WOMENS LAND ARMY

On the weekend of the 21st and 22nd of August 2010 at our Dig for Victory 1940s weekend, Gracie and her team were proud to create a 'Wall of Honour' for the Women's Land Army. This was the result of an appeal , made on local radio and in the local press, for Land Girls or their families to get in touch - the response was excellent . As might be expected , most replies came from within Wiltshire but a few were from farther afield, and one came in from as far away as New Zealand !

Over a number of months Gracie, helped by Gertie, Freddie and Joe, wrote and spoke to over 20 land girls (or their sons and daughters) and enjoyed every minute of it! By the time that the Dig for Victory event came round, we had accumulated some wonderful photographs of land girls at work and play and recorded their experiences in the service of their country . This material was presented in the Home Front marquee alongside a display of clothes and objects relating to the WLA, some of them loaned by the girls themselves. We hope that it did honour to the individual women it recorded , a few of over 80,000 who selflessly stepped forward at a time of national crisis ; it was, of course, dedicated to them all.

It was also our privilege to meet many of 'our' land girls and their chosen guests at a cream tea celebration which was kindly hosted by Whitehall garden centre in their restaurant. Entertainment was provided by the 'Just Jive' dance group and by the Millerlites trio, and short speeches were made by Gracie and by Sandra Oakes, the Mayor of Chippenham.

But above all, as the girls swapped reminiscences, there was lots of happy chatter, many smiles, and some tears. It was evident to all who met them that they were still the same positive , enthusiastic, and lively girls that they had been when they joined the WLA. Although some of them have said that they 'don't know what the fuss is about' because they are 'only ordinary women', they are all proud of what they achieved and of the organization to which they belonged . We thank them for their extraordinary effort and dedication .

As the original recruitment poster says~