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Land Army girls recognised at last
The famous land army girls of the second world war are at last to have their work recognised. Those who turned their attention to the land in 1939-45 can from now apply to have their efforts recognised for a new "badge of recognition".
The badge will acknowledge those surviving members of the Women's Land Army and Women's Timber Corps who worked on the Home Front to provide food and timber for the nation during the World War 1 and World War 2 and there were thousands in Cornwall as well as in neighbouring Devon.
Application forms are now available for anyone who believes that they may be eligible for a badge.
Kathleen Holder and her friend Ellen Tout, who both live nearby in the Heavitree area of Exeter both served in the Land Army.
Kathleen said: "It was very hard work but overall it was a positive experience and I wouldn't have done anything else. It's nice to be recognised after all these years and would urge people to apply for their badges."
Ellen said: "Being in the Land Army was a great experience at the time and I got to see and experience a way of life I knew nothing about."
Badges will be awarded to surviving members as of December 6 2007.
Kathleen, who lived Plymouth during the War, was sent to a farm in North Devon where she was trained in milking. One of her memorable experiences was catching ringworm while feeding calves and being taken by the farmer to a charmer.
"The farmer insisted I shouldn't go to see the doctor but instead took me on a horse and buggy to another farm. I got off the cart and was met by a very elderly man who asked my name and then went off. The farmer told me he had gone to say a charm to make the ringworm disappear. Unfortunately it didn't and I ended up seeing the doctor anyway.
"I was then sent to a farm in Yealmpton, near Plymouth, where I used my new milking skills as well as ploughing and hoeing. I then went to stay at a hostel in Dartington Hall milking and looking after the cows from very early in the morning.
"I moved again to another hostel in Totnes and went out with another girl hoeing on the farms.
"I remember going to one farm where the farmer remarked on our packed lunches of jam and paste sandwiches. He told us to feed them to the pigs and invited us to have a proper farm lunch with his family instead.
"I also remember my friend insisting we sneak off to the Seven Stars Hotel in Totnes to celebrate my 21st birthday. I had a sherry which was my first ever alcoholic drink and if my mother had found out she would have killed me!
"On the day the war ended in Europe I was out ploughing in the fields when the Land Army officer came up and asked why I was working as, unknown to me, we had been given the day off. However, I couldn't just leave and stayed to finish the ploughing and milking.
"It was very hard work but overall it was a positive experience and I wouldn't have done anything else."
Ellen who is now 79, joined the Land Army in October 1947.
"We came from London originally but were evacuated to Dorset at the start of the war. My father suggested I join the Land Army and I went to work for an elderly couple at a farm near Lychett Matravers. I had no knowledge or experience of farm work but I became a milk maid which I loved.
"I lived on the farm with the couple who were very nice to me. It was hard work and I used to clean out the sheds but suffered severe pain in my leg from lifting the wheelbarrow.
"I had to stop working for a while and when I was better I was sent to a hostel in Dorchester with the other girls. A lorry used to come and pick us up in the mornings and dropped us off at various farms where we did general farm work like hoeing. Once we had to help cutting down overgrown trees in a park.
"There were women from all over the country in the hostel and we used to have fine times and a good laugh, singing in the back of the lorry and being invited to dances at the nearby army camp. We were once invited onto the navy ships based at Weymouth.
"I left the Land Army in July, 1949 but it was a great experience for a young woman at the time."
11:27am Monday 28th January 2008
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CommentPosted by: H.A. Sellars, Lincolnshire on 6:28pm Sun 3 Feb 08
My late mother worked very hard in the Womens Land Army at Stenigot for four years during the War. I am very sad that because she has passed away she will not be able to receive her badge of recognition.
My late mother worked very hard in the Womens Land Army at Stenigot for four years during the War. I am very sad that because she has passed away she will not be able to receive her badge of recognition.
Posted by: Meg Smith, Australia on 12:07pm Wed 6 Feb 08
I am also sad that my mother who passed away will not be able to receive her badge of recognition. She worked in the Northamptonshire farmlands during the war. Is there any possibility that next of kin and descendants can apply for the medial. I can get replacement medals for my father who served in France but not for my mother.
I am also sad that my mother who passed away will not be able to receive her badge of recognition. She worked in the Northamptonshire farmlands during the war. Is there any possibility that next of kin and descendants can apply for the medial. I can get replacement medals for my father who served in France but not for my mother.
Posted by: sandra crawford on 9:18am Wed 13 Feb 08
my mam was in the land army lillian davies and worked on farms around northampton and the northeast how can she claim her badh=ge? where does she get a application form?
my mam was in the land army lillian davies and worked on farms around northampton and the northeast how can she claim her badh=ge? where does she get a application form?
Posted by: Trevor Cotsell, Portsmouth on 7:18pm Mon 3 Mar 08
My Mother was in the land army in Cornwall. How can she claim her badge, Where do we get the application form from
My Mother was in the land army in Cornwall. How can she claim her badge, Where do we get the application form from
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