushed to help the families in the houses hit, a difficult task I am told. She was covered in blood and a ambulance crew wanted to take her to hospital, but she wouldn't go. As it happens she was only suffering from a heavy nose bleed. So she cycled home to Banstead where her mother had heard about the bomb. But as she walked through the door her mother saw all the blood and immediately feinted!!
I would point out that we have now submitted an application for a badge for her.
 Mary is on the left in this photo
 Mary is at the front, far left.
It would be interesting to see if anyone else will recognise themselves in the photos. |
Pauline Davis My mum, Pauline Davis, was in the Land Army, WW2. As far as I know she worked at a farm or place called Breedon, I think it was a poultry unit. I would love to hear from any ladies who remember her or the place. |
Margaret Clark My name is Margaret Clark and I served in the Land Army between 1945 and 1948, firstly on the Home Farm in Pembrokeshire run by John Bennion and then on the Old Moor Farm near Bothal in Northumberland run by Mr J Hine.
I would very much like to hear from anyone who who also worked on these farms. I would also like to march on the Remembrance Day Parade and would be very grateful if I could get any advice as to how I would go about this. |
Jill Elizabeth Bennet Neame My mother served with the Land Army. Her name was Jill Elizabeth Bennet Neame.
I would love to hear from or of anyone that might have known her. |
Bella Sutherland Murray A few memories as told by my Mother, Bella Sutherland Campbell (nee Murray).
Mum joined the Land Army in 1939. She first worked at Shandon Farm, Croftamie, Scotland. The farm belonged to a Mrs Orr and Mum refers to the farm as “McKinley’s Farm”. Next she worked at Major Kirkwood’s farm at Darnly Mains, Thornlybank, near Renfrew, Scotland and then at Mc Causlin’s Farm, (not the correct spelling), Kirkmichael, Helensburgh, Scotland.
Mum met her husband, William “Willie” Jack and married on the 25 December 1941. For a time thereafter she worked at “Sannie” Simpson’s Garden Centre, Helensburgh before she left the Land Army.
A magazine during the 50’s/60’s featured Mum in an article entitled “When Miss Murray Talks About Farms She Talks About Calves”. Mum thought the article might have appeared in the Country Life magazine. |
Gertrude Smith I am trying to get service details on my mother, Gertrude Smith, about her service in the WLA. She married an American sailor in Exeter in 1946 so she must have served nearby. I only know she worked on a farm with other girls. |
Eleanor "Norah" Durie I was stationed at Bemersyde House during the war. As a member of the Scottish Womens Land Army I was 19 when i joined. I remember having my 21st Birthday at Bemersyde. |
Joan Catherine Flynn My mother was in the womens land army in the late 1940s as she ha now passed I would love to know if anyone may still remember her . |
Joyce Mildred Iris Barker My name is Joyce Barker, and my daughter is typing this for me in Hampshire, and I'm living in St.Austell, Cornwall now, and we're doing this via a telephone. Kathleen Strong, was my best friend, we took a day off from work and went to Birmingham, where we saw a lorry full of land army girls in bales of hay with a fork in their hand. We liked the uniform so much, Kath and I said, thats it we're going to join up. We went to the cart and asked them what we had to do, and we went and joined up straight away. We had to wait to three weeks. The place they sent us to was a hostel in Small Heath, Dudley. We think there was about 30 other girls there too. The next day we went on a lorry to a farm and we went potato picking, our first day, very hard work. Other days we went thrashing, fruit picking and sprout picking, we got frost bite through sprout picking and had to go hospital, off sick for about a week. We loved our nights out at the local dance and the pub. The pub was called the Yew Tree with a big dance hall at the back. I've got some really funny tales of our dances and doing the jitterbug! We went to an RAF station dance, the whole hostel was invited. We went on a lorry! Next day, after the vaseline had worn off from our faces from the good sleep, back to work again! I drove a tractor and a milkround, milking cows, this was at Chadersley Corbett at 5 o.clock in the morning! |
Letitia Maguire I am trying to find details of my mum, Letitia (Letty) Maguire, who died in 1950, aged 24, when I was 11 months old. She lived in the Rotherham area, possibly Wickersley and I know she became a Land Girl, and married Ken Depledge at Wickersley church in 1946 but have no other details. Her parents were Hannah and Robert Maguire, and her stepfather was Ted Pollard. Please contact me if you can tell me how to find out anything more about her time in the Land Army, |
Florence Docie Bray My mother was in the Womens Land Army from 26 June 1944 until 8 March 1947.
