The Women's Land Army was first established by the British government during the First World War. Women were needed to work on farms as labourers as most men had been conscripted into the army. By 1917 over 260,000 women had registered for work, but after the war they were disbanded.

At the start of World War Two the government again realised that women would be needed and the Land Army was re-established once more. By the end of the war over 80,000 women had either volunteered or been conscripted to work on farms across the country.

Their jobs included general farm work, such as ploughing, sowing, harvesting and threshing. Some were employed to catch and kill vermin such as rats, some to fell trees or work in sawmills, others to work in drainage. The work was hard, the hours long and the pay low. After deductions for food and lodging most women took home less than £1. 12d.

When the war ended in 1945 the Women's Land Army continued for another five years, finally being disbanded in 1950.

Cindy Rowland.

Useful links for the land army:

www.wartimememories.co.uk/womenslandarmy.html