We have recently found details of this and a pesonal message signed by HM The Queen as my mother passed away on 1 July 2008. Her Number was 146332. |
Myrtle Lucy Davies Myrtle Davies was a Landgirl at Catsley Farm Kinlet in South Shropshire, She was recently awarded a badge to mark Landgirls contribution to the war effort, not before time I might add!, sadly Myrtle died the day before her badge arrived, so she never saw it. To continue her landgirl story, she never went home after her service, she married the farmer,s son, Geoffrey Griffiths. I am researching my family history, and I am struggling to find anything about the landgirls of South Shropshire, Myrlte and Geoffrey are my cousin, sadly both deceased now. I have a write-up, from the local paper, for Mrylte when she died, I will email it to you. I am also searching for anything on the Home Guard in South Shropshire, as my Father, John William Hulme was Lt. Hulme in Cleobury Mortimer Home Guard, South Shropshire. Any help in either case will be gratefully recieved. |
Patricia Avrylle Trickey Mother, Pat Trickey served in the land army. I believe she worked for a Col Hillhead. If anyone remembers her. I would love to hear from them. |
Thelma "Tina" Green My mother, Thelma Green, joined the land army and was stationed in Pallington Dorset, I can vaguely remember the stories she told and her smile when she told me the locals called her Tina though I dont know why. Sadly my Mum has been passed away some years now but I would love to hear from anyone who may have known her or been in Pallington at the same time which I believe was around 1948 as she served six years. It would be wonderfull if someone could tell us some stories of that time as knowing my Mum there must have been some good ones. Thank ou |
Gladys Emberson
Miss Gladys Emberson was my grandmother,since she past away I have been searching through old family photos and have found a photo of her in 'Land army' uniform. I have spoken to various family memberswho have confirmed that she served in WW2.
If you could help me with any other information about her and her service I would be very very greatful.
Thank you |
Elizabeth "Betty" Wharton I served at Springwell Farm. Washington. County Durham. I can remember moira and olive though their last names escape me.I also served in the Agricultoral College in County Durham.i served from 1945 to 1950 |
Patricia Mclaughlin I am trying to find out about my Mother's time in the Land Army. My Mother died when I was young and my Father not long after so it is proving difficult finding things out. Her name was Patricia Mclaughlin and she lived in Birmingham at the time of the war. |
Sylvia Beecham My mother-in-law served with the Land Army in the Sheffield area during Second World War. Mum is now 82 and her memory is not as sharp as it used to be. She as asked if I could try to contact someone, so that is what I am trying to do.
Her name was Sylvia Beecham and I think she served her time in Derbyshire. She lived in Sheffield but left there to join up.
Thanks for your time look I look forward to hearing from anyone who remembers mum as she has never been in contact since the end of the war. |
Audrey Marika Hope Southella Dairy Farm My mum, Audrey Marika Hope from Cottingham, was a Land Army Girl stationed at Southella Dairy Farm East Yorkshire & Anlaby. If there is someone out there who would remember my mum, she would be pleased to hear from you. |
Patricia Mclaughlin I am trying to find out about my Mother's time in the Land Army. My Mother died when I was young and my Father not long after so it is proving difficult finding things out. Her name was Patricia Mclaughlin and she lived in Birmingham at the time of the war. |
Audrey Marika Hope Southella Dairy Farm My mum, Audrey Marika Hope from Cottingham, was a Land Army Girl stationed at Southella Dairy Farm East Yorkshire & Anlaby. If there is someone out there who would remember my mum, she would be pleased to hear from you. |
Evelyn Holland My Mother Evelyn Holland served in the Land Army at Detling. She often talks of the time she spent there. Did anyone else serve there or is related to someone who did? She would be very interested.
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Ellen Hicks I was in the Land Army from 1946 until 1948 in Dorset, in a hostel called Woodyates.
During the terrible winter of 1946/47, we didn't work for 3 months, but just sat around in the hostel or played ping pong or darts!
We had a small coal fire in the bedroom, and were allowed one bucket of coal per day! We used to take it in turns to creep down the cellar and steal some more. One night somebody got caught by the warden and she made us take all the hot coals off the fire as a punishment! There were no carpets on the floor so we filled all the gaps with newspaper. What a winter that was, but it was followed by the longest, hottest summer on record. I wonder if anybody remembers Woodyates?.
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Maida Jane Lewis My mum, Maida Jane Lewis, was in the Land Army. She worked for Mrs Bennion at Home Farm, Stackpole in Pembrokeshire.
It seems to me that those who lived through such times should be able to share whatever are their feelings, no matter how insignificant they may think they are, to benefit those who still survive and those wanting to remember.
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Jessie Mary Russell I met my late wife, Jessie Mary Russell, from Glasgow, at a dance held in HMS Dundonald while I was in the Royal Navy in 1945. Jessie was working on a farm as a Land Girl, near Craigie, Kilmarnock, Scotland.
We used to meet by me taking a bus to Kilmarnock and Jessie, after a long walk/run to the end of the road, catching a bus to Kilmarnock to meet me there. Sometimes she managed to borrow a bike and leave it at a smallholding near the bus stop with friends she had made.
We used walk back to the farm at the end of the evening, picking up the bike on the way, until I was posted to the Far East.
I would love to go back to the farm but unfortunately I cannot remember the name of the farm or the owners. The only thing I remember was that between the main road and the farm there was a creamery on the left and the farm was on the right. I went to the area earlier this year but although I managed to find the old Naval base I could not identify the farm.
If anyone remembers Jessie I would love to hear from them. |
Joan Smithson My late mother was in the Women's Land Army with the no 42884. Her name at the time was Joan Smithson and came from Bootle in Liverpool and was 18 when she joined up in Lancs.
She was transferred to Salop on the 7th of July, 1941, resided in a hostel in Shrewsbury and worked at Wellington farm Eyton.
I have several pictures of mother with other Land Girls and at work on the farm including one of mother and another Land Girl feeding the cows with the Minister of Agriculture Mr R S Hudson watching during a visit to
Shropshire. This picture and a write up appeared in the Wellington Journal and Shrewsbury News May 16th 1942.
I have my mother's Tie , Armband and Badge. I also have my mother's release card and letter from the County Secretary of Shropshire, 66 Abbey Forgate, Shrewsbury granting mother's discharge on account of marriage.
Mother served from 18/04/1941 to 30/06/1945. |
Sheila Farrel My mother-in-law was in the Land Army in Suffolk. Her name was Sheila Farrel, originally from Luddenden Foot near Halifax West Yorkshire.
She has just had her 84th birthday and it would be nice to collate some info together for her. Can anyone help? |
Rachel Rodgers My mother, Rachel Rodgers, joined the Land Army, possibly around 1947. She was billeted at a horticultural school near Oxford. |
Ruth Brookes I served in the Land Army in 1944 - at Blairdrummond, Perthshire. I was staying in Bankhead House. I would like to hear from anyone who remembers me then.
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Mary Connell-Jarrett My mother kept detailed diaries of her time in the land army which run to 3 volumes from her filling in her application to join 19th September 1939 following the declaration of war only 16 days earlier. She started training at Wye College Kent learning poultry work and after finishing training in December 1939 had to wait until February 1940 to commence work at Pluckley Kent with the English Flax company where she worked until 1941 (not sure of date as this year her diaries aren't always filled in towards the end of her Land Army days)She then joined the WAAF (more money and better conditions I believe) as a RT operator and became a LACW she often talked about some of the raids she was involved with but these aren't noted down in the smaller diaries she kept I presume because of the secrecy of some of thes missions. She met my father who was a bomber armourer and the rest they say is history!!
The Land Army diaries are full of the films they went to see, food of the time newspaper cuttings, photoes from Picture Post including one of herself, there is even a detailed account of a night time air raid on Stanley Park Road, Carshalton Beeches, Surrey on Sunday 11th may 1941. She was sat in an anderson shelter in the garden and wrote her diary as the raid happened culminating with the point at which they decided to return to the house and then they wer almost swept of their feet so sat tight unti they heard the all clear at which they discovered the back of their houe had disapeared just as if a knife had sliced of the back of the house all the beds and pictures still in place. She notes that "London is burning what is there to come and what will happen to us?"
I have her enamel badge, felt armband, tie and these diaries.
I would be happy to share the contents with anyone to who they would be useful I do not at present wish to part with them as they are part of my family history. My mother died in 1994 |
Susan Chalmers Tait I served on the Black Isle at Jemimavile Cromarty, working on the land, also in Inverness, and Edinburgh, and back to the Black Isle, some names I remember are, Mary Macpherson, Ella O'Neal, Reena Blair, Eadie Sommerville,and Susan Shields, are you still around would love to know |
Rose Elizabeth Horner Miss Rose Horner, 94 in January 2008, was the lifetime companion of my Great Aunt Anne Yenuzaites who sadly died a few years ago. Auntie Rose and Auntie Annie, as I knew them as a child, served in the Land Army together somewhere in Essex. I don't know the exact dates and Rose can't remember them now (or where they worked). I asked her if she would like to apply for the medal but she doesn't want to, saying there's no point as she "Doesn't go out anymore." She has some funny tales about lack of food (mean farmers wives), declining to go to dances with US servicemen so that they could use the bathroom while the other girls were out(!), and sneaking away because they couldn't take it any more. I have a photograph of them in a group of landgirls but it is small so probably won't scan very well. If you would like to see it, let me know. |
Anne Selman My Mum, Anne Selman, served in the Land Army in England towards the end of WW11. She trained as a nurse afterwards, and emigrated to New Zealand. She subsequently married a Kiwi, and had 5 children. She's still alive, although has very advanced Alzheimers Disease. If anyone can remember meeting, or serving with Anne, or if she worked on a farm you know of, I'd be most interested, and delighted, to hear. Please contact me. |
Rita Katherine Watts I am writing for my mum, who served in the WLA.She would love to know if any of her old pals are still with us. She was stationed at Lee on Solent, Hampshire, at Privet farm and Chester lodge. She is 86 and very proud of her new medal. She is in good health and is making a trip to Australia Oct 08. Her maiden name was Rita Watts, she would be very interested in any information regarding any land girls in the Lee on Solent area. |
Jean Bennett Langtry My mum Jean Langtry(deceased)was in the Land Army but unfortunately I have no idea where she was posted but I do have some pics of her in uniform that I will look for and post at a later date she married my dad Jak Tennent in 1946. |
Florence Irene Jones My late mother Flo Jones, served in the womens land army during WW2. All I know is that she worked on a farm somewhere near Hythe in Kent. If there is anyone who remembers her please get in touch. |
Vera Margaret Cecilia "Vee" Byng My mother sadly passed away earlier this year, leaving few clues as to when she joined up or when she left the LA.
I was born in April 1943, so it is reasonable to assume that she would have ceased working some months before!
She married my father in 1939, and lived with him in Deal, Kent. He was in a Reserved Occupation throughout the war as a Chief Sanitary Inspector/ Acting Borough Surveyor for the local council, as well as being a captain in the Home Guard responsible initially for anti-gas precautions. He is occasionally mentioned in passing in a book on Deal at War.
The marriage was not a happy one, for various reasons, and Mum hinted that this and a feeling that she should be doing "something" for the war effort contributed to her decision to join up.
She worked at Solley's Farm at Ripple, just a couple of miles inland from Deal. Today it is well known for it's diversification into ice-cream making(delicious!) and running a farm shop. The same family still own and run the farm. Sadly, the generation that may have known my Mum have since passed on, and she was,unfortunately, strangely reticent about this chapter in her young life.
About a year before she died she did tell me, however, that she always looked forward to the hearty farmhouse-style breakfasts which somehow overlooked the fact that food- rationing existed! On another occasion, for a dare, she sat on back of the farm's prize bull!
The marriage finished soon after the War, and she remarried, becoming Vera Royle. Regrettably, she left no photographs,or other ephemera, of her work in the LA.
She was widowed in the 1970's and eventually moved to a beautiful cottage in the Cotswolds.
I'm hoping to visit the National Archives in the near future to see if I can trace her service record.
I'll keep you posted.
Ray
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Joyce Kathleen Sully My Mom Joyce Sully was in the Land Army in Devon and would love to hear from anyone who remembers her, please email me and I will pass on any messages. |
Jane Beattie Kelly My mother Jane Beattie Kelly served in the Women's Land Army at Dunalastair Gardens, Kinloch, Rannoch, Scotland from 1941-1944. Is there any way to find a record of her or any photos in an archive?
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Cicely Adams I am trying to make contact with any other ladies that my mother-in-law served with in the Land Army. Her maiden name was Cicely Adams, married name Cicely Monk. Served around Watton-at-Stone, Hertfordshire.
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Does anyone know of Audrey who worked at Kinns farm in Cranfield, Bedfordshire in the second World War as a land girl? Audrey worked on a farm run by John Kinns, the farm is at Wharley End, just on the edge of the airfield. The dates must have been around 1943 - 1945 sort of period. it was quite a small farm. Mostly arable I think. John Kinns lived with his wife and children (5) at Wharley End Cottage. The eldest son was called Peter Kinns. Is Audrey still alive? Sorry, but I do not know her surname.
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I am looking for the Land Girl who worked on our farm at Kites Hall, Old, Northamptonshire during the Second world War. Her name was Phillippa; but, sadly, I do not have a surname.
Hope someone might be able to help locate Phillipa.
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An exciting new organisation is having its first meeting on Monday 13th December at 2pm in Edinburgh. The Scottish Women's Land Army Organisation is being set up to educate the public about the work the WLA did during the Second World War in Scotland and to preserve the memories of those ex-land girls still with us.
Thank you for your time.
Ruth Boreham
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If you have any tales or photographs of The Women's Land Army during World War Two please get in touch, we would love to record your story.
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The Womens Land Army for those who served in England, Scotland and Wales records are available to view on microfiche at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey. The microfilm you need to ask for is:
Series: MAF 421: Ministry of Food: Women's Land Army: Index to Service Records of the Second World War 1939-1948.
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